Fin Guru Futures F4 Fin Review - Same Template, Different Constructions Will they ride different????

In this Fin Guru Episode we review the same Futures Fin F4 Template in
3 different Constructions. We tested the Thermotech material, Alpha material, and the Honeycomb/fiberglass material. Our team rider Gunner Day surfs all three fins in the same board on the same day.
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Futures Fins HoneyComb F4 legacy
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[@jaywilldoit]

If he thought the first footage was "sluggish", I don't want to hear what he has to say about my surfing 😂

[@miguelgalllego]

That was so on point. I've rode the Alpha's on a high performance board on good waves and felt like I was so out of control, too much flex on them, then tried it on a smaller wave and with a Groveler/low rockered board and they went awesome, more spring out of turns, more "pop" which you really look for on smaller days. Excited to see more videos like this!

[@used_surf]

Yeah I feel like the alphas are a good small wave fin

[@danimiquel1694]

I'm all in with the Blackstix series.

[@franzistrasser4965]

Love this video. Please do that second video mentioned at the end I’m keen

[@surfersurfer6414]

Thank you for your review!

[@jimbrown532]

The headless guru 😮 Thanks for the informative video.

[@used_surf]

You got it...check out our fin spex videos for more fin comparisons

[@Chimichurrii]

Thank you, good review

[@THEDOCTOR413]

Very helpful vid.

[@schmoulblah]

i have these alpha on my board , such good fins . i dont know how to explain but they give that natural connection to your movements on the board that follow exactly what you want to do . some kind of perfect balance . and they sell that for mega cheap

[@retrain35yo87]

Definitely a difference but the test was on 1 foot waves....how does it work on 3 feet/6 feet?

[@OUTDOORSWITHDOMINGO]

Nice Video!

[@alang253]

I've had a pair of alphas as a beater/backup 5 fin set that I never really used. My GF got a new board and I threw the alphas in there- took it for a spin, wow! Really nice flow and pop in the small surf, that session really sticks in my mind. Also, please do an NVS review of their apex construction! it's much needed.

[@used_surf]

Wow.. yeah the Alphas have been pleasantly surprising everyone here. Ok yeah the NVS Apex is a good suggestion. We will get it in the mix.👍

[@jose2x784]

what is small surf for you? how many ft/meter??

[@alang253]

@@jose2x784 good waves thigh to stomach high. if you are lighter you could take these into bigger surf. Sorry the ft/meter never made sense to me

[@birdssurfshed]

Lighter person more flex is fine. When in doubt go for the mid flex and save money too!

[@adryanyork3581]

good job

[@waikikiwilly13]

Great vid. I’m just curious what the f series black sticks would feel like in this comparison

[@used_surf]

Yes I agree...we are doing one rt now with blackstick am1 and hc am1 and tech flex am1

[@srfhdx5584]

Literally just got the 5 fin alpha set and I’m doing some post-purchase review watching

[@used_surf]

Sick! Hope they go good for ya! I like that fin construction.

[@vznquest]

how is the set going a year later? i'm looking into it but worried about the high flex

[@srfhdx5584]

@@vznquest decent.l I quite like it cos I like the loose tail feeling but I surf 4ft punchy breaks so I just want some fun. no idea how it wld be on a larger more powerful break. but for small glassy conditions its great

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

I recently got the alpha as a twin, it was my first composit fin I had ridden in over 10 years. I love the performance, but I had them snap at the base on some heavier turns. I got a replacement for the fin and the same thing happened. Maybe only small grovely surf.

[@used_surf]

Yeah that is interesting. I know on the T1 it used to have an inner foil and that would thin out thw fin and they were breaking so then they removed the inner foil so the material was thicker. I think that because there's so much more surface area on the twin fin it puts a lot more stress and pressure on the material. Kinda of bummer...sorry to hear that.. you could be right maybe is not the best material on the bigger twin fins due to that problem

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

@@used_surf I thought the same. The twin has a little keel to it as well, but it seemed to have a flat foil on pair that I had. I thought it was funny, because I was trying to give composites another chance and was excited about the new materials and price point. I have found the generation series by future one of the best thus far. Killer as a quad and thruster

[@kasimsadiq3936]

I’m looking at som alphas in the rastovitch shape. Reason being is they’re cheaper and I cracked the fins along the base

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

@@kasimsadiq3936 are you talking about the Rasta Twin they have? I do want to give their new Vector 3/2 they came out with. I use to have an old set of their vector II. It had a hatchet as the center fin and some crazy foiling on it. They were great. I have the Solus by them with a hatchet as well and they work similarly

[@cacoart6022]

Best review! Which the lightest? Alpha or honeycomb ?

[@Julianuribe23]

Alpha for sure

[@gettinthingsdonemusic9876]

Interesting video but I would suggest for the next video, in order to eliminate rider bias don't let them see the fins in the board before or after they surf it. That way there would be zero bias that will effect their opinion. Then the results should be more precise.....just saying.

[@used_surf]

Funny cause we actually did that. We did each fcs2 "Essential" template. The rider we used didn't like doing it and we had another day left to shoot and it didn't happen. We plan on revisiting the idea. Your instincts are on point.

[@lorasurfboards]

nice

[@jamiejupiter4503]

Big up to recycled fishing nets!

[@maxjosephson1247]

So weird because futures categorizes alpha and honeycomb constructions in same category. The 7-4 ride number. 😑But I’ve had the same experience where the honeycombs just don’t seem to go in weaker waves

[@dan1e1473]

Probably the Alpha doen'st flex much more, but it holds the tension for a longer time, and then releases everything in the end of the turn boosting you foward, while other fins loose tension more gradually.

[@jose2x784]

Would you say intermediate will feel the difference between the fins? Let's say, in a smaller surf up to head high, as an intermediate would you feel difference between blackstix and alpha/honeycomb?

[@used_surf]

Sorry I thought we replied to this sooner. Yeah I definitely think you would feel a difference. They also would more than likely feel a little faster. At least that's what we've noticed on our end. I do think though, with either two of the ones that you mentioned, you would be okay because both of those constructions are geared towards smaller surf. But on our end we would go with the alpha for an intermediate.

[@jose2x784]

@@used_surf thanks!

[@reefslug]

What lost board model is he riding?

[@kikemunozkonig832]

Looks like a rocket redux

[@MoustacheCloud]

What do you guys like to ride in large, powerful waves?

[@NMAMxRE]

Any of the Raked series fins that Futures offers: more rake = more control in bigger surf. AM2 TechFlex has been my go to when the conditions are more consequential and have worked great.

[@MoustacheCloud]

@@NMAMxRE Thanks! I've been thinking of buying Techflex for a while. I just don't know what size to get.

[@NMAMxRE]

@@MoustacheCloud No problem. Based on the Futures sizing I am at the bottom end of medium, so most of my fins mediums (F8 Blackstix in L). But I purchased the AM2 Techflex in Large and they've been great in big/powerful waves, primarily as a quad: a 12' day with 16 second intervals comes to mind. There are other factors that go into fin size = board dimensions, fin box placement, etc, so that might be a factor for me. Check out Midtown Surf Shop youtube vids on the various templates Futures offers; they've done a good job clarifying the opaque Futures fin line up IMO. The R Legacy series would be your lower priced, but better construction vs.plastic/Alphas raked fin. As and aside I have the F6 Alphas and I'm not a fan, my local surf shop guys feel the same way. They work in some situations, mainly smaller stuff, but I've had them release/spin out on the sets that come through that are "waves of the day." I wouldn't purchase them again and just ante up and buy the same template (F6) with better construction. Aloha 🤙

[@OEFarredondo]

The stiff fins are better for bigger waves.

[@used_surf]

Yes...I would agree 🤙

[@OEFarredondo]

@@used_surf just spitting facts in the middle of the night. Dont mind me lol

[@str8frnt]

What size are all 3 sets and what template?

[@used_surf]

All the same size...the f4 which is a small/medium template

[@MrRobinski]

Alpha fins too soft and spongy feel in my opinion. Honeycomb all the way and blacksticks for small waves.

[@used_surf]

Yeah that makes sense 100 percent. The blackstix were missing from this comparison. But not all templates are available in blackstix. As an example the John John template. It is a great template but only comes in a techflex or alpha. Our team riders have had really good success using that template in small waves via alpha material versus techflex. The techflex is flat foil and stiffer and therefore better for bigger stronger waves. But you are right, blackstix all day long for best small wave performance...if it has your most ideal template for your board.

[@taradead]

My experience, too...alphas "folding over" while doing cutbacks in waves with any punch. Carbon in these is minimal and not an actual carbon layup (like on the Hayden HS fins). I swapped out the center fin out for an old fiberglass one and that helps stabilize the alpha sides lot...works for summer.

[@taradead]

Not super stoked on Alpha. Way too flexy (plasticity) in punchy waves and don't have the snap-back of an actual carbon layup. Maybe better than Thermotech, but only because Alpha are significantly lighter.

[@used_surf]

Yeah maybe the blackstix would be best for everyday

[@taradead]

Can't really afford Blackstix. Got the P8 alpha set for $48 out the door (black Friday). Swapped the center fin out for an old fiberglass one, which added just enough stiffness to keep cutbacks from feeling weird. Still using this set for summer.