Innovation and evolution are the terms most sought after by manufacturing companies. In a historical period like ours where everything must be smart and perfectly functional to every consumer need, the big players in the industry are "forced" to seek this not easy balance to avoid falling behind or, more simply, to always have a greater distance from competitors. A company that follows this modus operandi is undoubtedly H. Dessault by C4. In fact, C4 Carbon has acquired the historic brand H. Dessault several years ago with the intention of transforming an iconic brand from the 90s into a modern branch of C4, with the aim of creating a line of products specific to the modern and demanding fisherman. Among the numerous items in the catalog, today we talk about the new Fast HD fins. A fin in continuous evolution and innovation. In just a few months, it has already been renewed three times, constantly bringing significant improvements that make it suitable for every need. The premise is that until last year, the Fast was in the C4 Carbon catalog as an "entry-level" model, with a price significantly lower than C4's niche products. With the acquisition of the French brand, several "promising" items, which perhaps could not carve out the right space in a catalog made up of dozens of excellent products, have undergone an upgrade of innovation and evolution of materials, with careful engineering study, thus making a leap in quality and going from a product of the last/medium range to a top-of-the-line product. This is what happened with the Fast. The first improvement made concerns the total absence of long ribs along the fin, characterized by an increasingly lighter foot pocket and a much more performing carbon blade. H. Dessault has indeed created the new 350 foot pocket without long ribs, a light and comfortable model in fitting, which adds value to the blade, made with Japanese t700 carbon, thus managing to fully exploit the elastic capabilities thanks to the absence of the rubber long rib. Also greatly improved are the water rails, both in shape, which therefore allows better water channeling compared to the previous model, but above all in the material, decidedly more elastic and which smoothly accompanies the carbon to further improve performance. The Fast weighs only 650 grams, with a length of 79 centimeters, making it a truly versatile fin suitable for every technique in different weather conditions. 

Unboxing and sea trial As soon as I picked them up, the Fast struck me for the lightness and softness of the materials. I chose to use the medium hardness, suitable for my weight and training status. The fins are available on the market with three different hardness types: soft 25, medium 30, hard 40. The 350 foot pocket is the evolution of the 400, which I know well. The difference between the two lies in the fact that the 350s do not have the long ribs and adopt a very quick and easy mounting system, also useful for transporting them on air trips. The blade is therefore presented "naked" for the entire length, with the water rails that help to channel the water and make the swimming smooth and composed. The Fast logo has been modified compared to the old C4 model, it is now cleaner and more elegant. The famous grouper of Dessault in the middle of the word Fast makes the blade even more attractive, but the signature of the C4 Technology engineers is absolutely not lacking and is clearly visible. 

During the numerous days at sea, I wanted to stress them as much as possible, trying to find their right placement. In the winter period, in fact, I usually alternate different types of fishing, ranging from outings from land in the foam to those by rubber boat in search of white fish on the shallow offshore banks, but above all I often make many "fin" outings starting from the beach to fish in the cracks in the beachrock stripes very present in my area, covering many kilometers swimming. I must say that in all types of fishing the fin responded excellently. In the foam, I appreciated its reactivity in short movements, while in the deeper dives the amplitude of the stroke made the descents really relaxing. However, I always like to find a specific placement for each type of equipment or, better, to be able to understand the strong point and the maximum performance of a product. And I must say that land outings with the "selective race" plate are really the must for this agile fin! This is because you cover many kilometers with the plate without being able to stop to rest, you face currents and waves and, above all, you make many dives at different depths. In short, a light, comfortable, and performing fin is needed for every situation. 

Having passed all my tests during the two-month trial period, I decided to take the Fast to a competition, demonstrating my full trust in this product, leaving on the bench the model that had accompanied me for years. It happened in mid-January, when I took part in the qualification trial in Costa Rei, swimming 5.8 kilometers in just 4 hours and bringing 12 fish to weigh, of which only 9 were valid. 

Wearing fins with these characteristics allowed me to feel no fatigue or pain in my legs and ankles. My dives ranged from 5 to 22 meters, with quite long movements between one signal and another. That's why I find such a versatile model to be truly innovative on the market. The pursuit of performance and comfort is necessary for the modern fisherman, who can no longer afford to label himself as a passive or ambush fisherman, but needs to be as complete as possible. Consequently, he needs "all-purpose" equipment, such as the Fast H. Dessault. 

TOPS AND FLOPS 

Tops: A fin with an attractive look and versatility, suitable for every fishing technique. Lightness is definitely its strong point. 

Flops: The foot pocket is available in 6 sizes, but it's a pity that intermediate sizes (41/42 and 43/44) are not available, as is the case with the C4 250. 

Rating  

Design: 8 A black fin, simple, with the logo always black with white edges. An "old school" model, which reflects the fisherman without much fuss. In short, simple and effective! 

Materials: 9 The new Japanese t700 carbon fiber takes the Fast to the next level. The transition to H. Dessault makes it the flagship product of the company. 

Comfort: 9 The new 350 foot pocket plays a fundamental role. Really comfortable and quick to put on, it also has the advantage of being extremely lightweight. In various fishing situations and techniques, after many hours at sea, I have never experienced fatigue or pain. 

Performance: 9 I can't give the highest rating because I couldn't test them in depth given the time of year. But a solid 9 is well deserved. I'm sure it will meet expectations even in summer outings. 

Value for Money: 10 As mentioned, the Fast has gone from a last/medium range product in C4 to a top-of-the-line product in Dessault. The improvement in materials and applied studies make it one of the most interesting products on the market. And one of the reasons is surely the price, which has not undergone major changes since the fin was in C4. 

The Foot Pocket  
The new 350 represents the evolution of the now consolidated 400, from which the long ribs have been removed. The name refers to the weight of the single foot pocket in size 42/43. The ease of fitting and the comfort in wearing make it unique in its kind. 

The Water Rails  
With the absence of long ribs, the water rails play an increasingly fundamental role. The Fast mounts the Elastic-K10 black, which, thanks to their shape and high elasticity, "occupy" almost the entire length of the carbon fiber. 

The Fixing Kit  
Newly designed, thanks to a pass-through screw and a manual grip nut, it allows for quick assembly and disassembly of the blades; useful for travelers or for those who want to change the blade between sea and pool.