Futures Fins, a local SoCal company, based out of Huntington Beach, is truly becoming the innovator in surf fin creation. Being just a walk away from the water, these fins go through extensive testing, guaranteeing that the purchasing surfer their money’s worth. New ideas can be thrown around, and because they are so close to the beach, these ideas can be tested in a matter of hours, from CNC machine straight to the waves. Some ideas are good, and some are bad, but the bottom line is, these guys know what will work.
Having a great fin is not only for business, either. With every employee in the Futures Fin shop being a surfer, a true passion drives theses snappers to provide the best they can, so they can surf they best they can. The company was based on that idea from the start, with the Longo brothers working out of a garage, using trial and error to create the best fin possible. By being a family owned company, the Longo’s can disregard the stereotypical business outline, and focus on what is most important to them; impressing surfers everywhere. And it shows, with team riders such as Rob Machado, Jordy Smith, and John John Florence, pushing the limits of these fins on a steady basis.
The most important factor of Futures Fins is the technology. There are so many different factors of a fin to address, and Futures Fins leaves no stone unturned.
Fin Boxes
Futures fin boxes are the most user friendly and strongest removable fin system available on the market. The system offers all the positive features of removable fins, while providing better performance than glass-on fins.
A large benefit is the full base, that allows for 60% more attachment than regular plug-in fins, as well as the flange, which creates a stronger connection between the box and the fiberglass, giving the board and fin more strength.
The truss style base provides the most strength possible, while still cutting as much weight as possible. With the Futures system thruster set being 2 grams lighter, and stronger, than your standard plug-in system, the decision is starting to lean to one side. The technology within the fins itself will be the nail in the coffin, though.
Future offers four different styles of foils on their fins; V2, V, Tow, and Flat.
V2 Foil
Drive in bottom turns, but breaks free in the lip like a flat fin
V. Foil
Great for getting speed if you are having trouble finding it. Fluid rail to rail transitions.
Tow Foil
Designed for stability at high speeds.
Flat Foil
Flat foiled fins break free sooner, and are better at controlling speed. Often surfers prefer them in fast powerful surf where they do not need to create additional speed.
These fins have two different flex styles, called BlackStix, and Techflex. BlackStix is made for a rotational flew pattern, while the Techflex style is made for a more lateral bend, as well as including normal fiberglass and honeycomb fins. Future uses seven different materials, including carbon, kevlar, honeycomb, composite, G10, texalium, and fiberglass, in different ways, to give your fin the right amount of flex, in the right spot. This positioning of certain materials precisely in certain areas helps to reduce unnatural flex, and give you that glass-on fin feeling.
With there being over 70 different styles of fins from Futures, all fully explained on their website (futuresfins.com), there certainly will be a set perfectly matched to your style shredding. And with the Futures factory being right here in SoCal, you will be not only supporting the local surfing scene, but will be supported by surfers who just want to make the best product for you. Go find your set!