How to Choose the Right Pair of Swim Fins?

When it comes to swim fins, there is more than meets the eye. Between blade shape, length, and stiffness, there’s a lot to look for when you’re on the hunt for a specific training fin. But, if you know a few key details to look for, you’ll be headed in the right direction and towards the perfect swim fin for you and your training sessions. Read on to find out more!

 

When shopping for swim fins, ask yourself, “What will I be using these fins for?” For the sake of this scenario, let’s assume that you want to purchase a pair of Swim fins. Unlike fins that are specifically designed for diving, swim fins feature short, powerful blades that help speed up stroke tempo and increase leg strength. But, again, that’s not all there is to picking out the right fin.

 

You’ll want to really take a look at what kind of blade the fins utilize. If you’re looking for a fin that can do it all, meaning that it can work with the Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, and even Breaststroke, then take a look at the fin’s blade shape. If you like to change up your stroke of choice, you’ll need a pair of fins that are specifically shaped for multiple strokes. The Finis Positive Drive Fins are a perfect example of this type of swim fin. Their unique elliptical blade design allows them to work with, not against, any kind of kick.

 

If you’re looking for a fin that’s designed to give short, fast, quick kicks, then take a look at how long the fins’ blades are. Longer blades produce a powerful, yet slower kick, while shorter blades promote faster kicks. Short blades also help build leg strength and can train muscular endurance. Finis Zoomers Gold a great example of short blade swim fins. Their compact design, along with stiff rubber blades, creates optimal propulsion that benefits both fitness and competitive swimmers.

 

Finally, you’ll need to decide how stiff of fins you would prefer for your training sessions. Stiff blades, like short blades, produce a powerful, muscle building kick. While softer, yet equally as powerful, more flexible blades give you more maneuverability and flex. You can even find fins with split blades that give you solid forward propulsion, as well as flexibility for use. The Aqua Sphere Zip Fins are a favorite split fin  design. The split in the blade provides efficient water flow and helps eliminate ankle fatigue often associated with fin use.

 

After deciding on fin purpose and blade design, ask yourself, “Do the fins fit well enough?” And the key words here are ‘well enough’. Because there are so many styles and shapes of fins, you’re going to find that there might not be a fin out there that fits your foot to a T. While this might sound like a bad thing, it’s actually not. Over time, the pliable material used to make the fin’s foothold will mold to your foot’s form, giving you the ultimate customized fit. Keep this in mind when trying on fins and if you’re in between sizes, opt for the pair that’s a bit on the smaller end. While a fin’s foot pocket will stretch overtime, it’s highly unlikely it will shrink to fit your foot.