How to choose the right swimming fins?
Are you a beginner at using swimming fins? Then you've come to the right place. Let us help you in choosing the right pair of swimming fins for you!
We are going to explain how to best choose fins for greater effectiveness and ease of use during your swimming session.
Here are two main important criteria to look out for before getting swimming fins: foot pocket fit of the fins, and blade length.
Read on to find out more below!
1. Foot pocket fit
It is part of the fin designed for fitting your foot. The swim fin's foot pocket will ensure foot support when kicking. For an effective leg kick, support is essential. It is therefore important to take time to try on fins before buying them!
When trying on fins, check also that your foot fits inside the foot pocket and that as little as possible of the foot remains uncovered to prevent water entry.
PRO-TIP: Go for a shoe size above your usual size because your foot can swell during exercise.
2. Blade length
The swimming blade is the part of the fin that is an extension of the foot pocket.
Here are the main differences between short and long blades:
Short blades:
- Ensures good kicking frequency and makes an aerobic workout more demanding
- Movement is very close to the "natural" movement and helps to focus effort on core stability and an abs-glutes workout
PRO-TIP: The Nabaiji Silifins are perfectly suited to this use!
Long blades:
- Ensure greater physical effort and a more intense glide feel during use
- Amplifies kicking movement
- Requires muscular strength and generates a full leg workout
PRO-TIP: Nabaiji Trainifins will be exactly what you're looking for.
Last pro-tip before you go
To maximise effectiveness during your training, Gilles, our training equipment product manager, recommends sweeping kick strokes during your swimming session. To achieve this, it is best to start movement from your hips rather than the knee.
To intensify your leg workout, don't hesitate to make use of a kickboard. If at any point you do feel a slight irritation, it will no doubt be due to the foot pocket's rubber. Consider using a latex sock to feel more at ease.
On wearing fins, Giles says, "First of all, warmup without fins by doing a few lengths up and down the pool! Otherwise you'll risk "overheating" your muscles too quickly. To start training, I'd recommend using "short" fins because they're more lightweight and flexible."
For women who are seeking to tone their legs, Nabaiji's short Silifins fins are the perfect accessory! There is much less thrust as compared to longer blade fins. They enable swimmers to place emphasis on speed and frequency rather than power. This form of exercise is centered more on aerobic training rather than muscle strengthening.
We hope you found this swimming fin buyer's guide useful, and learnt the main difference between long and short swimming fins.
Happy training!
Written by: olee sasithon
Water sport digital sports leader, decathlon singapore
Swimming fins will ensure you'll be flying in the water in no time!
