TUSA Hyflex Switch Diving Features
Right out of the gate, I’ve got to tell you, I love TUSA masks. They fit and feel great. I think they seal better than other masks on the market. I know some will argue, but that’s the way I see it. That said, that’s about the extent of my experience with TUSA products.
The first thing I noticed on the Hyflex Switch was what TUSA calls the “Vortex Generator.” These are the hardened, curved rails along the outer edge of the fins. This helps to push water into the center of the fin where the most force can be generated.
However, it feels as though this added rigidity runs out about halfway down the blade. It feels nice and solid near the foot pocket, but the tip of the fin is quite wobbly. It feels as though the thrust you develop in your feet gets dissipated before it gets to the end of the blade.
The next thing you notice is the angled blade design. Flat blades tend to lose power with every kick when they bend on your down kick. With pre-angled blades, you don’t have to fight this portion of lost thrust. Honestly, I couldn’t quite tell the difference. I frog kick most of the time, so I look for that feeling of flatness before I begin my next kick cycle. If you are a flutter kicker, you could probably benefit from this angled design.
These fins reminded me of the TUSA Solla fins—lightweight with average thrust and power. Both tend to be a little floppier than I like, especially at the start of the kick, but they both frog kick relatively well.
The Hyflex Switch performed well in both turning capabilities as well as backfinning. These would be good fins for people who like the looser feeling of paddle fins. They are fairly lightweight, so they make good travel fins.
Their angled nature does take some pressure off the legs, so the Hyflex Switch would be good for divers who participate in multiple dives over multiple days. The cost is a bit prohibitive, but not any more so than other manufacturers.
TUSA Hyflex Switch Straps
The TUSA Hyflex Switch comes with a universal bungee strap, which has a large rubber heel cushion, and a large finger loop. These straps are comfortable, strong, and the finger loop makes getting these fins easy to get on and off.
These straps are sturdy and are really comfortable. They add stability to the fins and the straps ensure each kick is consistent.
TUSA Hyflex Switch Blade
The blades of the TUSA Hyflex Switch are traditional paddle-style. They are manufactured with the angled blade design (ABD), which is a pre-bent angle in the fin where the blade meets the foot pocket. In traditional flat fins, divers lose propulsion when they extend their legs to kick. This angle helps reduce that lost propulsion.
The blade of the Hyflex Switch also incorporates the vortex generator—the rigid outer channel and four channels along the interior of the fin—which helps reduce water resistance and leads to a more efficient kick.
TUSA Hyflex Switch Colors & Accessories
The TUSA Hyflex Switch comes in a wide variety of colors with cool names that stand out, including black, fishtail blue, flash yellow, metallic dark red, rose pink, and white.
One of our favorite masks comes from TUSA, the Zensee Pro. This mask has a great fit, super-soft silicone, and forms a great seal. The model we tested has a mask treatment that helps block harmful UV rays.
If you have a larger face or simply want a larger field of vision, we recommend the TUSA Freedom Elite. This is another highly comfortable, tight-sealing mask. It comes in a variety of colors and has both a clear and black skirt.
TUSA Hyflex Switch Price/Quality Ratio
The TUSA Hyflex Switch fins are at the high-end of our mid-range category. They are some of the more expensive paddle-style fins we tested. That’s not to say they are extremely expensive, or that they aren’t appropriately priced.
The technology that went into manufacturing the Hyflex Switch fins has the potential to be superb. Both the vortex generator and the angled blade design are neat additions. If you dive in warm waters where the current is light, these fins are worth the cost.
Do we recommend the TUSA Hyflex Switch fins?
We do recommend the TUSA Hyflex Switch fins, especially for divers who favor warm water with ideal water conditions. While the fins do generate ample propulsion while diving in calm waters, that propulsion is not strong enough to fight currents.
Make sure to check out our full review of the 10 best fins, then hop over to YouTube and check out our video rundown of every fin we tested.
Specs & Features
| Fin Type | open-heel |
|---|---|
| Blade Style | paddle |
| Material | polyurethane |
| Weight | not specified by manufacturer |
| Length | not specified by manufacturer |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L/XL |
| Strap Style | universal bungee strap |
| Number of Colors | six |
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