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.”
Dave’s review: Fins for pool & lake swimming with two fused ankles
“I recently purchased shinfinTM fins and used them at the lake today for the first time, swimming about 2 km. 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.”
“I wear the fins higher up on my shins than the standard position, and I expect that I’ll fiddle with the position and strap tightness to get an optimum. They are quite comfortable.”
“Thank you for producing a unique and valuable product.”
Reply
It is wonderful to hear how well you swam with your fins with your fused ankles, even the first time you wore them. You are right about the fins helping you to turn your head to breathe. Did you also feel how the fins help to balance your arm pulls, so you get more power from your arms too?
Yes, most customers with fused ankles tend to fit the fins a bit higher than the standard position. As you are finding, the fins are very adjustable. I’d be very interested to hear back from you when you have determined the optimum fin positions for you.
Can I ask a favour please? Would you mind if I put some extracts from your emails on the website? I think it would be useful for other people with fused ankles to read what you have said. If you could send a photo showing your optimum fin fitting positions too, that would be great please.
Dave
“You’re welcome to use the text of what I wrote on your website. Give me some time, however, to find that “optimum position” and take a photo for you.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind permission. Personal recommendation is very important to help a new product like this along, so I really appreciate it. Any questions just ask. I am here to help you get the best from your fins.
Dave
“I’m continuing to use the shinfinTM fins both in a pool and at a nearby lake, though soon the lake will be too cold to swim in. I’m finding that if I pull them up just a little higher than the normal position, they work well. The bottom of the fin is about even with the middle of my foot. Much higher than that and they flop more, and you lose some propulsion. It helps to have the straps good and snug; since the straps are tricky to tighten, I attach the fins lower on my leg and then slide them up where they get tighter.
“I’ve always used a fairly straight-leg flutter kick. Therefore 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.”
“I plan to use the shinfinTM fins in the pool for every swim, because it’s simply faster and more fun. At the lake I don’t think I’ll use them much, because it’s difficult to wade in and out of the shallows.”
“Thank you for making a well-designed product.”
Reply
I’m glad to hear that your shinfinTM fins are giving you a big boost in speed for freestyle and backstroke. Even though you are fitting them a bit higher to work better with your fused ankles. That agrees with the feedback I get from other customers with fused ankles. And yes, the fins do work well with a dolphin butterfly kick and breaststroke arms. Squad swimmers use that for swim training too.
Here is a tip to help you with your lake swimming. When walking in shallow water into and out of the lake, lift your knees higher than normal so the fins slide upwards and forwards through the water. Then place your foot down quickly on the bottom for the next step. The straps should be secure enough so that the fins do not slip around your leg. If there is a current, don’t worry about the fins bending in the direction of the current. They are supposed to do that to reduce the water drag on the fins. It gets easier once you are thigh deep because the water supports you better. Please let me know how you go with this tip.
Conclusion
If you have one or two fused ankles, shinfinTM fins will allow you to enjoy your pool and lake swimming again. The stronger kick from shinfinTM fins will enable you to swim faster freestyle and turn your head to breathe more easily. You can also use these fins to swim back crawl and breaststroke arms with a dolphin/butterfly kick. Like most people with fused ankles, you will probably find it more comfortable to adjust the position of the fin to be a little higher up your shin, so the fin tips reach about the middle of your foot. Overall, you will find shinfinTM fins to be well-designed, unique and valuable for your swimming.
Other people with both ankles fused have reviewed using shinfinTM fins for swimming and snorkeling and for easier walking when going snorkeling. Further reviews illustrate their use for open water swim training, for improving kick, strokes and breathing techniques, and to give better kicking for faster snorkeling.