Side Bite 3.7 Futures Compatible Side Bite Fins – Futures-Compatible
A 3.7" side bite pair in hexcore, Futures-compatible — the small outside fins that turn a single-fin board into a 2+1.
The Fin
A 3.7" side bite pair in hexcore, Futures-compatible — the small outside fins that turn a single-fin board into a 2+1.
Side bites convert a single-fin board into a 2+1: the centre fin still does the steering, and the two small fins add hold through a turn and drive off the bottom. The trade is some of the loose, pivoty feel a single fin has on its own, which is why size is the real decision.
This size
At 3.7" these sit in the middle, and are the size most people end up on. Noticeably more hold and drive than the 3.25", still short of locking the tail down.
Construction
Hexcore construction is lighter than solid glass and flexes more, which reads as a livelier, springier fin.
Specifications
True Ames calls 3.7 its most recommended size for longboard 2+1 setups, and the template backs that up: it is meaningful without overwhelming the center fin doing the actual steering.
The default side bite for a longboard or performance log with side boxes: pair it with a cutaway-style center in the 7 inch range and let the 3.7s catch the tail when you push into a turn a single fin would slide out of — that is rail-to-rail confidence the center fin alone cannot give. Size down to the 2.6 or 3.25 to keep single-fin glide on a fuller mid-length, or up to the 4.0 for maximum rail grip in bigger surf.
The Side Bite 3.7 is a True Ames side-bite set sold as a pair, here in Futures-compatible solid fiberglass. It sits in the middle of the True Ames side-bite range, which runs from 2.6" to 4.35", with an upright template, modest rake, and a moderate base. It is designed for 2+1 setups on longboards and performance logs, paired with a reduced center fin — the review suggests a 7" to 7.5" center on a 9-foot board.
Mentioned in the review — Side Bite 4.0 · Side Bite 3.25 · Side Bite 2.6 — not something we carry.