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10 years of fitness: freestyle & backstroke fins


For 10 years, Gary has been loving his shinfinTM fins for pool fitness, mainly freestyle and backstroke, swimming at least 75% of the days. Swimming in both salt and chlorinated pools, he finds the fins strengthen his lower back and improve his kicking technique, which continues even when he is swimming without the fins. This is because the fins encourage him to kick from his hips. Plus, they don’t hurt his ankles like regular foot flippers. Gary varies his fitness routines, sometimes using a kickboard, snorkel and hand paddles. He also uses them for water walking exercises, walking backwards wearing his fins to strengthen his back. He has just replaced his straps and is now looking forward to another 10 years or more with his fins.

10 years of swim fitness with shinfin™ fins for freestyle and backstroke
10 years of swim fitness with shinfinTM fins for freestyle and backstroke

Gary’s review from Central Coast, Australia

“As the months went by I found my kicking style improving with every swim. Now I just love them. When I swim without them, I notice that my kicking technique is much better than most. Certainly no ankle problems like most flippers. I also have a lower back problem and found that the shinfinTM fins really help strengthen my lower back.”

I have just had to replace the straps after 10 years’ use. While I didn’t swim every single day of those 10 years, I can guarantee that I swam at least 75% of the days in those 10 years. I highly recommend this product for any type of swimmer. Also, correspondence with Marc is, and always has been, exceptional. Anyway that’s all for me and I hope that you enjoy your shinfinTM fins as much as I have. I hope to get as much joy and fitness out of them for another 10 years or more.”

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No bad foot cramps: snorkeling fins


With her shinfinTM fins, Nan can snorkel again in comfort, without the bad foot cramps that regular foot fins give her. She finds it easy to kick with more power from her hips, to see the underwater beauty again. Because the fins are so adjustable, she could fit them at a range of heights on her legs. Initially, she fitted her fins too high. This made it harder for her to strap them on, as the regular straps were only just long enough to go around her calf. Fitting the fins lower, in the usual place with the straps crossing over just above the ankles, solves this.

Nan’s review from East Wallingford, USA

“I just really want to thank you for saving my vacation! Seriously, we’ve been going snorkeling on St. John for many years. In the last few, I’ve been getting bad foot cramps after being in the water a while. To the point of having to remove one or both fins and flailing my way back to shore. So I tried my new shinfinTM fins. Those fins were great! They didn’t take much getting used to, and your instructions to kick from the hip were easy to follow. So, thanks for inventing the shinfinTM fins! I wouldn’t have been able to see all the underwater beauty without them.”

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Backstroke & freestyle ankle surgery recovery fins


Shannon loves her shinfinTM fins for fast backstroke and freestyle kicking, to help her recover from her recent ankle surgery. Also, they do not aggravate her past knee injury. This is because shinfinTM fins strap to her lower legs just above her ankles, leaving her feet free to move naturally. So, unlike regular foot fins, they avoid the potentially damaging, twisting forces on her ankles and knees. Instead, her ankles can remain comfortable, supple and relaxed as she kicks. She also uses them for water walking exercises.

Shannon’s review from Friday Harbour, USA

“I love my shinfinTM fins!! LOVE! I thought fun, fast kicking was out for me but shinfinTM fins have restored that experience. YAY!!! I’m in my doctor approved third week of post-surgical swimming after ankle surgery. I have to do a lot of backstroke due to other nerve issues affecting freestyle sometimes. Backstroke is great.”

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Weight loss rehabilitation fins: below knee amputee


Tim swims freestyle with shinfinTM fins for rehabilitation and weight loss, to get the best workout to recover his fitness, following his below knee amputation. His fins have helped him lose a tremendous amount of weight. They have improved his hip abduction too. This is because his strong, lightweight shinfinTM fins are powered from his hips, using the stronger muscles in his thighs, buttocks and torso.

Tim’s review from Rifle, USA

“Over the past year, I have been swimming a lot for rehabilitation after having a BK (below knee) amputation on my right leg. I am swimming four miles a week at a recreation center here in Colorado. This regimen is the best way to get back in shape for an amputee! I have lost a tremendous amount of weight swimming. And the shinfinTM fins help with hip abduction as well! I am currently swimming freestyle. Thanks again, and I will stay in touch.”

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Snorkeling & scuba: below knee amputation fins


Larry, a certified scuba diver with a below knee amputation, finds his shinfinTM fins great for snorkeling. He straps one fin over a silicone liner on his stump and the other fin in the usual position on his other leg. This is because the fins don’t need to be at the same height on each leg. His fins allow him to function even better in the water than he had hoped for. So this motivates him to train in the pool and get back into the ocean again.

Larry’s review from Kansas, USA

“This was our first cruise since my accident which resulted in a below the knee amputation of my left leg. I am PADI certified as a scuba diver and have come to love snorkeling with my wife. When we got to Cozumel we had a beach entry snorkeling trip set up and the fins worked great. I was able to function as well or better than I had hoped for. All in all I can’t thank you enough for a well thought out product at a very reasonable price. I will begin training in the pool and can’t wait to get back in the ocean.”

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Symes foot amputation: team training fins


Following a Symes amputation of his foot, Harry uses his shinfinTM fin for training sessions with his swim team. This helps him to swim faster and develop his thigh muscles. This is because shinfin™ fins guide him to kick from his hips. So they encouage proper streamlined swimming kicks for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Even with amputations, it is usually best to wear a pair of shinfinTM fins for a proper balanced stroke.

Brenda’s review from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

“My 12 year old grandson had a Symes amputation due to a road traffic accident 18 months ago. He has been training with our local swim team. He is as fast and even faster than some of his peers, with or without his shinfinTM fin, but needs the shinfinTM fin for his thigh muscle development.”

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Bilateral below-knee amputations swimming fins


Doug’s shinfinTM fins enabled him to quickly return to his previous swimming level after his bilateral below-knee amputations. He finds his fins give him similar control, steering and stability as he had when he had feet. They also allow him to pull harder with his arms for powerful whole-body exercise. This is because the left fin kick balances his right arm pull and vice versa. He thinks he may eventually be a better swimmer with shinfinTM fins than he was before his amputations! He loves them so much he bought another pair so he is never without them, and to loan to friends.

Doug’s review from Coquitlam, Canada

“I had bilateral below–knee amputations last April, and my prosthetist told me about shinfinTM fins for swimming. I got mine in October, and they were an immediate success. I’ve been swimming regularly since, and found myself able to get back to my previous swimming level quite quickly, despite not having been able to swim for 2+ years. I now swim 2 km in under an hour, twice weekly. I have found the fins give me the same sort of stability, steering, and control that I had when I had feet. I’m now learning to use my legs for powerful kicking in a few ways. So I may eventually be better than I was before my amputations. I’m loving being back in the water.”

“I really appreciate your passion and dedication to making the experience of using shinfinTM fins positive for so many people individually. I have, indeed, found that kicking with the shinfinTM fins opposite to my arm pulls, allows me to pull harder with my arms. They really help me make swimming even more of a whole-body exercise. I have ordered a second set of shinfinTM fins because my wife said I shouldn’t chance ever being without a pair. Also, I’m keen to let some of my friends with feet try them out (and I certainly don’t want to give mine up for that!).”

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Broken ankle rehabilitation swimming & snorkeling fins


After breaking her ankle, Betsy is so glad she had her shinfinTM fins for quick rehabilitation swimming, and then for swimming and snorkeling in Hawaii. Because they strap above her ankles, they don’t stress her ankle joint like regular foot flippers. The fins also allow her to recover from ankle replacement surgery, by minimising stress on her new ankle whilst allowing supple ankle movement. As an extra benefit, she found her shinfinTM fins take up less luggage room than regular snorkeling fins. This is because shinfinTM fins do not need a foot pocket, so they are flatter, stronger and lighter.

Betsy’s review from Cincinnati, USA

“I have used my shinfinTM fins on several trips to Hawaii, and couldn’t be happier. So glad I bought them! After I broke my ankle, I used the shinfinTM fins to help rehabilitate in my neighbor’s pool. And it was important for me to rehabilitate quickly, because I had a trip planned to visit my son in Hawaii – where I was able to walk, swim, and snorkel!”

“I’m so grateful that I found your website, and I think your product could be helpful for a lot of other people. An added benefit of shinfinTM fins is that they take up less room in my luggage than snorkel fins. Thanks again!”

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National team freestyle training fins


Yiannis’ daughter uses her shinfinTM fins for freestyle swim training and is a member of the National Swimming Team of Cyprus. They help her to train for better freestyle swimming because they encourage her to kick from her hips with a streamlined kick, keeping her body horizontal in the water. As shinfinTM fins are so adjustable, they fit her even though she is very tall and has very thin feet. This is because the fins flex to wrap around her leg and the straps adjust to secure the fins snugly above her ankles. In contrast, she found that no regular foot flippers fit.

Yiannis’ review from Nicosia, Cyprus

“The shinfinTM fins are the perfect solution for my daughter, gold medal at freestyle and member of Cyprus National Team. Because she is very tall and has very thin feet, none of the regular swim flippers were fitting! Now she uses shinfinTM fins everyday for training!! Thanks. I think you must advertise more this magic solution!!” 

National swim team freestyle training with shinfinTM fins
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Two fused ankles: lake & pool swimming fins


With two fused ankles, Dave’s shinfinTM fins allow him to enjoy his pool and lake swimming again. Now, with the stronger kick from his fins, he swims freestyle faster. Furthermore, he can turn his head to breathe more easily. He also uses his fins to swim back crawl and breaststroke arms with a dolphin/butterfly kick. Like other people with fused ankles, Dave finds it more comfortable to adjust the position of his fins to be a little higher up his shin, so that the fin tips reach about the middle of his feet. Overall, he finds his shinfinTM fins to be well-designed, unique and valuable.

Dave’s review from Baraboo, US

“I have two fused ankles, and because I can’t point my feet parallel to my legs, my freestyle kick was very ineffective. Thanks to shinfinTM fins, I can swim freestyle enjoyably again! I’d forgotten how a strong kick is necessary for easily turning my head to breathe. Thank you for producing a unique and valuable product. I’m finding that if I pull them up just a little higher than the normal position, they work well. With freestyle and back crawl, the shinfinTM fins give me a big boost in speed. With breaststroke, I’ve figured out a sort of bent-knee dolphin kick that works adequately. Thank you for making a well-designed product.”

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