Horizontal body 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.”

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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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  • Teach, bodyboard, body surf & snorkel: multi-use fins

    Anne finds her shinfinTM fins great for many uses: from teaching squad swimmers and beginners, through to surf swimming, bodyboarding, body surfing and snorkeling. She likes the extra propulsion with the natural kick technique, streamlined body and no leg cramps. What’s more, sharing the fins is easy, as one size fits most. She also likes that they fit securely, so don’t fall off in surf wipe outs.

    Anne’s review from Kilmore, Australia

    First, swim teaching. “The shinfinTM fins are great. They enable swimmers to practice the correct kicking technique, and to maintain it after they take the fins off. Very useful in teaching dolphin kick and butterfly for this reason. One size fits most, so no more scrambling around for the right sized fins, which saves me a great deal of time poolside. Great for squad level swimmers. Especially useful for adult students who are learning to swim from scratch. Natural kicking action with extra propulsion to help maintain streamlined body position and buoyancy. Assist with overall water confidence. Happy to endorse a product this good.”

    Then, in the surf. “My shinfinTM fins were fantastic for surf swimming, bodyboarding and body surfing. Compared to “normal” fins I had less dramas getting into the surf. Great to swim & paddle in. Didn’t come off even when I wiped out. Also found them great when snorkeling. No leg cramps.”

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  • Proper stroke & breathing & position: triathlon training fins

    Triathlon training with shinfinTM fins streamlines Charles’ body position, balances his breathing, lengthens his stroke and properly uses the larger muscles in his glutes. This all happens because shinfinTM fins lift his body more horizontal, train more powerful kicking from his hips and give him correct freestyle timing. Most importantly, this transfers to give him a faster, smoother and more efficient freestyle technique.

    Charles’ review from Queens, USA

    “In a nutshell, I luv em! My shinfinTM fins recruit the larger muscle groups in my glutes. So I am now using less energy for the same amount of distance. They assist me in developing a feel for proper body position in the water. I was able to stretch out and really get a feel of my stroke. So I could definitely feel a better balance as far as my breathing goes. Which in turn encourages me to lengthen my stroke. WAY COOL! I am definitely improving. I was able to keep proper form for a longer period of time. Thanks for such an innovative product.”

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  • Streamlined body & stronger kick: competitive Masters fins

    Two main benefits that shinfinTM fins give Paraic, are a more streamlined body position and a more efficient stronger kick. Most importantly, these benefits transfer to give him a better swim style without fins too. So he uses them for his Masters swimming training and swim technique improvement. He also bought a second pair for another Masters swimmer.

    Paraic’s review from Portmarnock, Ireland

    “I’m using them for competitive Masters swimming. I find my body position has improved significantly when swimming freestyle! Giving a more streamlined position, when I take off the fins I feel my leg kick is stronger and more efficient.”

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  • Improve balance after head injury fins

    After her head injury, shinfinTM fins dramatically improve Connie’s balance, both in the water and walking. The fins retrain her kick to lift her legs more horizontal and streamlined. She finds they give her tremendous power from her glutes, obliques, thighs and stomach muscles. Swimming in open water at local beaches, she is very thankful for how much shinfinTM fins have improved her balance after her head injury. (On another note, the fins are highly adjustable. So many of Connie’s relations from age 6 upwards have tried her fins and also love them.)

    Connie’s review from Long Beach, USA

    “I am recovering from a head injury and also injured my knee when I fell on my head. I have been trying to think of the words to express how much I love my shinfinTM fins. But no words seem to do them justice. I have been using them here in Long Beach harbor. I have also swum with them in San Diego Bay. There is a long shore current that used to torment me on the return leg of my swim. With your shinfinTM fins, I power right through it. With concentration, I let the shinfinTM fins pull me up into good horizontal kick alignment. It gives me tremendous power and I can’t believe the way the shinfinTM fins strengthen and work my glutes, obliques, thighs and stomach muscles.”

    “In addition, the lateral balance feedback they give me in the water seems to be greatly improving my balance (which I lost from the head injury) both in the water and on land. Your shinfinTM fins have added a stabilizing feedback component to my brain. I have had a dramatic improvement in my balance. Before, I needed a cane on one side and a person on the other to get to the water. Now, I can get there with just a cane. Thank you for my fins.”

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  • Flatter swim style without fins hurting feet

    Diana has found that shinfinTM fins teach a flatter swimming style without hurting her feet like regular flippers. Furthermore, she swims more horizontally in the water with a better swim technique, even when she takes her fins off.

    Diana’s review from Tweed Heads, Australia

    “The shinfinTM fins are great. It’s the first time I have been able to use flippers without hurting my feet so I am really happy.”

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  • Horizontal position & consistent rhythm: freestyle kick fins

    Paul’s swim training with shinfinTM fins gives him a horizontal body position and a consistent freestyle kick rhythm. So he gets more effective use of his legs, including for catching waves on shorter surfboards.

    Paul’s review from Brisbane, Australia

    “With the fins I’m able to maintain a horizontal position much easier and maintain a consistent rhythm with my kick. Basically I find them great.”

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  • Stronger kick balanced position: workout fins

    Lorri’s workouts with his shinfinTM fins give him a more balanced body position and a stronger kick from his hips. So this gives him a huge improvement in his fitness swimming workout and he feels the diagonal balance between his arms and legs. Now he can even use hand paddles without a pull buoy. Furthermore, his kick is stronger, even when he takes his fins off. He also uses them for diving and snorkeling in the ocean.

    Lorri’s review from Santa Fe, USA

    “I can’t say enough good things about them, I will definitely recommend shinfinTM fins to fellow swimmers. Many Thanks, Lorri”

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