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The best Dive Fins For 2019
Our best Dive Fins recommendation
Choosing the right fin can make a huge difference to your diving. The wrong fin for your technique and body will be uncomfortable, inefficient and will leave you with aching muscles and legs after every dive. On the other hand, the right fin choice will make your diving a breeze, and allow you to glide through the water almost effortlessly.
Mares Avanti Quattro Plus
The Mares Avanti Quattro fins have been one of the leading fins on the market for many years. The powerful fins are a favorite for many dive instructors and divemaster, as well as a host of other experienced divers. The fin delivers a solid performance in almost every condition imaginable and is very durable. Some divers have had their fins for 15 years or more.
Features:
Pros:
Great performance in almost all conditions
Can produce very powerful frog kicks
Very comfortable to dive with
Available as either closed heel or open heel
Cons:
A little on the expensive side
Does not come as standard with metal straps
Scubapro Jet Fins
Arguably one of the most iconic fins ever made; the Scubapro jet fins trace their heritage back over fifty years. These shorter hard rubber fins are a favorite with technical and drysuit divers, since they enable them to maintain proper trim, as well as execute excellent propulsion techniques.
Features:
Solid rubber construction
Vented fin blade design to increase propulsion efficiency
Unique buckle system makes attaching aftermarket spring straps easy
Tough rubber strap
Large sizes available so can be worn with rock boots
Pros:
Extremely durable
The best fin for trim and frog kicking
Acts as a great counterweight when using a drysuit
Capable of generating enormously powerful kicks
Cons:
A little heavy which can be a problem when traveling
Does not come with spring straps as standard
Atomic Aquatics Split Fins
An incredible amount of design engineering has gone into Atomic Aquatics Split Fins. In fact some research has shown that the design can reduce air consumption, due to the way the fin blades split to create wings that push water more efficiently. The design is proven to produce less stress on the knees and calves than other traditional blade fins.
Features:
Comes with spring strap as standard
Very light and strong construction
Available in open heel
Channel on the fin blades aid with propulsion
Pros:
Split fin design is suited to some divers
Very light
Comes with spring straps as standard
Very comfortable to use
Cons:
Very Expensive
Split fins are not the best when it comes to strong currents
Sherwood Triton
The Sherwood Triton is a new design that features three vents between the foot pocket and the main blade of the fin. The vents mean you need less power to perform a downward kick and reduces drag significantly on the up stroke of the kick. Also, channels on the fin blade help with water flow and increase the power of your kicks.
Features:
Three vents help to deliver strong kicks
Large comfortable foot pockets
Positively buoyant fins
Lightweight and durable
Design means less power needed to kick and less drag
Pros:
The fins are capable of powerful strokes
Large foot pocket makes the fins very comfortable
Strong and durable construction
Positively buoyant so will float if they come off
Cons:
There are better designs on the market
The Fin buckles are bulky
Aqualung Phazer
Features:
The Aqualung Phazer fins are an ultra-modern design that combines three materials to make a super-efficient fin. The fin uses Wave Rib technology to enhance the power and force of your kicks. The strong ribs create rigidity for control, while the soft rubber sections add extra power to the kick. The overall effect is to make kicking much more efficient and simpler. The fins feature canals that increase water flow and stroke power.
Pros:
Very comfortable and easy to use
Strong, efficient kicks
Design reduces the energy needed to kick
Comes as standard with spring straps as standard
Cons:
Can be expensive when compared to other fins
Don’t feel very durable
SEAC Propulsion S
The SEAC Propulsion S is a tried and tested older design that provides plenty of power and comfort. The fin has three rubber channels that act as scoops which provide more power when kicking. While the rigid side ribs of the fins provide plenty of strength and durability for the fins.
Features:
Spring straps as standard
Large comfortable foot pockets
Lightweight, compared to other similar models
Strong ribs on the side to help generate power when kicking
Durable and strong construction
Pros:
Comes with spring straps as standard
Medium weight fin
Good strong kicks and performance
Very comfortable to wear
Good Value for money
Cons:
There are more modern designs on the market today
Spring straps stick out too much
I use a drysuit which type of fins should I use?
While ultimately this will depend on personal preference, however, if you do a quick poll of a lot of technical divers who mainly dive in dry suits, you will find that most dive in solid rubber fins like the famous Scubapro Jet fins or turtle fins. There are several reasons for this. First, if you have proper trim with knees bent and swim using frog kicks these fins make a lot of sense. The heavy fins act as a counterweight that offsets any positive buoyancy effects of air trapped in your dry suit boots, or the bottom of your drysuit legs. Second, the shorter fins are easier to use in confined spaces which makes them easy to use in caves and wrecks. Finally, the rigid fins are great to use once you have developed some advanced propulsion techniques like Frog Kicking, Helicopter turns, and back kicks.
Should I chose open heel vs. closed heel?
Choosing whether to use open or closed fins will ultimately depend on the style of diving you do, and individual comfort levels. Closed heel fins are comfortable and less bulky than open heel fins. They are ideal for diving off a boat in warm tropical waters. They are not great for colder water since bare feet or thin neoprene socks will not provide enough thermal protection. Another major drawback of closed heel fins is shore diving. If you regularly shore dive, then walking in off stony beaches or rocks can be an unpleasant experience in your bare feet or socks, with all your scuba gear on. Open heel fins worn with boots are ideal either shore diving or diving from a boat. The neoprene boots also provide a little more warmth in cold diving conditions. The major drawback of closed heel fins is that you need to wear boots with them. So if you travel to dive, you will have to factor the additional weight into account.
Should I Choose Spring Straps or Regular Rubber Straps?
Both spring straps and regular rubber straps have their strengths and weaknesses. Rubber straps are cheaper and come as standard with most fins. They are easy to use and if one breaks they are pretty simple to replace. The main drawback of rubber straps is that they do have a habit of breaking at the most inconvenient of times. Quite often experienced divers will carry a spare strap including buckles in their dive box or dive BCD pocket. This issue of reliability is totally solved with spring straps, they are solid and will last a lifetime. Also, they are very easy to put on, you simply pull them over your heel, there is no need to adjust the buckles or strap each time you use it. The main issue with Spring straps is that they do not come as standard with most fins, and you have to buy them separately. This is inconvenient when you consider that most spring straps are relatively expensive. Another problem with spring straps is that they are not made with buckles to fit all types of fins, so if you want to buy them, but none are made for your model of fin, you will have to buy new fins as well. However if you decide to use spring straps you will be amazed, they are a dream to use, feel solid and secure, and you will never again have an issue with broken straps.
Which are the best fins for frog kicking?
You can frog quick using almost every fin out there. However different fin designs mean you have to modify your technique a little. Most standard fins whether of rigid design like the Scubapro Jet fins or those featuring a softer fin blade like the Mares Avanti Quattro are excellent at frog kicking. However, very short fins and fins with split blades are much more difficult to frog kick with. Mastering frog kicking using those types of fins requires some extensive modification of your technique.
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