Choose the right swimming fins suitable for you

Swimming fins, or flippers, are an essential piece of swimming equipment. Swimming fins are used for your feet, during either kick, drill, or swim.

Fins are an excellent way to improve your leg strength. They also provide speed so that swimmers can work on pace and endurance building.

Swimming fins are available online and at most sport department and stores, so you can get them almost anywhere.

This is important because they enhance workouts in many ways. If you are a pre-competitive, or competitive swimmer, you should own a pair of fins, regardless of your age. 

Swimming kickboards, hand paddles and snorkels are other essential swim equipment a swimmer should own.

In this article, we will discuss which fins are a good choice, how sizing and age determine the fins you buy,  the types of fins, and why you need them. 

Best Swimming fins

Finis Long Floating Fin

The finis long floating fin is probably the most popular long fin on the market. It is one of the essential swimming equipment in any swimmer’s kit. It has a wide range of sizes, and can fit children of eight years as well as adults. This is probably the best fin you can buy, since it is easily available.

Pros:

• Easily available
• Not too cumbersome
• Good fit
• Wide range of sizes
• Provides good speed.

Cons

• Can wear down after 2 years, with a tendency to lose silicon quality and tear.  

Arena Powerfin Pro Fins

These fins are best for more competitive swimmers. They are a short fin, and are very hydrodynamic. They provide good speed, and are durable. It allows the swimmer to build strength and endurance, and exhibit more control over body movements during practice. 

Pros

• Good quality
• Hydrodynamic
• Beneficial for workouts

Cons

• Expensive

Speedo Unisex-Adult Biofuse Fin

This fin is a less expensive version of the Arena Powerfin. It is not as hydrodynamic, but it allows the swimmer to develop lower body strength, as well as technique. 

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Lower body strength
• Soft material

Cons

• Very heavy

Swimming fins for children

Speedo Biofuse Competitive Fitness Fin, Small, Pack of 2 (Blue/Green) 

The Speedo biofuse fins are also available for children. They come as short fins that give your feet more power instead of length. This allows children to develop leg strength without being too cumbersome and affecting streamline position. It is great for pre-competitive children. 

Pros

• Faster training and strength
• Versatility
• Lightweight and minimal

Cons

• Does not fit everyone’s feet. 

Why do you need swimming fins?

Swimming fins are used for many benefits. Using fins can help develop your leg strength, especially during kick sets. It can also improve your technique. With a more powerful kick, your body is in a more streamlined position.

Since fins help you swim faster, they are ideal for aerobic sets where pacing is important. Fins make it easier to keep time, it becomes much easier to develop endurance.

Apart from this, they can also help with ankle flexibility, and making sure you follow through during the up and down beats of your kick.

Depending on the fin you use, it can also force you to exert more energy for your kick, providing a good workout for your muscles. 

What are short and long fins? What are they used for 

Short fins are fins that do not extend more than 2 inches past your toe. They are usually used for resistance or strength training. These are good for workouts where you want to build the strength of your kick.

Short swim fins provide a wider surface area for your foot, instead of a longer one. Since it is similar to your actual feet, the difference will not be great. Therefore, it is easy to apply the technique used during fins to your actual swimming.

Long fins are at least twice the size of your actual foot. They are mostly used for diving, and long-distance sets.

Long fins are more popular for pre-competitive and competitive, since they allow you to swim much faster than short fins. They help improve your technique by bettering streamline position.

They can also be used during drills and kick to provide a powerful kick so that you can focus on the rest of your body in its alignment. 

How do you know the size of your long fins?

Fins are measured very similarly to shoes. Most of them will provide sizing in US sizing since they are American companies. Find your shoe size and convert it to American sizing.

Alternatively, you can also try your friends’ fins to see where you would lie on the scale. It is possible that certain fins fit differently from the sizing given. If you like a pair that you see someone else wearing, ask them about the sizing. 

How to maintain the fins

It is inevitable that the fins will degrade over time. If you are not using your fins, please keep them in a dry place, away from moisture, since it can grow fungus and mold.

You should not keep your fins without use for long, because they will deteriorate. Most fins only last about 2yrs. 

What to do with your old fin

Fins are usually in perfect condition for smaller children who outgrow them usually. It is best to hand over your old swimming flippers to some kid younger to you.