Reddit mentions: The best diving fins
We found 28 Reddit comments discussing the best diving fins. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 22 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. IST Rubber Rocket Scuba Diver Fins, Military Special Ops Gear, Deep Sea Diving Heavy Duty Equipment
- DURABLE DESIGN — Strong rubber design is longlasting and premium-grade.
- MILITARY CHOICE — #1 choice for Special Ops and U.S. Navy SEAL program.
- SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION — Curvature and tapered blade for better propulsion.
- JET STYLE — Deep grooves channel water backwards for a powerful kick.
- OPEN BACK — Open-heel foot pocket with adjustable straps and room for booties.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 6 Pounds |
Size | X-Large |
2. Aqua Lung Slingshot Power Fins - Black/Silver, SM, Small
- Pure silicone Power Bands are loaded with energy on the power stroke. They release their energy prior to the upstroke to provide an added boost of power.Instead of wasting your energy, you accumulate it and reclaim it!. Power bands lessen fatigue and add thrust.
- 3-speed Gear Shift customizes your speed-to-effort ratio to fit the specific conditions of your dive. Three different settings are available. Easy to shift during the dive, even with gloves.
- The blade is attached to the foot pocket using two Mid-foot Flex Joints taking the strain off the toes and the top of the ankle. The result is a dramatic improvement in comfort
- You can now use the entire foot to power the fin rather than just the front half of the foot
- Provides the blade a significantly larger range of motion, often up to 5 times that of a conventional fin
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver/Black |
Height | 6 Inches |
Length | 26 Inches |
Weight | 4 Pounds |
Width | 10 Inches |
Size | Small |
3. IST FG1 Rubber Fin Grip Wraparound Friction Strap, Pair. Large
Rubber wraparound strap helps reduce fin slippageWraps around ankle, heel and top of footConstructed of black rubber for durable stretchWear inside full foot fins to increase frictionWear over full foot fins to secure fin to foot
Specs:
Height | 0.5 Inches |
Length | 5.5 Inches |
Weight | 2 ounces |
Width | 6 Inches |
4. Cressi Pluma, Black, 45/46
- Cressi is a REAL diving, snorkeling and swimming Italian brand, since 1946.
- A lightweight and full foot fin, ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Made in Italy by Cressi's manufactory.
- Made by molding three different materials (a Cressi patented construction system) to give high performance, extreme lightness, easy fining, and comfort.
- The blade is made from light and reactive polypropylene, it is very-energetic and has snappy rebound. The result is powerful, fluid and untiring kick.
- The foot pocket extends along the bottom of the blade to give protection during fining even in shallow water and near rocks.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 2.76 Inches |
Length | 27.17 Inches |
Weight | 2.20021337476 Pounds |
Width | 8.27 Inches |
Release date | October 2007 |
Size | EU 45/46 | US Man 11/12.5 | US Lady 12/13.5 |
Number of items | 1 |
5. Cressi Pro Light Open Heel Diving Fin, Blue with Bag - M/L - US Men's 12/14
- Cressi is a real diving, snorkeling and swimming Italian brand, since 1946
- Fins made in Italy are perfect both for beginners and for professionals and are very common amongst instructors and technical divers
- Foot pocket placed beneath the blade for increased power and efficiency
- Polypropylene blade provides a variable flex
- Fin design adjusts during the kicking cycle
Features:
Specs:
Color | Blue with Bag |
Height | 3 Inches |
Length | 24 Inches |
Weight | 4 Pounds |
Width | 6 Inches |
Size | M/L - US Men's 12/14 |
Number of items | 1 |
6. Cressi Rondinella Full Foot Fin with Mesh Bag, 45/46
Perfect for Snorkeling, Free Diving, and Long SwimsLight Powerful Polypropylene BladeDurable and Lightweight, Yet ResilientFoot Pocket is Coalesced with the Blade to Form-as-One with the BladeEasy-to-Use, Not-Too-Demanding, and Perform-Generously
7. SnorkelPro Rubber Full Foot Fins, Black
- Pair of Snorkel Pro Rubber Full Foot Fins
- Snorkel Pro by SCUBAPRO's Open-Toe, Full Foot Design
- Timeless Snorkeling Classic!
- Superior Blend of Performance, Comfort, and Durability
- Durable Rubber Construction for Years of Snorkeling Fun
Features:
Specs:
Height | 1.1 inches |
Length | 16.2 inches |
Weight | 3 Pounds |
Width | 1.2 inches |
Size | Large (9-11) |
8. Cressi Pro Light, black, M/L
- Cressi is a REAL diving, snorkeling and swimming Italian brand, since 1946.
- Fins made in Italy are perfect both for beginners and for professionals and are very common amongst instructors and technical divers.
- Foot pocket placed beneath the blade for increased power and efficiency.
- Polypropylene blade provides a variable flex.
- Fin design adjusts during the kicking cycle.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 3 Pounds |
Release date | February 2008 |
Size | M/L - US Men's 12/14 |
10. Oceanic Accel Open Heel Scuba Diving Fins
- Pair of Oceanic Accel Open Heel Fin
- Oceanic Accel Open Heel Fin:
- Open Heel Fin
- Accel Fin, One Fin, Any Ocean!
- Accel Fin Design, Power Over Frills
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 3.6 Inches |
Length | 22.3 Inches |
Weight | 2.85 Pounds |
Width | 9.2 Inches |
Size | Small/Medium |
11. Hollis F-2 Techincal Diving Fins Small
- Increase Power to Weight Ratio with Hollis Gear's F2 Fins
- Great for the Traveling Diver
- Reduce Weight Fin Design, Lightweight Fin
- Add-Blade-Surface on Both Down-Stroke and Up-Stroke
- Increase Efficiency with Any Type-of-Kick
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 24 Inches |
Length | 10 Inches |
Weight | 4 Pounds |
Width | 12 Inches |
Size | Small |
12. CAPAS Snorkel Fins, Swim Fins Travel Size Short Adjustable for Snorkeling Diving Adult Men Women Kids Open Heel Swimming Flippers
Adjustable Open Heel Design, Good for Sharing - The open-heel design means each fin can accommodate a wider range of sizes, so family members or friends can share equipment more easily. The best parts is the filter pads inside the fins can keep fins in shape when store it.Wears Comfortably, Support ...
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 3.2677165321 Inches |
Length | 17.29921258078 Inches |
Width | 1.1417322823 Inches |
Size | L/XL (US Men 9-13 / Women 10-14) |
13. Storm Fin Keepers for Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Freediving - Pair - Medium
Kit includes: 2 keepersTight fitting rubber with just enough stretch to fit over but enough staying power to keep your fin on
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 4 Inches |
Weight | 0.1 Pounds |
Width | 4 Inches |
Size | Medium |
14. U.S. Divers Proflex II Snorkel Fins (Electric Blue). Adult Dual-Composite Blade Snorkeling Fins (Size Medium-Large. Range 8-9.5)
- U.S. DIVERS PROFLEX II (ELECTRIC BLUE. MEDIUM LARGE). Proflex II was created for men and women’s diving, scuba, and snorkel adventures alike. The dual composite vented blades and soft full foot pocket ensure an unmatched, breathable comfort.
- DUAL COMPOSITE VENTED BLADES. A lengthier diving fin, the slim length of the flipper blade and dual composite vents allows for longer strides. Reach greater depths in shorter time while still allowing yourself time to reach the surface.
- SIZE RELIABILITY. Looking for flippers that will be reliable on any dive? Sizing out at a 8-9.5 range, any age range from juniors to adults can slip the Proflex onto their full foot to achieve a comfortable, yet snug fit.
- EXPLORERS WANTED. Whether you’re a first-time diver or a seasoned professional, Aqua Lung products cater to any and every experience level. They are always evolving to provide the most functional and unprecedented gear in your adventures.
- U.S. & WORLDWIDE. Providing a means to breathe underwater, Aqua Lung is amplifying adventures in 60+ countries. At the forefront of modern diving equipment since 1943, all efforts go towards making the underwater world a groundbreaking discovery.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Electric Blue |
Size | X-Large (11.5-13) |
15. Seac Motus Long Free Diving Soft and Powerful Fins for Spearfishing
- Innovative closed-shoe free diving fins
- Interchangeable blade made from special techno polymer that maximizes flexibility and reactivity
- Hard thermoplastic rubber foot pocket with dual material density
- 22-degree angle between blade and foot optimizes thrust power with less effort
- Different sizes fit men and women over a wide range from men's US sizing 4.5 to 14
Features:
Specs:
Color | black |
Height | 7.09 Inches |
Length | 43.31 Inches |
Weight | 2.61 Pounds |
Width | 7.87 Inches |
Size | 9.5/10 |
16. U.S. Divers Proflex II Adult Large (9.5-11.5) Enclosed Heel Pocket Snorkeling, Swimming, and Diving Fins, Blue
U.S. DIVERS PROFLEX II FINS: The U.S. Divers Proflex fins are designed for men or women, these fins are as dynamic as they are functional for scuba diving, swimming, and surface snorkeling.POWERFUL STRIDE: The Proflex fins have an optimal flex zone position which is engineered to increase power and ...
Specs:
Color | Multi Colored |
Height | 10 Inches |
Length | 25 Inches |
Weight | 0.9 Pounds |
Width | 14.5 Inches |
Size | Large (9.5-11.5) |
Number of items | 1 |
17. Long Free Diving Soft and Powerful Fins | GARA 3000 made in Italy by Cressi: quality since 1946
- Long blade fins with softer blade for less muscle effort ideal for free diving and scuba diving.
- The soft blade transfer power with minimum effort, make this fin very comfortable and easy on the legs for beginners or during long dives.
- Cressi patented 3 material molding process for ensure flexibility in the foot area.
- Comfortable full foot pocket. Fins can be worn barefoot or using neoprene socks.
- Made in Italy by Cressi.
Features:
Specs:
Release date | February 2008 |
18. IST Rubber Rocket Scuba Diver Fins, Military Special Ops Gear, Deep Sea Diving Heavy Duty Equipment
DURABLE DESIGN — Strong rubber design is longlasting and premium-grade.MILITARY CHOICE — #1 choice for Special Ops and U.S. Navy SEAL program.SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION — Curvature and tapered blade for better propulsion.JET STYLE — Deep grooves channel water backwards for a powerful kick.OPEN BAC...
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 4 Pounds |
Size | Large |
19. Scubapro Jet Fin for Scuba Divers
Rubber construction is known for its durabilitypromising a lifetime of use.Proven vented design decreases drag on the up stroke and enhances thrust on the down stroke.Most durable fin on the marketGreat for frog kicking in cave or wreck diving
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 8 Inches |
Length | 30 Inches |
Weight | 1 Pounds |
Width | 18 Inches |
Size | Medium |
20. IST Rubber Rocket Scuba Diver Fins, Military Special Ops Gear, Deep Sea Diving Heavy Duty Equipment
- DURABLE DESIGN — Premium-grade rubber design is longlasting and heavier than standard fins
- MILITARY CHOICE — #1 choice for Special Ops and U.S. Navy SEAL program.
- SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION — Curvature and tapered blade for better propulsion.
- JET STYLE — Deep grooves channel water backwards for a powerful kick.
- OPEN BACK — Open-heel foot pocket with adjustable straps and room for booties.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 0 Pounds |
🎓 Reddit experts on diving fins
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where diving fins are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
This is super awesome, but not really WL worthy due to the impracticality of buying masks online.
I suppose I'll go with this scarf for the cold winter, although it might be more fashionable, and less of a practical warm scarf. Its on my gf's list, what do I know? :p
Also, have you checked out the Aqua Lung Slingshot fins? I love them, they are for sure my favorite fins I've owned, the power you can put out is incredible. I know they're a bit pricey, especially for random WL items, but thought I'd mention them for fun. How awesome is Costa Rica? It's been awhile since I was there, but I loved it. I spent 1.5 years living in The Bahamas and then moved back to Canada, so I really understand those feels :p
Your focus should be Circuit routines involving push ups , flutter kicks, pull ups, squats, lunges, etc. (mostly calisthenics but throw some weight lifting in there for explosionand strength)
So for example:
5 rounds:
20 push ups
20 flutter kicks
8 pull ups
10 lunges each leg
Rest 2 min
Remember, form is very important and it’s not about the numbers. Scale things/switch it up and do push ups to the beat of a metronome or do pull ups so you hold yourself at the up position for 3 seconds. Get creative and challenge yourself.
The pool:
Get the proper gear. You’ll need goggles, a mask, a sturdy and solid snorkel, fins(the big black ones that generate a lot of torque. I believe they’re called jet or rocket ) and some booties so your feet don’t get torn up from the fins rubbing.
So for a workout in the pool do something like:
450m warm up with only goggles
Ladder exercise: (with goggles)
50m-80% effort
20 sec rest
100m -70% effort
20 sec rest
200m -60% effort
20 sec rest
400m-50% effort
20 sec rest
200m
20 sec rest
100m
20 sec rest
50m
Throw on the gear some days and get used to breathing through the snorkel and using those fins. The fins are made to be used like You would do a flutter kick so core engaged, tight glutes, legs fully extended kicking in a smooth motion.
Water confidence:
4 rounds
100m over/unders
*this means you swim the length of the pool (25m) but half of it you are swimming “over” (on the surface, freestyle) and once you reach the halfway mark you dive below the surface “under” to the very end. Shouldn’t break the surface or come up short.
There’s a ton of different methods to build water confidence such as bobbing, drown-proofing, or simply doing under water laps. But ALWAYS remember to have someone watching you that’s CPR certified and ready to respond.
Would definitely recommend going to a recruiter to see if you can get some face time with a swimmer shop. They’ll teach you form and get you a game plan if you plan on going the rate.
The FLX material is quite rugged, so I did not bother with any additional reinforcements. It has held up well shore diving. I don't feel like a butt reinforcement would be useful, but the only time I tend to sit around in a drysuit is on a boat. Shore diving for me generally means one long doubles dive, pack the car, and head off for lunch. If your surface interval consists of picnicking on rocks, you might see more wear. :)
As for the boots, I'm a fan of simple turbosoles. Yes, they will wear out quicker than the reinforced boots, but they are comfortable. Fin keepers are useful to keep them secure on your feet. Others prefer rockboots/sneakers plus socks. The turbotec boots did not fit my feet at all. Be sure you get the opportunity to try them on before buying.
On the zipper, everyone I know who has gone with a plastic zipper has had problems with it leaking. These might be a few unlucky coincidences, but it's enough to convince me to stick with YKK metal.
My recommendation looks like this:
This is my set-up: Snorkel, mask, fins. But I like overkill. You'd do fine with this: Mask + Snorkel, fins. I'd also recommend some socks to prevent chafing.
Once you're in, you're in so expect to be buying weight belts, wetsuits and spearguns in the near future. Have fun and see you out there!
I'm a fan of owning my own gear, but there are lots of variations so make sure you know what you want to use it for before buying.
This may sound weird, but get yourself a pair of surface fins (I've had these forever and love them) and work on your technique. SEALSWCC's video guide to the CSS is actually pretty good (albeit a little too classroom lecture-ish for me), and I saw guys use some of the techniques in this video to go from not being able to swim at all to having passing PST times in anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, which you seem to understand. When you do these drills you aren't trying to kick super hard, and you don't want to push off the wall very far - most of your time should be spent on the drills.
What /u/SCUBAInstructorGuide said is good advice. Definitely get into the local diving community, which shouldn't be hard, everyone's generally pretty friendly and open to other people that want to dive. Heck even hundreds of miles from an ocean and even further from good diving, you can still find active scuba clubs that dive quarries/lakes. Their meetups are a lot of fun to go to and you can generally get air recharges/tank rentals for much less than you'd get from a normal dive operation.
Additionally, I'd suggest not getting super expensive snorkeling gear until you actually know what you're doing/looking for. While equipment can be a huge black hole to toss money down, there's definitely reasonably priced ($40-50) mask and fin options out there that are more than serviceable.
If you'd like some specific suggestions for equipment for a beginner: ScubaMax Navigator is generally considered to be a pretty decent mask that doesn't have any major drawbacks. Be aware though that people's faces are different shapes and a mask that fits one person won't ALWAYS fit another perfectly. You should go to a shop and try it out before purchasing.
For fins, I highly suggest getting neoprene boots and fins designed to be used with neoprene boots. They have back-straps which last longer than the ones designed to be used with bare feet, plus you often want boots for various reasons, particularly if you do lots of shore diving or colder-water diving. They're also generally higher quality in my experience. Anyway I would suggest the Cressi Pro-Lite Open Heel, which I still use actually. Reasonably priced and gets good power. Remember: these kinds of fins need to fit your foot size with the added bulk of the neoprene boot. I believe that I use a medium with a men's 9.5US foot and 5mm neoprene boots and they fit great.
Anyway this was literally my beginner setup and it really worked great for quite some time (and most of it still does except the mask which the rubber will wear out with use and can eventually fail). Everyone's going to have their opinions on the subject but that's my 2 cents.
EDIT: Changed 'should be hard' to 'shouldn't be hard', my bad!
I've been pretty pleased with the Cressi kit I bought a year ago for use during a trip to St Lucia. I spent weeks reading reviews and searching out accounts of gear experiences before making my selection. Since that trip I've used the set about a dozen times since then in rivers, pools and at the ocean and it's held up well. Still works the same as the day I first pulled it on. I've since bought a more powerful pair of fins (Cressi Gara 3000 LD) but still keep the smaller fins for casual diving. good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/Cressi-Diving-Snorkeling-Freediving-Snorkel/dp/B0067BGZBE/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1468766950&sr=1-4&keywords=cressi
https://www.amazon.com/Cressi-Clio-Snorkleing-Diving-Fin/dp/B0078LWTPI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_468_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Iipz%2BtZgL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=CDFN3JS7D9C27Y5WAGK0
It'll be a lot more fun to have them. I did a lot of research on scuba fins that are packable in a carry-on and these are the best options. They'll still take up a lot of space but they'll fit and they're real professional quality fins, not swimming pool toys.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PL5A540/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Z6CJX2/
One alternative is to get hand webbing things. They'll be better than flutter kicking and take minimal space.
Also look into the Altama OTB shoes as an alternative to separate dive booties.
My wife and I got these from Amazon. Worked perfect for me, she had trouble with it leaking water a tiny bit, but she had a lot of hair and probably just the shape of her head.
WACOOL Ultralight Inflating Travel Camping Pillow - Compressible, Compact, Inflatable, Comfortable, Ergonomic Pillow for Neck & Lumbar Support While Camp, Backpacking (snorkelsetblack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BPQGY8N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9zwgDb37MWXF4
CAPAS Snorkel Fins, Snorkeling Fins Swim Fin Short Adjustable Diving Fins for Adult Men Womens Kids Scuba Diving Swimming Duck Feet Swim Travel Open Heel Flippers Snorkelling Fins (Black, L/XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073QHBS72/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4AwgDbBN52A8S
Have you got some fin keepers? Losing a fin sucks. I like these ones. The triangle keepers make my feet cramp up.
Work on your fitness. It's much more fun when you're not gassed all the time. Learn to duck dive properly. There's plenty of how-tos on Youtube. It'll help you save energy.
Try to relax when you're getting worked over by a wave. If you tense up you burn more O2.
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Divers-Proflex-Diving-Fins/dp/B000EONGH6
They look just like these; same brand and all. Mask fits great, however I haven't quite figured out how to hook the snorkel to it. Any recommendations on a good computer to start out with?
I bought these Seac Motus fins for my first pair: https://www.amazon.com/SEAC-Diving-Powerful-Spearfishing-Freediving/dp/B00JMXX6XY/
I'd recommend trying on fins and looking for the best fit rather than shopping for a brand.
If anyone's looking for cheap but sturdy tech fins, I highly recommend these IST Rocket Fins with good spring straps. Much cheaper than the name brands and just as powerful/controllable.
Mischief Managed
Bonus: Even Boba Fett needed one.
> What are you using now?
Cressi gara 3000 freedive fins! I don't think those would be appropriate, lol
https://www.amazon.com/IST-Rubber-Rocket-Military-Special/dp/B0035LGTGK/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1519859688&sr=1-4&keywords=jet+fins
These are a bit less expensive and probably comparable. At least I hope they are because it's what I've been using.
These look like the exact ones:
IST Deep sea scuba diving military fins - rubber rocket, L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWXCRFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_x28CybF0NCV8C
https://www.amazon.com/IST-Deep-scuba-diving-military/dp/B0035LGTF6
Rocket fins are what you want. You'll need booties with them as well
https://www.amazon.com/ScubaPro-Spring-Strap-X-Large-Black/dp/B0000DYVGK/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1519840159&sr=8-23&keywords=rocket%2Bfins&th=1
These are what I have, and I am 90% sure they are the ones used at indoc.
https://www.amazon.com/ScubaPro-Spring-Strap-X-Large-Black/dp/B0000DYVGK/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1519840159&sr=8-23&keywords=rocket%2Bfins&th=1
These are what they use at indoc
You don't need to do this. Swim in swim goggles, don't worry about fins. Buying this stuff beforehand is just throwing money down the drain.
But to answer your question: rocket fins and mask
Waste of money though.