ScubLab: Fins - Mares X-Stream
Stats
| Top Averaged Speed | 2.2 mph |
| Ergo Score | 69 |
| Top 5 Points | 14 |
Specifications
| Warranty | Two-Year Ltd. |
| Sizes | S, R, XL |
| Colors | Red, Yellow, Blue, Black |
| Weight | 1 lbs., 12 oz. (size R) |
| Bouyancy | Slightly Positive |
| Price | $220 |
| www.mares.com |
The X-Stream is constructed of three distinct materials, each with its own mission. It starts with a thermoplastic blade frame and footboard. Stiff black rubber is over-molded on the blade’s side rails and at the juncture of the fin’s next-generation Optimized Pivoting Blade (OPB). Finally, a clear, soft rubber is used on the foot pocket and on the blade’s Superchannel center panel. The result is a comfortable, lightweight fin that delivers both stability and a lot of snap. The X-Stream’s perforated foot pocket is interesting. It not only eliminates drag, but also makes the pocket more flexible and eliminates that sucking effect when removing the fin after a dive. The fin also comes with Mares ABS Plus buckles. By using the buckle’s cam action for donning and doffing, the strap never slips out of adjustment.
Performance
The lightest full-size fin in this group, the X-Stream proved to be one of the faster fins on the speed course, generating a lot of power for not a lot of effort. The OPB feature really showed its stuff, delivering a propulsive blade snap that test divers could feel push them forward on every down stroke (this same effect also made for some fun face-down surface kicks). The fin earned solid marks for performance using all kicking styles, and while some divers found a little ankle strain when locking into tight turns, overall the fin was rated comfortable, stable and very maneuverable.
Bottom Line
With the X-Stream you get good kicking power in a comfy fin that looks really cool underwater. Earning a solid third-place spot on the “Top 5 Favorites” list, it doesn’t offer much in the way of nonskid, but otherwise this fin is definitely a keeper.
See Below for the Full Scuba Lab ** Fin Reviews from the May 2010 Issue**
Stats
||| |---|---|
|Top Averaged Speed|2.2 mph| |Ergo Score| 69| |Top 5 Points| 14|Specifications
||| |---|---|
|Warranty|Two-Year Ltd.| |Sizes| S, R, XL| |Colors| Red, Yellow, Blue, Black| |Weight| 1 lbs., 12 oz. (size R)| |Bouyancy| Slightly Positive| |Price| $220| |www.mares.com|The X-Stream is constructed of three distinct materials, each with its own mission. It starts with a thermoplastic blade frame and footboard. Stiff black rubber is over-molded on the blade’s side rails and at the juncture of the fin’s next-generation Optimized Pivoting Blade (OPB). Finally, a clear, soft rubber is used on the foot pocket and on the blade’s Superchannel center panel. The result is a comfortable, lightweight fin that delivers both stability and a lot of snap. The X-Stream’s perforated foot pocket is interesting. It not only eliminates drag, but also makes the pocket more flexible and eliminates that sucking effect when removing the fin after a dive. The fin also comes with Mares ABS Plus buckles. By using the buckle’s cam action for donning and doffing, the strap never slips out of adjustment.
Performance
The lightest full-size fin in this group, the X-Stream proved to be one of the faster fins on the speed course, generating a lot of power for not a lot of effort. The OPB feature really showed its stuff, delivering a propulsive blade snap that test divers could feel push them forward on every down stroke (this same effect also made for some fun face-down surface kicks). The fin earned solid marks for performance using all kicking styles, and while some divers found a little ankle strain when locking into tight turns, overall the fin was rated comfortable, stable and very maneuverable.
Bottom Line
With the X-Stream you get good kicking power in a comfy fin that looks really cool underwater. Earning a solid third-place spot on the “Top 5 Favorites” list, it doesn’t offer much in the way of nonskid, but otherwise this fin is definitely a keeper.
See Below for the Full Scuba Lab ** Fin Reviews from the May 2010 Issue**
