Buying guide: fins

In short

Fins turn the effort of your legs into movement. A good fin is first of all comfortable and suited to your strength. Too stiff, it tires you and causes cramps; too soft, it will not let you fight a current. The first choice is the foot pocket: bare foot (full-foot fin) or with a boot (open-heel fin).

Why it matters

Finning makes up most of the effort in diving. An unsuitable fin increases air consumption, breathlessness and the risk of cramp. A fin that hurts or comes off can also hinder an ascent or a surface swim back to the boat.

Full-foot or open-heel

Type	Pros	Cons
Full-foot (closed heel)	Light, compact, good power transfer; ideal in warm water and from a boat	Bare foot: hard to walk on rocks; possible blisters; fixed size
Open-heel (adjustable)	Worn with a boot: foot protected and warm, you can walk to the water	Heavier and bulkier; you also need to buy boots

For diving in mainland France and from the shore, open-heel fins with boots are the most common. When travelling to warm water, light full-foot fins make packing easier.

Straps

• Rubber strap with buckle: adjustable, fitted as standard on most models.
• Spring or bungee strap: easier to put on, especially with thick gloves; does not slip out of adjustment. It is a common accessory for open-heel fins.

Blades

Blade	Pros	Cons
Solid, soft	Not tiring, suited to beginners and calm dives	Less effective in a current
Solid, stiff	Powerful, precise, allows technical kicks (frog kick, back kick)	Requires trained legs; cramps if it is too hard
Channelled or ribbed	Good balance between power and comfort	Effectiveness varies between models
Split	Very little effort, popular with divers who have fragile knees or ankles	Less power for sprinting; frog kick less effective
Heavy rubber (technical style)	Very durable, negative buoyancy that helps trim with a drysuit	Heavy to carry, requires good technique

Choosing the stiffness

• Beginner or small build: soft to medium blade.
• Regular diver in currents: stiffer or channelled blade.
• Technical, wreck or cave diving: fins suited to the frog kick and back kick, often in rubber or a stiff composite material.

Size

• Full-foot: the size must be snug, without squeezing your toes; try it on wet.
• Open-heel: try it on with your boots; your heel must not touch the edge of the foot pocket and the fin must not twist around your foot.
• Fin length matters too: a long fin is more powerful but bulkier on a boat.

A few manufacturers

Non-exhaustive list, in alphabetical order, with no ranking and no sponsored link. Most generalist manufacturers offer full-foot and open-heel fins; check their current range on their website.

Manufacturer	Official website
Aqualung	aqualung.com
Beuchat	beuchat.fr
Cressi	cressi.com
Mares	mares.com
Scubapro	scubapro.com
Seac	seacsub.com
Tusa	tusa.com

Key takeaways

• Choose between full-foot (bare foot) and open-heel (with a boot) depending on where you dive.
• Stiffness must match your strength: too hard, it tires you and causes cramps.
• Try open-heel fins on with your boots.
• Spring straps make kitting up easier, especially with gloves.
• A suitable fin reduces effort and air consumption.

Further reading

The current guide explains how to manage your finning effort, and the wetsuit buying guide helps you choose boots. Rinse your fins in fresh water and store them flat, out of the sun.