Snorkeling is a sport that is enjoyed by all water-lovers! But escaping into the beautiful underwater world is a lot more fun when you don’t have to worry about ill-fitting rental gear. Even the best swimmers can tire on long snorkeling trips if their fins are low quality. When you choose to invest in the best snorkeling fins you get to spend longer amounts of time in the water without cramping or tiring. Owning your top-quality fins makes it a lot easier for you to snorkel whenever and wherever you want!
We have found and listed this year’s best snorkel fins on the market. These fins will ensure that your next trip in the water is as enjoyable as can be.
OUR TOP PICK
Wildhorn Topside
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Adjustable heel strap
- Compact and light for travel
- Powerful and amphibious
Blade Size: Short blade
Heel: Open heel
EDITORS CHOICE
Cressi AGUA Adult Short
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Self-adjusting foot pocket
- Hydrodynamic rails
- Maximum flexibility
Blade Size: Short blade
Heel: Closed heel
BEST VALUE
Seavenger Torpedo Swim
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Fast-drying carrying bag included
- Open heel design
- Vented blades enhance power
Blade Size: Short blade
Heel: Open heel
U.S. Divers Proflex FX
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Mesh carrying bag included
- Bright and vibrant color choice
- Two-year warranty
Blade Size: Long blade
Heel: Open heel
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Compact length
- Added buoyancy
- Sizes for the whole family
Blade Size: Short blade
Open Heel: Closed heel
Cressi PLUMA, Full Foot Lightweight
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 20% longer for a powerful kick
- Stretchy material for comfort
- Non-slip foot pocket
Blade Size: Long blade
Heel: Closed heel
US Divers Trek Travel
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Powerful snapback
- Soft foot pocket
- Mesh bag included
Blade Size: Short blade
Heel: Closed heel
U.S. Divers Proflex II Diving
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Comfortable foot pocket
- Two-year warranty
- Wide range of sizes
Blade Size: Long blade
Heel: Closed Heel
Phantom Aquatics Speed Sport Adjustable
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Durable fins
- Optimized hinge point correction
- Extended soleplate
Blade Size: Long blade
Heel: Open heel
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Sturdy side rails
- Soft comfortable foot pockets
- Mesh carrying bag included
Heel: Open heel
Blade Size: Long blade
How To Choose The Best Snorkel Fins – Buying Guide
Full Foot vs Open Heel
This is the most important key feature in determining the type of snorkeling fin that is best for you. Whether you decide to opt for a full foot or an open heel design, it is best to start by learning your foot size.
Full foot fins
These are designed to be worn without the use of socks. This barefoot design is excellent for snorkeling in warm water. These fins typically tend to have shorter blades and weigh lighter than open heel fins. For this reason, they are better for traveling.
Related Review: Scuba Fins For Travel
Open heel fins
These fins are often worn with booties as the heel strap can cause chafing. This makes them perfect for cold water swims as they provide added warmth. Open heel fins are often more powerful. They are also more convenient for snorkeling sites which require a long on-shore trek as booties protect your feet from rough surfaces. This style is more popular than their full-foot counterparts as they fit a wider range of feet.
Split or Paddle
There are two main types of blades for snorkeling fins. Split fins provide more propulsion than paddle fins, requiring you to use less effort and therefore allowing you to swim for longer. Paddle fins, on the other hand, have a stiff single-blade design that requires more leg muscle to get you moving.
Long Fins vs Short Fins
Long fins tend to propel you much faster through the water and require much less effort. These are great for beginners as they move you much faster than their shortfin counterparts. Short fins, on the other hand, produce a lot of power with every kick while being compact and therefore easy to travel with.
Personal preference
There are many ways to customize your best snorkeling fins to ensure they are right for you. Most are available in many different colors, allowing you to express your style, even underwater. Snorkel fins also vary in price so finding a good deal and sticking to your budget is easier than ever before.
Snorkeling Guidelines
Some people believe that all you need to know when snorkeling is how fast you can get in the water! While we appreciate that level of enthusiasm, having a bit more knowledge about the sport will prove useful. To help with your burning questions, we have provided some answers to common snorkel-related questions below.
FAQs
Q: How To Use Snorkel Fins?
While fins should be an extension of your body, they also make your body move differently. Instead of small, short kicks, you should move your legs in large, smooth movements. When you need to move fast these large movements will propel you farther with much less effort than swimming without the fins.
Related Review: Swim FinsQ: How Should Snorkel Fins Fit?
Q: How To Size Snorkel Fins?
Much like fitting shoes, your feet should be supported and comfortable. This should be the case no matter what kind of fins you have. Snorkeling should be comfortable, even relaxing. Keep in mind that some fins have an adjustable strap that secures your foot in place. If you have a similar size foot as some of your family or friends, you may be able to share a single pair of fins by adjusting the strap to suit their foot.
Q: How Do I Properly Wear Snorkel Fins?
After ensuring that you have the proper size and style of fin, you will want to see if your fins can be worn on their own, such as with a full foot design, or if they will work best with a sock, such as with an open-heeled design. It is most often recommended to put your fins on as close to the water as possible. Once on, walk into the water backward or sideways. This may look and feel silly but it will reduce the chance of breaking the blade (or of you tumbling over!).
Once in the water, allow your fins to do all the work. There is no need to use your hands, it will slow you down. Try folding your arms across your chest to help remind you not to use them. You will want to kick using a small and graceful straight-legged kick. Use the whole leg rather than just the part below your knee. The idea is to glide floating across the surface so be sure to keep your legs moving slow and strong.
Q: How Do I Clean Snorkel Fins?
Like all saltwater gear, cleaning your fins after every use is incredibly important. Ideally, cleaning your fins is something that would be done every time you leave the water, but at the very least they should be rinsed when you are finished for the day. The actual cleaning is easy to do. Simply rinse your fins thoroughly with clean fresh water and allow them to naturally air dry out of direct sunlight. When storing your fins, it is important to keep them straight and not on their tips. You can do this by laying them flat or hanging them by their strap.
Q: What Is The Difference Between Snorkeling Fins Vs. Diving Fins?
Contrary to popular belief, there is a difference between snorkel fins and diving fins. When you are in the water you want to ensure that you have the proper fins to make your snorkel experience as easy and pleasurable as possible. Different fins are made for different water depths. They are designed for use at shallower depths; they are made quite a bit shorter and have fewer features than those found for diving.
These fins are typically a full foot design to eliminate the need for socks. Scuba fins have a lot more features than their basic partners to help you kick further and battle stronger currents. Typically sporting an open heel design these complex fins come at a longer length. The longer length allows you to generate more power with each kick. These fins typically feature channels that allow the water to travel through the fins.
Related Review: Scuba FinsCaring for your snorkeling fins
Properly caring for your fins will ensure that you get more wear from your fins by greatly increasing their lifespan. After every use, we recommend you rinse your fins with freshwater. Using warm water works best as it will dissolve all the salt particles on your gear. Once washed, ensure you air dry your fins to avoid a mildew smell. This can be done in a mesh carrying bag for ease of travel.
When not in use, store your gear out of the sun. The sun will cause the lifespan of your flippers to greatly decrease. When storing your gear, it is important to store them flat. This will ensure that your gear doesn’t have a permanent bend or fold in them which can decrease its integrity.
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Do you use a pair of snorkeling fins that made it on our list? Let us know how it has improved your snorkeling experience in the comment section below.