Introduction
They are THE new 2021 product by Cressi, the polymer fins that can revolutionize the spearfishing and freediving market. After years of growth of the composite material blades, it is now time to show how good a top quality revolutionary material polymer blade fin can be. And indeed, Cressi with its know-how and production capacity in the plastic material segment has indeed an additional gear compared to the competition. Let’s see what these new Cressi Gara Modular Impulse fins look like and check out the various interesting technical solutions. For a start, a beautiful emotional and tutorial video on the main characteristics.
Materials
One of the key elements of the new Cressi Gara Modular Impulse is definitely the material of the blade. This is an elasticized technopolymer compound developed by Cressi, extremely resistant to ant shock, flexion and stress, making accidental breakage almost impossible. This is one key point also in comparison with composite material blades that, as well made as they can be, will always suffer shocks and could break with time.
The foot pocket is the well-known solution in thermoplastic rubber by Cressi, in two different stiffness compounds (light grey softer, 65° Shore, and dark grey harder, 75° Shore), with the Self Adjusting system that perfectly adapts to the foot, especially hosting at best the instep.
Also important is the inclusion in the range of the smallest size, the 36/37, up to the size 46/47. Not only that, two anatomical insoles right and left in recycled rigid plastic can now be inserted into the shoe to better adapt the foot, also on the basis of the thickness of the socks in the transition from the hot season to the colder one.
The lateral nerves have been reduced in thickness to interact less in the curving phase of the blades, but still, well connect them to the foot-pocket and channel the water along the blade.
The water-rails are also specifically built for best performance and are made of thermoplastic rubber, which is soft enough not to influence the correct reactivity of the blade.
Design, dimensions and weight
This aspect, the design of the Cressi Gara Modular Impulse fins, probably goes even beyond the materials used. The first aspect, still linked to the functioning and bending curve of the blade, is its differentiated thickness design, going progressively from 4 mm in front of the foot, to 2 mm at the tip, which permits to have that parabolic curve that is today considered the most efficient solution for best propulsion with reduced force and fatigue.
On top of this, another key aspect of the design of the Cressi Gara Modular Impulse is the angle between blade and foot-pocket, which also follows the most modern solution of 29°, considered the best geometry for the most efficient transmission of the force from the foot to the blade, with no tiring effect on the ankle.
But this is not all. Another key aspect of the design of the Cressi Gara Modular Impulse fins is the fact that the water rails are one-piece integrated with the blades, and have a specific variable height design for best performance.
The flap has a dovetail design for best control and directionality of water flow and diver.
Blade maximum length measured from the curve under the footpocket, goes from 63 cm laterally to 59 cm centrally. Maximum wigth of the blade measured internally to the water-rails is 20,7 cm. Water-rails are 29 cm long with a variable height from 0 to 1.8 cm maximum.
The weight of each blade, including the integrated water rails, is 420 grams, the foot-pocket size 42-43 weighs 555 grams and the total weight of one fin, including connection screws and clips, is 985 grams. The optional sole weighs 65 grams.
Bending curve
One of the key elements of the blades of the Cressi Gara Modular Impulse, the variable thickness, permits to have the most efficient bending curve, the parabolic one, which is indeed a great step forward in the polymer blades sector.
All the advanced solutions brought in by Cressi with these new fins seem to confirm a net improvement in performance and a very close situation between the Cressi Gara Modular Impulse and the best carbon fiber fins on the market. All this, with an amazingly lower price (check the web) and much greater resistance to shocks by the polymer fins.
