I've started acquiring a few new fins from Raido Surf and have been very VERY impressed with the quality but also the level of service.

I stumbled across them chasing up a set of traditional Simmons Half Moon Keels. I was a real pain (no surprises there) and needed a bunch of details both about the fin, the sizing/cant etc as well as measurements for setting the fin boxes, etc etc and the service was AMAZING, they just couldn't be more helpful so I ordered a set.

Anyways, I got my keels and the quality is as good as anything I've seen (but at a much cheaper price), put these guys in the True Ames or Alkali camp. In fact the fins are made by the same crew who make the True Ames product so the quality is bang on.

Really stoked on the keels I went and checked out what else they had and stumbled across the K-Fiber single fin, here's the blurb...

"On the search for the highest quality materials, we came about this amazing new material. A new cloth emerged from one of our sources and it is called K-Fiber. This material has the outstanding OG look, strength, and similar flex of a Volan Fin. We have been working closely with some of the best shapers in the industry that have easily put it down as well as a Volan Fin.
Inspired by the famous George Greenough's template, this well-crafted, hand foiled, K-Fiber fin will work great in all size conditions as a single, or 2+1 fin set up.

This template has a slightly wider stiff base for extra drive, stiffer flex throughout the fin, and a narrow rounded tip section for great maneuverability allowing quicker release, leading to quicker turns.
An excellent all-rounder choice for beaches and point breaks."

So I now have an 8" K Fiber, which is a really stunning fin, that I'm using in my 7'6" self shaped Evolution style V Bottom. Only one surf but I really REALLY liked it, felt very smooth and great projection. The flex is noticeably different to the Alkali I was running, not totally sure what it was but it just worked, was really fun. So much so that I'm now looking at a 7.5" to compare to the Captain Fin Brothers Marshall that has been an absolute staple in my Lovelace ThickLizzy. Currently they don't make a 7.5" so i'll try the 8" and might grab another to sand back to a 7.5".

Also ordered a set bonzer sides for Lizzy when it gets bigger, I haven't tried these yet but they look unreal. Traditionally I find side bites far too big but these look a great size, a tad smaller than the TA's.

Anyways, check em out here, I've been really impressed so far and I'll update this thread after a few more surfs... Cheers.

raidosurf.com/

Really nice Insta page with some awesome surfers riding their gear.

www.instagram.com/raidosurf/

bugger the fins, show some pictures of the vee bottom board

"Anyways, I got my keels and the quality is as good as anything I've seen (but at a much cheaper price), put these guys in the True Ames or Alkali camp. In fact the fins are made by the same crew who make the True Ames product so the quality is bang on."
Same factory in China so it makes sense. The mark up on Chinese made fins is an eye opener.

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Cuttlefish said..
"Anyways, I got my keels and the quality is as good as anything I've seen (but at a much cheaper price), put these guys in the True Ames or Alkali camp. In fact the fins are made by the same crew who make the True Ames product so the quality is bang on."
Same factory in China so it makes sense. The mark up on Chinese made fins is an eye opener.

Yeah, they all either come from Thailand and/or China these days but there are a pretty large range of qualities...

I have tried some and they just orrible!!! The Sanctum ones are a classic example, their side bites and upright twins seem decent, but then there single fins are absolute dogs, like whacking an anchor on the back of your board...

I think Alkali were about the last ones to still make them in Australia but I'm pretty sure they don't now after they sold...

What I can say is that so far all of the Raido fins I've acquired are really well balanced/made fins.

I have no idea if the Sanctum fins could come out of the same factory as the Raido, TA, Alkali. I only have one Sanctum single which is the copy of the Greenough 4A. Seem to recall the fin wouldn't sit down flush in the box but that's not an issue peculiar to Sanctum's single fins and the board I have tried it in I prefer an Alkali 7" (not sure if Aust or Chinese made but suspect Australian) with fcs bonzer sides but that's more because I prefer that set up's feel versus the flexy single in that particular board. I've run the board without the fcs bonzer runners in really small waves which felt good.
Interestingly I just tried a set of the Alkali keels in the new 7' Hughies fish and think I'm going to run it with the Sanctum flex twins as a better option. The Raidos have a lot of free play side to side on their bases in the futures box but tightening the grub screw down they became solid. Sometimes with Futures its a super snug fit pushing the fin bases into the boxes.

Rasta and Modii keels overlaid on the Raidos. The Modii's are essentially a K2 Futures template.


Webber Soar flex twin and a Sanctum flex twin overlaid on the Raidos.

I just stumbled across Raido recently. Emailed back and forth with Jim today actually. You're right about the service, super helpful, responds quickly and seems to know his stuff.