OMS Slipstream Fins Review
A medium-stiff paddle fin designed specifically for cold-water and drysuit diving where control matters more than raw speed. I use these fins primarily with a drysuit, steel backplate, and long bottom times in quarries and cold water. Compared to stiffer alternatives, they deliver smoother power and reduce leg fatigue without giving up precision. They are not travel fins, but they excel in the environment they were built for.
By Tyler Allison
· Updated July 2025
- Current role
- Default fins for my drysuit dives
- Configuration
- Drysuit and steel backplate
- Still in my kit
- Yes
The Short Version
The Slipstreams have become my default drysuit fins because they feel smoother over longer dives without giving up the control I need for skills and positioning. They are less focused on raw speed than some stiffer fins I have used, but that tradeoff has worked well with my drysuit and steel backplate.
Would I buy them again? Yes. As long as they continue to reduce fatigue without sacrificing control, they will stay in rotation.
What Works
- Medium stiffness gives smoother power delivery over longer dives
- Precise frog, back, and helicopter kicks
- Slightly negative buoyancy works with my drysuit configuration
- Predictable feedback and easy modulation of kick force
- Sturdy construction without durability concerns so far
What Doesn't
- Less raw flutter-kick power than the Mares Quattro in my use
- Not the fins I choose for lightweight warm-water travel
Why I Switched to the Slipstreams
I used Deep6 Eddy fins during my GUE Fundamentals course. With a drysuit and steel backplate, I noticed leg cramping on longer bottom times and wanted to see whether a slightly softer fin would reduce fatigue without losing control.
That change has worked for me so far. I prefer the Slipstreams for my drysuit dives because they remain predictable during propulsion, skills, and positioning while feeling smoother over time. I am still evaluating them long term rather than treating that preference as a permanent verdict.
What It Is Like to Dive
- Trim and Buoyancy
- They are slightly negative in freshwater and manageable with my drysuit and steel backplate. That buoyancy suits my configuration.
- Frog, Back, and Helicopter Kicks
- Control is precise, and I can hold position during skills or make clean helicopter turns. Their precision is on par with the Eddy in my use.
- Flutter-Kick Power
- They have less raw flutter-kick power than the Mares Quattro. I accept that difference for the smoother feel during longer cold-water dives.
- Comfort
- They feel smoother than the stiffer Eddy over long dives. With proper boot fit, I have not had hotspots or strap issues.
Ownership and Value
The construction has been sturdy and the feel consistent from dive to dive, with no durability concerns so far. They have earned a regular place in my cold-water kit without becoming my choice for every kind of trip.
The price is fair for the role they fill for me. I value control and endurance in this configuration more than maximum flutter-kick speed, so a fin that is more forgiving over longer dives is useful even if it is not the strongest option for raw propulsion.
Who They Make Sense For
They are worth considering for drysuit divers who want medium-stiff paddle fins with controlled power delivery, particularly for frog kicks, back kicks, and positioning in cold water. My preference comes from how they work with my own drysuit configuration.
I would choose different fins for warm-water travel where packing weight is the priority, or when maximum flutter-kick speed matters more than the control and endurance I get from these. They are my drysuit choice, not a universal winner.