Futures vs Fcs 2 - What is the ultimate fin system for your surfboard

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

I started using futures way back before FCS II came out because I got tired of constantly repairing fin plugs. Once FCS II came out I already had a few sets of futures and didn’t want to invest in new fins. I have no problem turning a set screw 4 times per fin, plus I get to make cool fin keys when I make boards with left over resin. Great video.

[@hughrobinson9008]

That is a brilliant breakdown Luke! So refreshing to have the board builder’s perspective on the installation of each system and it’s impact on a surfer’s experience. Inspired vid. 👏👏👏 (I’ll stick with FCS2 despite the fin prices)

[@colabsurf]

Thank you!! i just got a set of the h4's and the price made my eyes water but the product really is next level... fins are the most important part of a boards performance after the surfer riding it....

[@bm7586]

Clear and concise ! Great to see one of the best shapers in Europe (and the world frankly) explaining this in such a clear way ! Thanks 🙏

[@77pebble]

Much appreciate your honest review Luke! I haven’t tried Futures but my next board will have them. From a riders perspective on FCS 2 and using FCS (two circular tabs) in the past. I find the fins are harder to install correctly like you mentioned, too high/low and sometime can be a bar-steward to get out. There’s even a product to take them out! Definitely get rid of click in! I also find fcs fins with having two tabs (not a long base like futures) there is a slight gap between the base of the fin and the board usually on the outer edge (rail side) of the fin. Other than that fcs have lots of fins to choose from and have a good price point. I will see what futures are like from a riders perspective once I get my board. I have heard futures fins ride like glass on fins. I’m not that old to have experienced glassed on fins so can’t comment but heard they were great but obviously limited as couldn’t change them. Maybe someone could compare glassed on fins to futures and fcs in a same template fin and obviously same board shape. That would mean three boards with three of the types of fin but would be interesting. Would you use glassed on fins if the template worked for that specific board and if they rode better than fcs and futures? I do not know if glassed on’s use more or less resin than fcs and or futures??

[@colabsurf]

They would but ultimately probably still weight saving. Glass ons are epic. As long as you have the right fins!

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

I’ve rode a fair share of glass on. They are good depending on the board, fin material and surf. The biggest problem I find with glass on is that there is not as big of a selection of types of fins. Futures and FCS have tons of different models that perform differently depending on what you’re riding and how you surf. Glass on fins are mostly limited to all glass, a honeycomb core, or wood or bamboo. They are pretty easy to repair, so long you can keep the fin.

[@flipper9069]

Excellent review.. Brilliant keep it up⭐⭐⭐

[@goodtimesmaggr]

i had boards with fcs 2 , i have lost fins and also have damaged plugs ! Mechanical engineering speaking futures do provide the strongest bond between boards and fins!

[@joeblow1942]

I use screws with FCS2.

[@jamrock42447]

Few things, if you surf over reef, loosing a fin is better than loosing a box / board (I surf in Hawaii) the cracking from futures is partially from the glasser doing stellar or less than of a job. John surf futures, and if you have to surf waves of consequence you might want futures

[@MojoP]

This was an excellent video. I'm a Futures fanboi, have been forever. I've never had such an excellent explanation - from a total point of neutrality at that - of the inherent pros and cons to either system. I'm walking away from this liking FCS2, or, shall I say, respecting their design a lot more than I did 16 minutes ago. And this channel gets a much deserved Like and Subscribe 💥BAM💥 like that!!

[@colabsurf]

@@MojoP wow. Thank you! Weve been building a studio to do more stuff like this. Comments that like let us know just why. Thank you again! Day made 🤙🤙

[@jonnyref3475]

Super helpful, thanks buddy.

[@GuitarWithBrett]

Interesting that the WSL champs are mostly on fcs2. I have noticed the weight difference but I’d be curious if that really is a big factor ? I started screwing in fcs2 fins after losing 2 fins in a month. One was from a collision where surfer cut me off and another was hitting reef. I use both fins and don’t have much preference really.

[@Dicko301]

Excellent video , I use futures in my twinny and fcs2 in my short board , the twin fin I find has a more solid connection with the bigger fins but the box did crack so I took a note out of the original fcs plugs and anchored the plugs to the deck drilled a whole carefully and filled with q cell and resin like the original fcs plugs used to be trenched through to the deck and was pretty solid now the plug is not flexing and seams alot more responsive , I think you got more options for twin fins in futures base as well.

[@colabsurf]

@@Dicko301 🤙🤙

[@Nardvens]

I like fcs 2 the best never lost a fin. Super quick and easy to take out the fins and store multiple boards all at once in the car

[@pierswoo76]

The amount of fcs 2 surfboards that have cracked boxes due to that click in click out is ridiculous its a terrible design - hasn't firewire stopped producing boards in fcs2 now due to this with people ending up with waterlogged boards? (id be interested on your thoughts on choosing a surfboard in terms of durability vs ease of repair PU is so much easier and quicker to fix - eps can take weeks to dry out not ideal on a surf trip) surely fcs 1 was the best system for the points you made in terms of board performance/shaping etc?

[@colabsurf]

cracked boxes are to do with the tolerance the box allows when installing, i agree the click in click our thing doesnt help, but most of the pressure is probably done through surfing. Firewire try to make there boards cheaper with there own box, that will be the primary reason. if they wanted to have less issues with quality they should look at other weak points to their boards before swapping the boxes out in my opinion. with regards to fixing the boards.... pu wins i guess, but eps/epoxy boards can be easy if you know how to do it quick. theres a few tricks. weve had pu boards that have taken weeks to dry out properly too. fcs1 in theory you are correct yes, but they dont last, the fin nor the boxes were ever strong enough. there is that toss up which im sure fin system design teams are always trying to balance out. i think fcs2 are the furtherest ahead in that area. i would lose, the click in and out, which means you could build in a higher tolerance for install purposes and then just have one screw in the back and potentially extend the tabs too... in a perfect world a hybrid of the boxes would be the best. my opinions on it all for what they are worth.

[@pierswoo76]

Thanks interesting about firewires just trying to make their expensive boards cheaper and cheaper to produce - I thought they were just trying to save the planet with their eco boards with alternative cheap materials (flown all the way from thailand) 😂bought an old piss yellow sci fi tomo to test eps/epoxy again (surprisingly a sick board) felt amazing for an old board guess thats whats good about epoxy? not keen on the eps foam sucking in water any thoughts on PE construction? - I use good old fcs 1 fins in the fcs2 boxes which is a great option I think if you still have old fins around@@colabsurf

[@TheGreatSouthernDrummer]

Well done review.

[@zulchconradie4036]

Very informative thanks

[@radumi5394]

If you try fins FCS2 can be easier but ironically Futures box has wider variety maybe cheaper fins to try LOL I agree, no preference at my level of surfing but I find FCS2 with genuine fins more refined, FCS can really make fins while genuine Futures are not necessarily cheaper. With Futures I also like the variety, with FCS I like the model they use to explain how their different templates work and that for the single fins too.

[@keffdog125]

Futures have my vote and $$ fcs2 were so fickle- either too tight and nearly damaged boards taking fins out or loose as …. Ya know… Futures never let me down and the secondary market companies make exceptional mid priced fins so you can test more for less

[@LaterHolmes]

I liked LokBox the best 😁

[@altheatoldme5003]

The main differences people don’t touch on is that futures put cant in the fin while fcs puts the cant in the box. Though with fcs is you can get the same template in a different flex. Future solved this with the legacy series/blacksticks. Future fins are designed for specific performance per specific fin because of this which the fin box in fcs dictates part of the performance in a board due to the degree of the fcs box. Though in the end people shouldn’t worry about fin boxes too much because I have seen people do insane turn’s regardless if they are using fcs or futures.

[@AlleyTrashBoards]

The new 3/2 fins futures have been pumping out is crazy. The cant changes mid fin. Fun stuff.

[@iangarcia3345]

I lose mi key all the time

[@eugenesg2795]

Never use FCS II. When they seize up, they crack the laminate on your board. They ALWAYS need screws - lost one and had to pay an arm and a leg for a new set. They suck! BIG TIME!!!