(11-06-10) Those who like electronic devices, mainly related to sound and image, surely know this famous Danish brand in whose web site is written: “Bang & Olufsen’s reputation is based on development of own unique technologies, beautiful design, creative solutions, outstanding quality and a never failing will to pursue perfection and make the impossible possible. Let the beauty of our products seduce you, but also do yourself the favour of going beyond the looks and let yourself be amazed, surprised and impressed by the outstanding technologies on which the Bang & Olufsen products are based.”
Well, to me, Mares is just the same thing regarding scuba equipment. And if you don’t believe it, let’s take a look of three of the new products appeared in the catalogue for 2010, products that I have tested along with other two people at sea in not very well weather conditions: sea is being quite rough in the last weeks in “my Costa Brava”.
X-STREAM FINS
That one who does not turn back the head after saying OK to a diver met during a dive, wearing these fins, is that has no artistic sensitivity, or maybe is attending a sea baptism and surviving is more than enough…
They attract our attention from the distance; let’s say when we are taking them. The first impression is that they are very light, and they really are: they weight just 802 g. each.
The second thing we realise is that the foot area has holes to prevent “parachute effect”; an old parachute would keep water, so it would slow down the diving. Also, they get dry faster than other fins.
It is also curious to know what the black tie in the middle of the fin is for. It helps the fin comes back to the original position after every movement. I guess that these fins are named after the X on the “leaky shoe”. Is that right, Mr. Mares?
As they are not very rigid, they would bend too much if it wasn’t for the tie and the limits of the two cuts in “V” on each side (in the central area) of this avant-garde jewel.
During the dive you can feel perfectly well the bend of the fin, and when it gets the limit, it stops its curvature and comes back. It is a feeling similar to wear Volo fins, but, to me, with less tendency to bend too much, as they did in the first version. The stroke is more potent and less energy is spent.
The last thing attracting our attention are the deflectors on fin blade pointing outwards. It is similar to “F-ducts” in F1, but you don’t need to cover them with a finger on each curve… Seriously, they are designed to avoid turbulences and that the stroke is uniform and without unwanted side skids.
The only wrong thing is that they are not useful for “classical” photo dive contests, because the central area is transparent and when it appears in photographs it seems that a shark has bitten us in both fins…
We can buy them in two bright colours and in two more formal colours. I have already asked for a pair to the Three Wises.
SUIT ISOTHERM 2010
The first thing attracting our attention is the touch of the neopreno. It is of good quality, flexible and light although it is 6.5 mm. thick. When wearing it we can feel and enjoy this good material.
Inside, the Thermoplush enables us get dressed easily and the subsequent drying. The next thing we look at is the zips in cuffs and trousers, which enable to put on the suit. It is here where we find more technology and Mares design, since the cut is cons-shaped to adapt to our body.
With the system with sleeves and zips, and semi-stagnation gloves of good quality, we can make our “semi” almost a dry suit. To this help the neoprene gaskets in hands and feet. The only problem is the tackle this may cause.
The double neck is also useful to keep the sealing and avoid getting caught and for an individualized fit.
Going on with the things we like, we have the colourful design, especially in the European version. I am a bit fed up with the suits of the time when Cousteau dive the second time. A bit of colour, please! We are not at an underwater funeral!
Seeing the amount of sewing of the suit we can realize that it has been designed to make it more comfortable, although like all semidry suits it has a tendency to bend a bit in the underarm area. Seams and stitching have not been made fast in any factory, because the wires are welded or glued at the ends (it is here where many suits of the competitors fail).
I prefer metal zips, but they make the product more expensive and we are facing a crisis… But it is protected from scratches by a flap.
Mares sends high-strength knee pads. Having dived twice with them I cannot say they are not so strong, but I think that they will break down if someone leans on something abrasive as volcanic rock (in the Canary Islands, for instance). I prefer some more rigid, such as the ones made of plastic or other material more resistant to scratching or abrasion. But I may be wrong…
Speaking of protection, although it is not new, it is interesting the reinforcement in the area of the column to minimize the friction of the equipment and increase comfort.
Hablando de protecciones, aunque no es novedad, es interesante el refuerzo en la zona de la columna para minimizar el roce del equipo y aumentar el confort.
WAVE FINS
Ok, they are not the X Stream, but they are much beautiful than most of the competitors’ ones. And they are much cheaper that the first tested, of course.
They are smart and stylized in shape; both sides are transparent (which causes a curious effect in pictures, mainly when the model is far from us). They are made of three different materials.
It is also curious the curvature of the yellow zone of the blade, where there is the Mares’ logo engraving, presumably to retain more water and improve the advance. They call it “Superchannel”, but they could have named it C+.
The area for feet is more standard, but it has a good drainage system, and there is a nonslip drawing on soles to avoid imitating Fred Astaire dancing in the wet deck of a ship a day with rough sea. Something to be thankful.
The clasp is the one Mares is using lately, to fast to close but less complicated than the first one they were using (the one with padlocks that was quite difficult to use with heavy gloves.
It is in 5 colours, and other 3 to go to dive to the Embassador’s indoor swimming pool without attracting (too much) attention.
Text: C. Virgili / Risck
