In around 12 days my boyfriend and I will be heading to the Bahamas, for our first trip out of the US. I booked the trip about a month ago and ever since I have been obtaining the necessities for this trip. Snorkel, Mask, luggage, camera, and everything else one could think of… including the sun block.
The last and final item needed though I could not find anywhere for the life of me, and with only 12 days left till we board our plane, I knew ordering this item online would be iffy, seeing how I may be gone before it arrives in the mail.
So this past Saturday we went searching at a local surf shop for some swim fins. We came across all sorts of fins, from long ones, to short ones that looked more like distorted socks. Sadly though seeing how they recently were doing a end of the summer sale, the only sizes we could find were smalls, and extra large. Neither of which would work.
Hidden and crushed underneath the pile of other fins though, my boyfriend pulled out a plain looking box with the word VIPER boldly written on the box. The fins were a size medium, exactly what I would need.
I took them out of the box, and immediately hated them. To me they looked like melted down tire rubber, shaped to look like an absurd thick swim fin. Thicker than what I was used to ever seeing fins look like. Normally fins were thin, but the Viper Surf Swim Fins are a tad bit thicker than average.
The Viper Surf Swim Fins are all black, with spots of yellow right on the fin. The yellow splats look like spilled paint at first glance. Once you get a closer look though you see that the yellow splotches are actually part of the design. In the yellow splat is the name VIPER written on top. Being a girl, hideous was the only word that came to mind.
Seeing how I had no choice though, I went ahead and tried them on. At least if they were comfortable, I couldn’t complain; much.
Fit:
The size mediums are designed for feet sized 8-9. I pulled the fin over my foot, and low and behold, the Viper Surf Swim Fins were damn comfortable. Inside it felt as if the bottom of the fin was lined with some sort of soft cushion type material. This material is also located on the upper part of fin where your foot is exposed, for extra comfort.
So I liked them! I originally thought they were hideous looking, but they were more comfortable than my sneakers, so I could not deny them, nor could I knock on them anymore.
The inner sole of the Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 is made of Neoprene padded foot pockets. It truly feels like it is made with the same material as a sleep foam mattress.
Features:
The Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 comes with a 7 inch blade and is considered the best model in the bunch. Due to it’s 7 inch blade and full length side rails, you get maximum power and thrust/kick. The V7 model has the fastest prolonged speed, and produces superb wave stability.
When I bought them I did not think I would get the opportunity to actually use them in water, seeing how it feels like fall has already made it’s way into our parts. However we got lucky the very next day with gorgeous and hot temperatures, and I was able to give them a go at the ocean.
In the water I felt like a fish. I was able to skim around at speeds I have never touched before while using fins in the past, and not only that they were so comfortable, and although they were bulky looking and feeling on the land, in the water they felt like nothing. I was comfortable able to swim around to test them out for around 35 minutes till finally I began to feel slight calf fatigue. 35 minutes though is decent if you ask me.
During my swim I never once had the fins loosen up on me, slip off, or feel too bulky and annoying to want to use for long periods of time.
Overall:
Although they may be ugly when you first get a look at them, the Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 Model works like a charm. You will be thrusting through the water with the slightest of kicks, feeling like a fish, and best of all they are very, very comfortable.
I highly, highly recommend the Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 Model to body boarders, and snorkelers. I didn’t want a long pair of dive fins for snorkeling, and this was mainly why I purchased the Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 to begin with.
You can find the Viper Surf Swim Fins V7 at local surf shops, or online by doing a quick google search. I picked them up for $51.00 at a surf shop sale. They may be a little pricer online, or in your local shops if they are not having a sale going on.
