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Freestyle 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.”

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  • 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!”

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  • 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.”

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  • 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.”

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  • 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.”

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  • 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!”

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  • 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.”

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  • 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!”

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  • Don’t aggravate Achilles: smooth lap swimming fins

    For about 15 years, shinfinTM fins have allowed Francis to swim laps again, with a smooth swimming style that doesn’t aggravate his Achilles tendons. He finds them fantastic for freestyle and backstroke, feeling them adding strength to his hip areas and the rest of his legs. This is because they give a smooth kick action which is more comfortable. Being lightweight yet very tough, they allow relaxed feet and supple ankles, which takes the strain off his Achilles tendons.

    Francis’ review from Mount Eliza, Australia

    “The shinfinTM fins have been fantastic. Great for swimming smoothly, controlling the fast-paced foot kicking action that aggravated my Achilles. Allowing me to continue lap swimming, something I really want to do! So they have been great, worth every cent!”

    “I have had my shinfinTM fins now for close to 15 years and absolutely love them. Put simply, they allowed me to keep swimming! Ironically, I damaged my Achilles using regular flippers and was told by a doctor that continuing to swim might hurt it again. Especially as I have a sort of flapping action when I kick my feet, whipping them up and down in the kicking action. The shinfinTM fin requires you to kick more from the thigh down, and takes the pressure off the feet. So I swim a reasonably long way, and on a regular basis, without pain. I highly recommend them.”

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  • No Achilles pain or calf cramps: swim training fins

    Kate loves using her shinfinTM fins for swim training, even more because they avoid the Achilles pain and calf cramps caused by conventional fins. She enjoys them for full stroke freestyle and backstroke and also for kick exercise drills, with and without a kickboard. They give her many swim training benefits, with comfort too.

    Kate’s review from Perth, Australia

    “I love using them. Overall, I’m really happy with the fins and I get asked about them every time I swim! I use the fins for full stroke freestyle and backstroke. And for drills, with and without a kickboard. I have a chronic Achilles problem and was getting very frustrated with my swim training as conventional fins were out of the question. Just one kick and my calf would cramp up.”

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