Walk down any beach on a good day and you will see the AM2 template under the boards of the better surfers. The Futures AM2 Blackstix Tri pairs that shape with Blackstix construction, the stiffer, more reactive end of the Futures flex range. The question it answers: is this just a rake fin with a premium price, or does it do something other fins do not?
The Template
The AM2 is the large Al Merrick template in the Futures system. The side fins are big and raked, and the center fin is smaller. The raked outline gives you drive and hold in long, drawn-out turns. The smaller trailer cuts drag, so the tail frees up when you want to snap off the lip.
One naming warning. Futures and FCS do not label sizes the same way, and owners report that the Futures large feels bigger in the water than the FCS large. Treat the names as a rough guide and check the area chart for the exact set.
What Blackstix Means
Futures sells the same AM2 shape in several constructions. Honeycomb is the balanced all-rounder. Techflex is the high-performance option. Blackstix sits at the stiff, responsive end, built to store energy as you load a turn and give it back as you come out of it. In practice that feels like a bit of spring through the turn.
Futures also rates fins with a Ride Number, a scale that describes how much flex and feel a set has. It is useful for comparing sets within the brand, so look it up for the exact construction you are buying.
How It Surfs
The first thing you notice is hold. Load a bottom turn and the raked side fins bite and push you through the arc. On a long, open wall that feels great: the board stays engaged with the face and you can lean on it.
The release is the second thing. With the smaller center fin, the tail comes around when you ask. It is a drive fin that does not feel pinned.
Where it can fall short is in messy water. A stiffer set can feel nervous or chattery in chop, and in weak surf you may find it too tracky. Surfers say this about the AM2 in general: it is a really popular, really good template, but some find it too tracky for their taste.
The Debate
You will see the same question over and over: is the AM2 just rake with carbon? On paper, a little. In practice, how the flex is built into the fin decides how it feels. The stiffer constructions are best in steep, powerful waves. Owners who surf softer, average waves tend to say go with Honeycomb instead: it keeps the template's balance of rake and base with a smaller trailer to keep things loose, without the stiffness.
That is the honest answer. Blackstix is a specialist choice. If your wave quality is average most days, you may never use what you paid for.
Setup and Tuning
Futures fins are held in by a grub screw, so you need the key. The base is wide and the fit is snug, which is part of why the system feels solid under load. Check that the screws are snug before every session, and rinse the boxes after sandy days so grit does not strip the threads.
The size you pick matters as much as the construction. A large set on a board that wants a smaller one feels heavy and hard to tip onto the rail. If you are between sizes, think about the kind of wave you surf most, not your best day. A stiff, large fin earns its keep when the wave has real push and punishes you when it does not.
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if you surf punchy, steep waves with enough power to load the fin, you like drive and a lively tail, and you are an intermediate to advanced surfer. It suits a board that wants to be pushed hard.
Look elsewhere if you mostly ride small or crumbly waves, if you are still working on rail control, or if you want a forgiving feel. In that case, Honeycomb in the same template is the safer buy, and the cheaper one.
Pro tip: If the AM2 feels like too much, try the next size down or a more flexible construction before you give up on the template.
Alternatives
The FCS II AM is the same idea in a different system, with a smaller area and a stiffer feel. Channel Islands also makes AM-style fins that run a bit larger in the medium size. All three are in the same family but differ in flex and area.
Verdict
The Futures AM2 Blackstix Tri is a strong template in a stiff construction. It is fast, it holds, and it releases. It is also an expensive, specialized set that works best in better waves. A great tool for the right surfer and a bad fit for everyone else.
