After presenting in every little detail the top model of carbon fibre fins by the French Company part of C4 Family, the H.Dessault Fast, here is our test. We are talking here of a product which positions itself above the value for money one of the Minimal HD, and the differences are perceivable.
Foopocket: comfort, putting on and taking off
There is no difference at all in the footpockets of the H.Deassult Fast compared to the Minimal HD, as we still have the H.Dessault 350 footpockets, which are excellent. Once worn, the 350 feel perfect on the foot, wrapping it extremely well.
There have been in time some spearos criticizing the C4 footpockets, which have a similar, but not identical, design with the H.Dessault. This was due to the difficulty of wearing the famous C4 300, a great idea with this specific limit. But the foot-pockets of the new era by C4 and H.Dessault have solved the problem, and as Apneapassion we have indeed declared that putting on and taking off the C4 or H.Dessault footpockets is easy and comfortable. In this Winter period, with cold water (17°C in the test) the thermo-rubber stiffens sensibly, and with thick gloves and cold hands taking the fins off at the end of the spearfishing session can be a little bit more difficult. In such conditions, of course, this limit applies to many other footpockets also.
Lightness
The difference between the H.Dessualt Fast and the Minimal HD is so all in the blade, which utilizes the T700 Big Square instead of the more affordable, but less performing, T300 Twill.
In the water the general feeling given by the H.Dessault Fast is of absolute lightness, as in fact they actually weight 25 grams per fin less than the Minimal HD. Such lightness is felt very clearly during the finning action, and is a constant strong point of the C4 Family fins line.
Vertical performance
During dives even beyond 20 meters, with a thick 7 mm wetsuit and 9 kg of ballast, the performance of the H.Dessault Fast is extremely good, with great thrust at all moments. The finning is smooth, light on the legs and always powerful enough. The elastic return generated by the T700 Big Square united with the internal monodirectional carbon fiber is absolutely excellent and the difference here is perceivable compared to the Minimal HD. The blades bend in a very silent way, even when the movement by the spearo is sudden and quick. Somehow, the H.Dessault Fast position themselves between the Minimal HD and the C4 MB002, winners of the Best Choice by Apneapassion 2023. This is actually a coherent result considering that the difference between the Fast and the MB002 is around 90 euros in favour of the H.Dessault fins.
Surface transfers
The feeling on the legs given by the H.Dessault Fast during the finning action at the surface is of extreme lightness. The elastic return is good and well perceivable at any time. We tried the 30+ blades, and they were absolutely not heavy on the legs, still giving great performance. A good step forward from the Minimal HD, but still not at the level of the MB002 for thrust and lightness.
