Design features
Experienced underwater hunters, when buying new fins, always pay attention to the heel - it is one of the most important features of various models.
The heel can be either closed or open. In the first case, the foot is simply inserted into the flipper, like into a galosh. But in this case, you need to know exactly your size of fins for hunting - someone else with a foot of a different size will not be able to use them.
Spearfishing fins with open heel
Therefore, many amateurs prefer the second option. It allows you to adjust the size of the fins within a few centimeters. By loosening the strap, you can insert your leg and secure it securely. It would seem that the advantage of such a design is obvious. However, as practice shows, this solution also has certain disadvantages. The main one is the presence of protruding parts. The strap and buckles cause a lot of problems if hunting is carried out in weeds. In addition, they may well get caught in a net set by other fishermen - and this will put the life of the owner in danger, because it is not always possible to quickly and easily get out of it or at least remove the fins to save a life.
It is for this reason that many experienced underwater hunters, when choosing fins for hunting, prefer the option with a closed heel.
Rating of the best fins for diving and snorkeling
Those wishing to purchase fins for diving and snorkeling will be helped to make a choice by rating the best quality fins for diving and snorkeling in 2021.
Carbon fins Scorpena
Brand: Scorpena.
Price — 9250 rub.
Carbon fins Scorpena
SCORPENA conducted thorough research when creating these fins, attracting the best professionals in the country, using their knowledge. The recent developments made by LeaderFins in the field of fin production were taken into account.
Manufacturers have selected the optimal ratio between the length of the blade and the degree of rigidity of the product. This makes it possible to make a powerful stroke without making incredible efforts, and with the most accelerated movement of the swimmer.
Fins facilitate very fast diving and ascent. Their owners, despite the unevenness of the bottom, are able to easily maneuver, thanks to the manufacturers of high-quality products.
Supplied with a case for storage and carrying.
Closed carbon model, designed for spearfishing, made in Russia from fiberglass.
Advantages:
- have a large length;
- stay on your feet comfortably and ergonomically;
- the blades have a broken design at an angle of 15 degrees;
- camouflage dark products are produced;
- have a variable degree of hardness.
Flaws:
- expensive;
- cannot be used for recreational use and diving.
Children's fins Intex 55930
Brand - Intex.
Price — 370 rub.
Fins designed for children are equipped with an adjustable strap. It fits comfortably and securely around your heels. To remove water, the base has a hole. Their blades are made of durable material - polyvinyl chloride. Recommended for children aged 4 to 8 years:
- The heels are closed and stay securely on the feet;
- Product size: from 35 to 37;
- Blade - 28 cm;
- The blades are hard and contribute to a powerful stroke.
The warranty period is 30 days from the date of purchase. Conditions: use of the product, following the rules of care and use.
Model 55930 is a snorkeling open design made in the USA from plastic.
Children's fins Intex 55930
Advantages:
- suitable for non-swimmers;
- fits comfortably on your feet;
- universal in use.
Flaws:
- It is not recommended to buy “for growth”.
Leaderfins Sport Monofin
Brand - LeaderFins.
Price — 11088 rub.
Being one of the world leaders in the manufacture of fins, LeaderFins has been creating blades for spearfishing and freediving for 10 years. At the same time, they used new materials: fiberglass and carbon, which received positive reviews from amateurs and professionals.
The blade is made from a mixture of high quality resins and includes carbon and fiberglass. When creating the monoplast, a composition was selected that would reliably provide exceptional stability and speed of movement.
- Galoshes are made of soft rubber;
- The angle is 22 degrees;
- They have a width of 72 and a length of 70 cm4
- The products weigh 3.8 kg.
The product has negative buoyancy.
The purchase is complemented by neoprene stockings. They promote comfortable movement during use.
Products are sold in 3 degrees of hardness: soft, medium and hard.
Monofins are used in classical sports, as well as in rehabilitation use. This highly effective product surprises with fast swimming and deep-water diving while holding your breath. The beauty of its use is irresistible and captivating when practicing competitive swimming.
The Sport Monofin model is designed for freediving, open type, made of fiberglass.
Leaderfins Sport Monofin
Advantages:
- allows you to develop speed;
- Fits securely on your feet.
Flaws:
- intended for highly specialized use only in acrobatic stunts and sports.
Beuchat Mundial Competition Fins
Brand: Beuchat.
Price - 7450 rub.
The model was specially developed by Beuchat. The fins are made of hard plastic. The product is designed for deep and accelerated dives and ascents.
The Mundial Competition model is designed for freediving, closed type, made in France from hard plastic.
Beuchat Mundial Competition Fins
Advantages:
- allows you to develop speed;
- Fits securely on your feet.
Flaws:
- expensive.
Children's fins Alfaplastic Malyutka
Brand: Alfaplastic.
Price - 550 rub.
Products designed for swimming, designed with a closed heel. Anatomically shaped overshoes, one-piece, made of soft rubber. The rubber fin contributes to good hydrodynamics.
Model Malyutka size 32-34 created for snorkeling.
Children's fins Alfaplastic Malyutka
Advantages:
- suitable for non-swimmers;
- fit comfortably on your feet.
Flaws:
- It is not recommended to buy “for growth”.
Alfaplastic fins Dolphin
Brand – Alfaplastic
Price - 1050 rub.
Product with a closed heel, sizes from 38 to 43. The one-piece galosh of the fins is made of soft rubber. The manufacturing form is anatomical. The rubber fin ensures ideal hydrodynamics.
The Dolphin model is made of rubber for snorkeling.
Alfaplastic fins Dolphin
Advantages:
- comfortable fit on the legs;
- operation without skills;
- small size;
- inexpensive.
Flaws:
- cannot be used by professionals.
Prosport Dolphin Fins
Brand: Prosport.
Price 1480 rub.
These “Dolphin” fins made in Russia are designed to train the motor activity of the legs. Their main quality is considered to be the versatility of the product. They are used in underwater disciplines, as well as in sports. They are used to create greater driving force in the water and optimize the technical elements of motor activity of the legs.
The products are made of rubber, making the body of the fins very durable and also comfortable. They allow you to improve the technique of motor activity of the legs. This will in no way put more strain on the legs because they are made soft. They have a classic shape and size.
The Dolphin model is universal, soft and easy to use. Made for snorkeling in Russia from rubber, closed type.
Prosport Dolphin Fins
Advantages:
- comfortable fit on the legs;
- operation without skills;
- small size;
- inexpensive.
Flaws:
- cannot be used by professionals.
Tusa Reef Tourer Fins Blue
Brand: Tusa.
Price — 2673 rub.
Newly designed for snorkeling, they come with a closed heel. They are considered an analogue of the very famous TUSA FF-19 model, equipped with a solid blade. They are super thin, very light, and comfortable to use. They have excellent characteristics and are in great demand among those interested in snorkeling and travel.
Well-known Japanese TUSA quality, the galoshes are made of rubber-containing polymer, they are soft and comfortable. The latest technology creates excellent sailing performance. The hydrofoil design of the side fins makes it possible to make a powerful push, moving forward while swimming on and under water.
- They have an innovative blade design, as well as hybrid stiffeners;
- The inclination of the blade is 20 degrees relative to the galosh, for a more powerful stroke;
- The galosh is made of soft rubber and has an open toe. It promotes a feeling of comfort and provides good support.
- The Multiflex material used ensures powerful movement while reducing the feeling of fatigue.
The Reef Tourer blue model is designed for snorkeling, closed type, made in Japan.
Tusa Reef Tourer Fins Blue
Advantages:
- comfortable fit on the legs;
- operation without skills;
- small size;
- budget.
Flaws:
- cannot be used by professionals.
Fins O.ME.R "Eagleray"
Brand - O.ME.R.
Price — 6405 rub.
Products intended for spearfishing are made with thermal rubber galoshes and are characterized by an optimal price-quality ratio. The model's blades are made of low-modulus material - polypropylene. They have a blade break angle of 17 degrees.
Eagleray model, designed for spearfishing, closed type, made in Italy from rubber.
Fins O.ME.R "Eagleray"
Advantages:
- have a large length;
- stay on your feet comfortably and ergonomically;
- the blades have a broken design at an angle of 17 degrees;
- camouflage dark products are produced;
- have a variable degree of hardness.
Flaws:
- expensive;
- cannot be used for recreational use and diving.
Varieties
The most important indicator of the properties of any fins is the material. Alas, it is simply impossible to name the best fins for spearfishing. Each category has certain advantages for which experienced swimmers value it. Therefore, it would be correct to talk about each category separately, so that the reader can make his own choice of fins for spearfishing, diving or simple swimming.
Thermoplastic
It was with thermoplastic fins that many diving fans began their acquaintance with a new hobby. It’s not surprising - they are the ones that cost the least, which is an extremely important indicator for many buyers. In addition, they are highly durable, withstanding both normal loads and fairly strong lateral impacts without harm, which would damage less durable fins.
However, working with them is not as convenient as with more expensive and high-quality fins. More rigid, they lead to the fact that the legs get tired faster, and the swimmer’s maneuverability is significantly reduced. However, for a person just learning a new hobby, the last factor cannot be called important. But the fact that more energy is spent on performing ordinary actions is very important. After all, underwater, a swimmer has to save every breath. Therefore, excessive energy consumption causes much more trouble than on the surface.
Selecting fins based on production material
Fins are made from different materials, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. The most popular include:
- Fiberglass fins with elastic blades and a special design that allows for replacement of working planes.
- Carbon fins for spearfishing are made of light and elastic material for freer movement. They are great for experienced swimmers who can move carefully underwater.
- Thermoplastic fins. Because this material remains undamaged when hit by rocks, they are the best option for beginners. Although their efficiency is quite low, they are suitable for training dives.
- Rubber fins for spearfishing are a classic option used by divers, military personnel and rescuers. For winter, products are made from special heat-resistant rubber that can withstand low temperatures well.
Choice depending on hunting conditions
One underwater hunter is interested in the opportunity to return home with a rich catch, while another is more attracted to the process of diving and exploring the underwater world. In addition, you should remember the habits of the fish you are going to hunt. One prefers the usual flight, developing high speed. The other maneuvers more, trying to confuse the hunter.
Of course, you should choose equipment for the appropriate tactics. There are also certain subtleties here that will be useful to remember.
If high speed is important to you, then you should give preference to long fins - from 85 to 100 centimeters. In this case, the blades should be rigid and as thin as possible.
For hunters who rely specifically on maneuverability and are willing to sacrifice speed for this, short and wide fins are perfect.
Those who want to combine speed and maneuverability as successfully as possible should pay attention to rounded models made of rubber and elastic plastic. The maximum length should not exceed 65 centimeters.
Also, we must not forget about depth and current - they also leave a certain imprint on the choice of suitable equipment.
For example, if you plan to swim in a body of water that is not too deep and where there is virtually no current, then soft, medium-length fins would be your best choice. They not only provide high maneuverability and good speed, but also allow you to swim in shallow water and make your way through thickets of algae, where large predatory fish often hide waiting for prey.
Will you be hunting in deep water? Well, this is the choice of real professionals. In this case, it is worth purchasing longer – up to 100 centimeters – fins that have high rigidity. They allow you to reduce energy costs when moving the diver vertically. And this is extremely important, especially if you do not have oxygen cylinders.
The shape of the blades, the angle of bending of the blade and its absence.
Considering the shape of the blades, you can notice that rarely does anyone produce simply smooth and even models; manufacturers strive to give the shape in the form of waves, make holes of various shapes and other manipulations.
Most often, waves on the blade can be found on fins without a flange on the blade. This is because during operation, the water tends to go in the direction of least resistance and the blade of the fins tends to “fall” in any direction. If the leg muscles are not sufficiently trained or the hunt has been going on for a long time and the legs are simply tired, the fin will “walk” in the water column without pushing the water from the toe to the end of the blade. The flange tends to direct water along the blade and reduce yaw, but the flange makes the blade more rigid and this must be taken into account. Any holes reduce water resistance when rowing, which makes hunting more comfortable.
Notice how the flipper “falls” inside the foot. If it weren’t for the flanging, then most likely the blades would touch each other, disrupting the rhythm.
Recently, there has been a tendency to abandon flanging; this point should not be confusing.
The angle of bend in the butt is a wonderful gift from manufacturers to all those who are not sufficiently trained or spend a long time in the water. The fact is that for the most effective stroke, the fin should be an extension of the leg. In trained swimmers, the ankle is stretched and the fin, without bending at the butt, has a straight line from the hip to the very tip of the blade. For an untrained person, doing this is almost impossible.
Butt angle using UP-F1 fins as an example
There is also a factor of fatigue. Underwater hunters spend many hours in the water, during which they actively move. It is very difficult to keep the muscles tense for a long time, stretching the toe, the leg will get tired and the muscles will involuntarily relax.
Manufacturers have taken all these nuances into account and offer fins with a bend in the butt of the overshoe. The greater the bend angle, the less effort will have to be expended to maintain the effective plane of the fin.
I personally recommend not to think that the bend angle will indicate some kind of lack of training or lack of experience and to choose fins only with a bend in the butt with the maximum possible angle. This will allow you to enjoy a comfortable stay in the water for as long as possible, even with very active swimming.
Review of popular models
To clearly show how to choose fins for spearfishing, let's look at several popular models from the Italian manufacturer Omer.
Stingray Short
This is a very successful model for shallow water. Made from thermoplastic, they are a good choice for any beginner. The length is relatively short, but the angle of inclination is quite large (as much as 22 degrees), which ensures maximum comfort when swimming at shallow and medium depths.
Fins for spearfishing Stingray Short
Millennium Runner
Another interesting model that is suitable for quite large depths. The special design of the blade combined with the ergonomic shape of the overshoes allows you to swim for a long time without unnecessary fatigue, and stabilization during active movement will be excellent.
The rigidity of a carbon or composite blade. Which one to choose? Why such a large selection?
Well-known companies make blades with one single hardness, most likely this is some kind of Medium. A good solution, it doesn’t bother your head, you just take it and row.
Companies that specialize in the production of carbon blades (and glass with sandwich) approach the matter more responsibly; the choice of hardness can be from Soft, Medium, Hard. The most advanced companies can see a gradation of hardness: 1 kg, 1.1 kg, 1.2 kg and so on up to about 2 kg.
Deep Master fins with blade stiffness 1.6 kg
So what to buy? If you are not the most experienced or demanding hunter, but you have active hunting, a lot of diving, and need lightness on your feet, focus on your weight and budget.
If the weight is approximately 50-80 kg , for reservoirs with weak currents, choose soft blades; for reservoirs with strong currents, you can focus on medium hardness.
If the weight is approximately 70-90 kg , take medium hardness, there will be universal blades for all occasions, even for the wedding.
If the weight is from 100 kg and above , then look at the hardest blades.
Another important condition is that if you have a low body weight, you cannot use hard blades; you can easily injure the Achilles tendon. Even if suddenly, from a thin and fit guy, you suddenly became the owner of a huge bone - this rule also applies.
When choosing hardness for deep hunting, give preference to the softest blades. The deeper you plan to dive, the softer the blade. The legs will get tired less, the muscles will become less clogged, the latency will increase, there will be more strength and the hunt will last longer.
As for the gradation in kilograms, there is only an experienced approach, only a test, only hardcore. You would know how much I heard the agony of choosing between hardness 1.3 and 1.4 or 1.5 kg, between 1.7 or 1.8 kg, what a hell. I'm pretty sure that without a lot of testing and using each stiffness, a person will not feel the difference between 0.1 kg increments.
Non-standard varieties
Monofin
A monofin is a single fin for two legs :
They are used to train wave-like movements in butterfly, and there is also monofin swimming as a separate discipline in competitions.
For all other tasks, take regular fins, consisting of two pieces . Butterfly can also be perfectly trained in them.
For breaststroke
The specificity of leg movements in breaststroke is such that with the help of ordinary fins you will not be able to train breaststroke , since they will not be able to correctly make the raking movement of the foot.
Therefore, if your task is breaststroke training, special, round fins that are produced specifically for this style of swimming will suit you.
They look like this:
They are not suitable for any other swimming styles.
The best children's fins
Many children's models are adjustable in size as the child grows older. They allow the young athlete to master swimming techniques and effective kicking.
Joss Fins
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
95%
buyers recommend this product
Short silicone fins for practicing swimming techniques stretch well and do not rub the skin. The blades are responsive and produce strong thrust. The compact size allows you to take the fins with you on vacation and carry them in your backpack for training.
Advantages:
- Beautiful appearance;
- Size as described;
- No smell;
- Comfortable fit;
- Affordable price.
Flaws:
- Too heavy for a child under 6 years old.
A suitable option for beginner swimming lessons. The model is durable and of high quality workmanship.
Finis Fishtail 2
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
93%
buyers recommend this product
These fins can be used as soon as the baby takes his first steps - even the smallest ones can swim with them comfortably. The model helps the child learn faster and move confidently in the water. The fins fit tightly on the leg and are adjusted as it grows.
Advantages:
- Easy glide in water;
- Comfortable fit;
- Free movement back;
- Mounting adjustment;
- Responsiveness even to weak impacts.
Flaws:
- They may be wide in galoshes.
The model is good for both training in the pool and swimming at sea.
Light-Swim LS 11 (CH) Purple/Pink
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
91%
buyers recommend this product
Comfortable shortened fins with soft galoshes made of hypoallergenic silicone allow the child to swim in four styles without getting overtired during training. The abundance of colors of equipment will allow the child to choose the option he likes and enjoy the activities.
Advantages:
- Quality materials;
- The galoshes stretch well;
- Mesh bag included;
- Wide choice of colors and unisex design.
Flaws:
- Short-lived cover.
These are high-quality, comfortable and affordable fins for children who are seriously learning to swim.
Mad Wave Turbo
4.7
★★★★★
editorial assessment
86%
buyers recommend this product
The molded monofin helps the child improve his swimming technique, while moving naturally and without getting tired. Thanks to the last with an open heel, training in such equipment is very comfortable.
With the help of a monofin, the young athlete masters the correct trajectory when pushing from the side of the pool and when turning. The model trains the abs, back and leg muscles.
Advantages:
- Synchronization of movements of both legs;
- Ergonomics;
- Beautiful design and two colors to choose from;
- Strength.
Flaws:
- Slides on tiles.
The model is suitable for swimming with dolphin-style undulating leg movements. The monofin is sold in different sizes - from 32 to 46, that is, suitable not only for children and teenagers, but also for adults.
Blades made of carbon, glass or sandwich?
This is the topic of fierce debate, how many keyboards have been erased, how many chairs have burned out, but like fireworks on New Year’s Eve, here and there new disputes are heard.
Let me express my opinion purely, and in the comments you will say everything you think about my opinion and myself?
Carbon, period. Leave the rest for specific things, for example, glass for a monofin.
Fins with carbon blades
Carbon has all the necessary properties: light, durable, elastic, and you can choose the stiffness to suit any conditions. Recently, the price of carbon blades has become very affordable, why do you need anything else?
Fiberglass. You also need to know how to make good “glass” and it can cost a lot of money. But most likely, glass will be less elastic than carbon. Fiberglass is good where it is more profitable for them to replace carbon, purely for financial reasons, without loss of characteristics, for example, in the production of monofins.
fiberglass blades
Sandwich. A kind of tribute to the times, which lives on thanks to the belief of many that the sandwich is more affordable and durable than carbon. For starters, the price of carbon is no longer much different from a sandwich. You still need to try to break carbon fiber, and you can break a lot with a fool.
The very structure of the blades is questionable: carbon, glass, carbon. Everything needs a working core, the strength of materials tells us this. The sandwich uses soft fiberglass as a core and hard carbon on the outside, which is a complete contradiction. The only advantage of sandwich blades is that they are lighter than plastic and the performance is not much higher.
So, choose carbon blades and get 100% pleasure from use!
