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Swim fitness fins reviews

  • Arthritis, fibromyalgia & fused ankles: fitness fins

    shinfinTM fins have given Annie 15 years of joyous fitness swimming, helping her cope with mobility issues fom severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and both ankles fused. This is because the fins lift her lower body horizontal to increase buoyancy and reduce drag. Most important for Annie, they improve her kick efficiency and help her to maintain leg strength. Plus, they achieve all this without aggravating her fused ankles and dodgy feet, because they strap above her ankles. Strong and durable, her first pair of fins still work and only look worn, after 15 years of regular use.

    Annie’s review from Castlemaine, Australia

    “Both of my ankles are surgically fused due to severe arthritis. Having lost my natural kicking motion, I had to rely on a pull buoy to maintain lower body buoyancy and reduce drag. I immediately saw how they’d help me. With the fins, I’m able to produce an efficient kick and maintain some degree of leg strength, without upsetting my dodgy ankles and feet. I’m enormously grateful to you Marc. The fins have given me fifteen years of joyous swimming and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon!“

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  • Legs & hips: football fitness swimming

    Tom really likes using his shinfinTM fins as a tool for swim fitness training of his hips and legs for football. Plus he enjoys swimming with them more because he goes faster and they help him learn to swim better. Furthermore, his improved swimming stroke stays with him even after he takes the fins off, including when he is open water swimming without fins. This is all because shinfinTM fins teach Tom to kick from his hips with power from the large muscles in his thighs, buttocks and torso. What’s more, the fins enable Tom to imprint this more powerful kick on his muscle memory, so that it continues even when he swims barefoot.

    Tom’s review from Swansea, UK

    “I am trying to get a really high level of fitness for playing football. I really like them. Swimming in them about twice a week. About 30 mins with the fins and then 10 mins without them, in each session. I feel my kicking has improved a lot due to now having much more level hips. They are making my pool workouts more fun and more rewarding, as I am progressing better than before. I feel my quads are getting a good workout. I did a 1.5km open water swim yesterday, which is the most I’ve done! Although it wasn’t with the fins.”

    “I do really like the fins and nearly always use them when I swim. They help me to stop my legs crossing over each other. And when I take them off, I can maintain the improved form. I also enjoy swimming in them a lot more than regular swimming, as I can move faster through the water.”

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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Swim fin changed my life: below knee amputee

    Tracy is a below knee amputee whose shinfinTM swim fin has changed her life. She absolutely loves the improvement in her swimming style and the increase in speed. What’s more, her leg muscles, balance and mobility have all improved too. This is because shinfinTM fins encourage her to kick from her hips, strengthening the muscles in her thighs, buttocks and torso. They also encourage constant speed throughout her stroke. So Tracy swims about a mile most days, summer and winter.

    Tracy’s review from Cedar Rapids, USA

    “Thank you swim fin! I’m a below the knee amputee and use your fin just about every day. It’s made a difference in my mobility. The fin has helped my leg (Stella) develop muscle a lot faster than just walking. My balance has improved 300%. I recommended trying the fin out! You’ll be surprised at the results and it happens quickly. I swim a mile just about every day and my time improved by 8 minutes. In just a month!!!”

    One shinfin™ fin changed her life: below knee amputee
    One shinfinTM fin changed her life: below knee amputee
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  • Foot drop & peripheral neuropathy exercise fins

    Louise finds shinfinTM fins very helpful for her swim exercise, having peripheral neuropathy, foot drop and severe lower leg weakness. The fins allow her to swim through the water so much more easily because they promote a horizontal body position and lift her legs horizontal and streamlined too. Also, the fins encourage her to kick from her hips and help her to strengthen her torso, buttocks and thigh muscles. With weaker fingers due to her peripheral neuropathy, an alternative strapping method for less finger strength can help.

    Louise’s review from Kiama Downs, Australia

    “I’ve found the fins very helpful, although I still haven’t mastered adjusting the straps properly. My hands are also affected by peripheral neuropathy, so that may make it harder too. I have quite severe lower leg weakness and foot drop. The fins allow me to get through the water so much more easily. So I can get the exercise I need.”

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  • 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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