After the comparison test of the Cetma Lotus Carbon with the Molchanovs Sport 3 Carbon, where the latter have shown great performance of the blades, but quite some tuning needed in dimensioning of the foot pockets (far too wide), we have received from the Russian Brand the new Standard foot pockets. First of all, the resized version has confirmed that the results of our tests were correct and that there was actually some issue in the first foot pockets. For such reason, now Molchanovs presents such foot pockets on the website as the “wide” version, while the new version is indicated as “standard”.
Testing by Michele Tomasi and Davide Tummolillo
Apnea Passion Magazine has tested the Molchanovs Sport 3 Carbon fins again, but this time with the “standard” foot pockets. At the International Awards Camp for the definition of the 2025 Best Choice winning products, most of the athletes of the Apnea Passion Team have tested these fins. In particular, Michele Tomasi, Technical Director of the Italian Outdoor Apnea Team and former recordist in CWT in the lake, and Davide Tummolillo, Apnea Academy Instructor and Dyn athlete, have made their real and professional review. Michele was also part of the test at the Y-40 with the “wide” version of the Molchanovs Sport foot pockets and had praised the blades, but criticized the foot pockets, as being too wide and for his foot not at all efficient.
Michele Tomasi
“In the first day of testing I was wearing an 8 mm jacket, 5 mm pants, 1.5 mm socks and 7 kg of weight. In the test with the Molchanovs Sport 3 Carbon fins in the soft version and with 42-43 standard size I once again felt the foot pocket being too wide, especially at the tip. The issue was reduced compared to the “wide” version of the foot pockets, but it was still partially present with the “standard” ones. The feeling of the soft blade was very good, and I only felt some slight fatigue coming up from almost 40 meters.
In the second day of testing I dived with 5 mm jacket and pants, 1.5 mm socks and 4 kg of ballast. I tested the Molchanovs Sport 3 Carbon with Medium stiffness blade and a smaller size, 40-41. Still, the foot pocket felt wide at the tip, and I have size 42 feet. So I confirm that the new foot pocket is better, but still does not meet my needs. On the other hand, the medium stiffness blades I liked more compared to the soft. More reactive, the push was much better compared to the soft ones, even though you could feel the blade was stiffer. Additionally, the smaller size foot pocket transmitted the energy from the foot to the blade much better.
Overall, very high quality fins, of course the level of quality by Molchanovs is always extremely high, with excellent blades in the medium stiffness version, but still with an improvable dimensioning of the foot pockets, even in the new standard version, and the need of choosing carefully the stiffness of a highly performing blade.
Davide Tummolillo
“Let’s start with the good part, I would say excellent. The blades are really fantastic. I tested the medium version and the push was outstanding. The blades are very reactive, also in the restart from the bottom at -35m. The fins do not require excessive energy while giving you back plenty of thrust. The problem unfortunately are the foot pockets. Even though we have tried the new “standard” version, which means narrower than the first launched “wide” version, the foot pockets are still excessively large. I remember trying a smaller size than the one I usually use, but they were still far too wide. These determines that most of the excellence of the blade is lost due to the excessive width of the foot pocket. When a new and correct dimensioned Sport Silicone foot pocket will be released, I am sure these fins will probably be among the best on the market in their segment of use and price.
Conclusions by Apnea Passion
What a pity that once more the Molchanovs Sport Silicone foot pockets have not been dimensioned in the right way, even in the narrower “Standard” version. In fact, the blades have been confirmed as absolutely excellent and among the best on the market. In particular, both Michele Tomasi and Davide Tummolillo have really appreciated the Medium stiffness version of the blades in CWT, with the Soft version maybe expressing a slightly lower performance, but probably more adapt in DYN. Once more the quality of Molchanovs products is there, but with the feeling that the aim of making comfortable foot pockets for longer diving and training sessions compared to the Molchanovs Pro and Pro Hyper Bifins has led to an excessively wide design in both the “Wide”, but also the “Standard” Sport Silicone foot pockets.
