Freestyle

Freestyle fin reviews

Categories
All fin reviews

Better kick, stroke, breathing & endurance: technique fins


Over many years, the swim technique encouraged by shinfinTM fins has given Rick a better kick, improved stroke, relaxed breathing and a dramatic increase in endurance. He tends to swim freestyle about 5-6 km a week, fitness swimming in pools and in the ocean. What’s more, these benefits carry over to his no-fins swimming style too. This all flows on from the better aligned, streamlined horizontal body position that he feels the fins promoting. Importantly, he feels the incredible workout in his thighs, glutes and abdomen because the fins guide him to kick from his hips. Rick can see clearly that regular foot fins don’t come close in comparison.

Rick’s review from Perth, Australia

“Thank you for prompt service and a great product. By the second session I was already noticing marked improvement in my kick, but also more generally in my stroke and breathing, as a flow-on from the better aligned body position the fins promote. What I hadn’t really considered (the added bonus I suppose) is the dramatic improvement in my endurance, allowing me to extend my lap distance each session. And my no-fins kick is also improving. So, good on you for taking a strong concept all the way through the process of invention and manufacture, to realise an extraordinary Aussie design innovation.”

4 months later: “I’m still using my shinfinTM fins three times every week, swimming an average of 5-6 km a week at present. I’ve found them kind of addictive! My endurance has improved dramatically, and so has my general fitness. I’m now much more relaxed in the water, and breathing smoothly and easily. The improved horizontality of body position has helped me work on my freestyle stroke, to streamline my swim technique. I’ve been able to really concentrate on technical aspects of my stroke, like kick beat, or bilateral breathing. The long, slow, strong 2-beat kick provides an incredible workout for my abdomen, glutes, thighs, and even my shoulders, as my arms are working stronger, to maintain momentum. I’m happy to help encourage more people to adopt shinfinTM fins, because I believe in the quality of the design and product!”

4 years later: “I swear by the fins, for promoting a good horizontal body position, improving my stroke and working my thighs, quads and glutes. Regular fins don’t come close in comparison.”

Continue reading “Better kick, stroke, breathing & endurance: technique fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Freestyle retraining fins: no knee or foot issues


Importantly, after following the fin fitting tips and positioning her fins to suit her kick, Tamra really loves her shinfinTM fins for retraining her freestyle, and without foot or knee issues. They allow her to smooth her stroke so they retrain her away from a choppy freestyle. She really feels the difference in her hip flexors and back. This is because the fins are designed to lift her hips and encourage power from her hips using the stronger muscles in her thighs and torso. She uses them daily, enjoys her pool time again and bought a second pair of fins about six years later.

Tamra’s review from Albuquerque, USA

“I am loving my fins!! Sending people to your website. Really notice the difference in my hip flexors and back. Awesome in helping me retrain my choppy “fight the water” freestyle. No issues with knees or feet. Gets easier putting them on and taking off. Just enjoying pool time again! Thanks for inventing these beauties! I use them every day!! I love my shinfinTM fins more than any piece of equipment I own!!”

Continue reading “Freestyle retraining fins: no knee or foot issues”
Categories
All fin reviews

Exercise & deep water running fins


Megan loves her shinfinTM fins for her daily exercise including freestyle swimming, kicking practice and deep water running with a float around her waist. They don’t hurt her back, hips, knees and ankles like normal foot fins. This is because they encourage her to kick from her hips with a smooth kick thrust. Overall she finds they give her good workouts and help her to get more out of her exercise.

Megan’s review from Townsville, Australia

“I love my shinfinTM fins. I find them easier on my body (ankles, knees, hips, back) than normal fins and I swim every day. Mostly freestyle and lots of kicking practice. shinfinTM fins help me get more out of the exercies. I use a float around my waist for deep water running. It is a good workout.”

Continue reading “Exercise & deep water running fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Swimming with tumble turns & aqua aerobics fins


Loving her shinfinTM fins, usually daily, for nine years and more, Gillian uses them for pool swimming with tumble turns and a tougher aqua aerobics workout too. It only took her a short while to become comfortable swimming, doing tumble turns and adjusting her fins without much strength in her hands. She “motors down the pool” with great swimming style doing freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke arms with butterfly legs. The fins guide her into a streamlined kicking technique from her hips. This review shows Gillian’s progression with her fins over her first few days and then at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 2 years, 5 years and 9 years. shinfinTM fins are strong and long-lasting!

Gillian’s review from Blakeview, Australia

“I found them terrific for backstroke. Wow! I swim from the hips anyway, so had no problems adjusting to this type of swimming. Foot flippers always made my shins, ankles and knees ache. My program consists of 50m freestyle, 50m reverse fly kick, 50m fly with breaststroke arms, 50m backstroke, repeated until I run out of time. Generally between 1000m and 1600m. I feel as though I am “motoring” down the pool. I can now do tumble turns at both ends of the pool. Using them to keep me mobile. Love the fins. I’ve shown them to a lot of people at the pool, usually the older generation, like me. I’m happy that my fins have outlasted five pairs of foot flippers. Two years of discomfort before foot flippers snap across the middle!”

Continue reading “Swimming with tumble turns & aqua aerobics fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Double below knee amputee: front & back swimming fins


For over five years, shinfinTM fins have helped Alison, a double below knee amputee, to build her confidence swimming on her front and back, in ways she never imagined. The fins are so adjustable and flexible to fit her thin, skinny lower legs without rotating or slipping. Made from strong polyurethane, the fins are tough enough to bend when she pushes off from the pool wall with her leg stumps. She uses the fins to help strengthen her muscles in the lower half of her body. With the fins, she can even swim legs only, without using her arms. She used them to build her confidence to do a one mile open water swim.

Alison says that shinfin™ fins have not only helped her to gain the confidence to swim on her own, but they have also helped her life in so many other ways. They have improved her physical appearance and overall confidence. They have helped her to strengthen muscles all over her body, including her knees. So her walking is straighter and she can even run up stairs!

Alison’s review from High Wycome, UK

“Thank you for all your help and thank you for getting me back into something I love. The shinfinTM fins are the best purchase I have ever made. It’s the first time I have ever been able to swim without using my arms. They have helped to build my confidence in ways I never imagined. I have used them both for on my front and back. I’m finding it perfect with what they’re designed for. There are not enough words to explain how thankful I am and I can’t wait to get more people ordering them. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

And 5 years later:

“I just wanted to say, your shinfinTM fins have really helped change my life! I’m currently training for a mile swim in London and your shinfinTM fins with be there with me! If I didn’t have them, I don’t think I’d have the confidence to do an open water swim. Thank you once again! So due to shinfinTM fins, I now have the confidence to swim on my own. I also have more confidence in day to day life. I can run up the stairs! My knees are stronger. They used to knock together but now I walk straighter.“

“My overall physical appearance is a lot better. They really have helped to build muscle all over my body. I don’t get as sick and run down like I used too. Also, I’m a lot more confident talking to people. People always ask about the shinfinTM fins at the pool and rather than shying away I talk to them! shinfinTM fins have helped change my whole life. I feel like the confident young lady that I was always meant to be. Thank you. Best wishes.”

Continue reading “Double below knee amputee: front & back swimming fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Osteonecrosis aquatic therapy exercise fins


Martin benefits from shinfinTM fins for standing and walking leg exercise work-outs, as part of his aquatic therapy for osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis, bone infarction). So he uses them as recommended by his physiotherapist. He opens and closes his hips and strengthens his legs by swinging them forward, backward and sideways. Furthermore, for sideways kicking, he adjusts the fins around to the sides of his legs. He also finds the extra speed and straighter legs of shinfinTM fins for freestyle kicks more psychologically rewarding.

Martin’s review from Hong Kong

“The shinfinTM product has been working well for me. Also using it for aquatic therapy. Doing exercises standing in the pool with the fins, gives more resistance and more of a work-out for strengthening. Most of the exercises have been about swinging the legs forward, backward, sideways, and doing opening and closing of the hip.”

Continue reading “Osteonecrosis aquatic therapy exercise fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Freestyle, butterfly & backstroke: workout fins


Like many people, Ryan gets a good workout with his shinfinTM fins, finding them great for freestyle, butterfly and backstroke. This is because their design matches the swimming style of all three strokes. In particular, their natural design encourages him to kick from his hips which gives him a great workout and strengthens the proper kicking technique for all three strokes. What’s more, this helps him to achieve smoother swimming strokes with less drag. That is why he doesn’t get winded as much.

Ryan’s review from Doha, Qatar

“I’ve been using them quite a bit. Freestyle is my worst stroke. Breaststroke is my best, and the one I rest with. They don’t work for breaststroke. But for freestyle, butterfly and backstroke they are great. I am enjoying them quite a bit. Allows me to get a good workout without being totally winded. Gotta run … great product.”

Continue reading “Freestyle, butterfly & backstroke: workout fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

After knee replacement: physical therapy fins


Chris finds her shinfinTM fins very comfortable and beneficial for physical therapy after her total knee replacement. In fact, she wishes she had also used them for aquatic therapy exercises before her surgery, to strengthen her hips, quads and glutes. What’s more, they lift her legs higher in the water and give her a stronger freestyle kick, so she swims faster.

Chris’ review from Springfield, USA

“For me the shinfinTM fins are so much more comfortable than the slip on foot fins I was using. In physical therapy, before and also after total knee joint replacement, the therapists stress hip strengthening exercises. So I’m glad I’m using shinfinTM fins now because I feel like your hips get a good workout with them. I’m not a really good swimmer but I notice since I’ve used the shinfinTM fins that I have a much stronger kick in the freestyle. These fins also keep my legs higher in the water. I seem to go a whole bunch faster. Thanks for a great pair of fins!”

Continue reading “After knee replacement: physical therapy fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Below knee amputee rehabilitation training fins


Elle’, a below knee amputee, really benefits from shinfinTM fins for her rehabilitation, pool training and open water ocean swimming. They give her a smooth, level, relaxed and balanced stroke. What’s more, all without strain or calf cramps. She uses them for freestyle and backstroke, with and without a kickboard. The fin on her stump feels like a foot to her, because it gives a full workout of her amputated leg. Thus she fully strengthens her legs, stomach and back muscles. Not only for her swimming, but also for stronger walking with her prosthesis. Elle’ kindly shares her detailed story below, with photos and videos, so other amputees will benefit from shinfinTM fins too.

Elle’s review from San Clemente, USA

“Both legs are kicking evenly and my amputated leg is getting the full benefits of the workout. No more calf cramps. I found it felt like I have a foot. I am very aware of both legs working fully, rather than relying more on the remaining foot. I’m able to relax into my stroke, which is balanced, even and smooth. Enables me to completely engage my residual limb without stress or strain. And in turn build strength needed for wearing a prosthesis.”

“The open water swimming in the past days has been wonderful! I did not have rehabilitation after my amputation and swimming with the shinfinTM fins has been the best thing I could have ever found! I can feel my stomach and back work equally now. And I find my body position is much easier to keep level in the water.”

Continue reading “Below knee amputee rehabilitation training fins”
Categories
All fin reviews

Below knee transtibial amputation fins


Brian has a below knee (transtibial) amputation and shinfinTM fins have worked great for his fitness swimming for many years. He wears one fin in the standard position on his full leg and the other fin on the thigh of his amputated leg (similarly to an above knee amputee). However, please note that most transtibial amputees fit the fin below their knee, if their stump is long enough, because the knee joint improves control of the fin. So the fins give him balanced propulsion and help keep his legs horizontal. They also strengthen his thighs and lower back. Most importantly, this strengthening also helps his walking with a prosthesis. As a prosthetist, Brian has recommended them to many of his patients over the years, as an invaluable aid for transtibial amputees.

Brian’s review from Victoria, Canada

“They work great! I got them for fitness training when I was on the Canadian Paralympic Sailing Team. We swim for an hour, three times a week. I use them for freestyle, backstroke, flutter board and breaststroke; I do the breaststroke with a flutter kick. The shinfinTM fins provide propulsion on my amputated side. They also help to get my legs horizontal in the water. Plus provide resistance to strengthen my thighs and low back. Which helps the biomechanics of walking with a prosthesis. shinfinTM fins are an invaluable aid for transtibial amputees. Keep up the good work!”

Continue reading “Below knee transtibial amputation fins”