Let’s review shinfinTM fins compared with foot fins, so we can see which come out on top, and why. Then I think this will help you see clearly why shinfinTM fins are a great alternative to foot fins. (Or there are plenty of customer reviews if you prefer.)
Sick of your old foot fins?
So many people have problems with foot fins. I hear about them all the time. So let’s review these foot fin problems firstly. Let me guess, your foot fins:
- Don’t fit you?
- Hurt your feet?
- Stress your ankles?
- Strain your calf muscles?
- Twist & bend your knees too much?
- Mess up your kick?
- Trip you up?
- Too heavy?
- Too bulky?
- Fall off & sink?
- Break & rot?
- Overcome these old foot flipper problems.
- Take the plunge, make the change.
- Choose shinfinTM fins.
Why do foot fins have problems?
Have you ever wondered why regular foot fins keep giving you the same problems, even after nearly a century of so many different manufacturers trying so many different designs?
This fin review will tell you why. But in a nutshell, it’s because the root cause of the problems is inherent in all foot fin designs. Foot fins attach to your feet!
Foot fin problems reviewed
So what problems do you get with foot fins? What annoys you most about them? From the way people review their foot fins to me, here are the top foot fin problems that I hear about.
“Foot fins don’t fit”
Finding a comfortable foot fin is often very difficult. Even choosing from nine sizes, you still can’t vary the width to fit your feet. They also feel different in the water than in the shop. (shinfinTM fins adjust to fit your leg, for children to adults, with or without a wetsuit. So your foot size doesn’t matter.)
“Foot fins hurt my feet”
Foot fins often cause sores, blisters and cramps in the arches of your feet. (shinfinTM fins fit on your legs, so they don’t hurt your feet.)
“Foot fins stress my ankles”
Foot fin forces must go through your ankle to push your body forward. (shinfinTM fins attach above your ankle, so they don’t stress your ankle joints.)
“Foot fins strain my calf muscles”
Pointing your foot to keep the foot fin in position can cause pain and cramps in your calf muscles. You can try this by pointing your foot now and feeling the calf muscle strain. (shinfinTM fins are not held in position by your calf muscles, so they don’t strain them.)
“Foot fins twist and bend my knees too much”
The foot fin extending beyond your foot causes twisting forces at your knee. It also causes your knee to drop too low, away from your natural streamlined kick. (shinfinTM fins avoid twisting your knees, lifting your knees straighter for a more streamlined freestyle, fly and backstroke.)
“Foot fins change my kick”
Foot fins restrict your feet and ankles so you can’t kick normally. (shinfinTM fins leave your feet and ankles relaxed, so you can kick normally.)
“Foot fins trip me up”
It can be hard and dangerous to walk with foot fins. (It is much easier to walk with shinfinTM fins because they flex with your ankle as you walk.)
“Foot fins are too heavy”
Many foot fins weigh about 600g (21oz) each. Some are even as heavy as 800g (28oz) or more. (At only 300g (10oz), each shinfinTM fin with strap is about as light as a running shoe.)
“Foot fins are too bulky”
Many foot fins are too bulky, cumbersome and harder to fit into your bag. (shinfinTM fins neatly stack on top of each other, close to “flat-pack”, so they more easily fit into your bag.)
“Foot fins fall off and sink”
Foot fins fall off especially in waves when the foot pocket slips or rips. Furthermore, most foot fins sink, so they are easy to lose when they fall off in the sea. (shinfinTM fins strap twice around your leg above your heel, so they don’t fall off.)
“Foot fins break and rot”
Foot fins often rip, especially at the heel pocket. They rot from exposure to pool water, salt water and sunlight. That’s why broken foot fins are often washed up on beaches. (shinfinTM polyurethane is more durable than most foot fin materials and they are much tougher with no heel pocket weakness.)
shinfinTM fin benefits reviewed
If you fit fins to your legs instead, then the foot flipper problems disappear and new opportunities arise. That’s what shinfinTM fins are all about. Here is a quick review of the key shinfinTM benefits, so you can make up your own mind about which fins come out on top.
Which benefits make them the top fins for you?
Adjustable fins review
shinfinTM fins fit easily. Foot size doesn’t matter at all because they don’t strap on your feet. They adjust to fit your height, leg circumference and leg shape. They also adjust to fit with or without a wetsuit, and many people can share them too. Top fins for adjustability.
So they beat foot fins hands down (or should I say “feet down”) for adjustability.
Comfortable fins review
shinfinTM fins really are much more comfortable than regular fins. Overall, a comfortable flexible-size fit for more comfortable feet, toes, ankles and Achilles tendons. Their kick action gives you more comfort in your calf muscles, knees and back. Top fins for comfort, from the tips of your toes up to your back.
So they leave foot fins for dead in the comfort race.
Feet free fins review
shinfinTM fins fit on your legs, not on your feet. So your feet are free to walk, swim, and climb up or down pool steps and boat ladders safely. Furthermore, you can dive in properly and turn easily in the water, flip-turns too. They also let you stand, kneel and drop-knee on surfboards, bodyboards and kneeboards. Top fins for leaving your feet free to have fun, safely.
Foot fins pale in comparison, if you want “freedom for feet” and safety.
Strong & light fins review
shinfinTM fins are made from tough hi-tech polyurethane, strapped around your leg, so they are stronger for less weight. Weighing less than 300g (10oz) each, including strap, they are also smaller, flatter and easier to pack. They also have integral moulded polyurethane buckles and quality, replaceable, natural rubber straps. Basically, they are extremely tough and very light.
Foot fins weigh in a lot heavier and bulkier, and are often made from cheaper materials that tear easily.
Best swim style fins review
shinfinTM fins are amazing for teaching and training your swimming technique. It doesn’t matter whether you are learning to swim or already a good swimmer, child or adult, able-bodied or disabled.
They train your body and legs to be streamlined, and train your legs to balance each arm pull. They train your ankles and feet to relax, when to flex, and train your muscles to deliver power efficiently. Interestingly, they train your swimming technique even after you take them off. So you can feel your new kick pattern getting automatically imprinted into your muscle memory. They train your freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, especially because they can be positioned to optimise your kick. Top fins for swimming style for all levels of swimmer.
In complete contrast, foot fins make you bend your knees too much and ruin your technique. Not what you want from your fins.
Hip power fins review
shinfinTM fins are kicked from your hip, with only a little knee-bend. So they workout your hip power from your thighs, buttocks, stomach and lower torso muscles. They let you relax your calves, ankles and feet. So they encourage smooth muscle power throughout each stroke, to optimise efficiency. This is how they train the correct muscles for elite swimming, for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
You can also position these fins to different heights and angles on your legs, to optimise your muscle action. Top fins for using your muscles in the correct way.
In contrast, foot fins are kicked more by bending your knee and using your calf muscles too much, often causing calf cramps.
Smooth swimming fins review
shinfinTM fins gently lift your legs and body horizontal, for less drag. They guide you into a streamlined kick from your hips and encourage you to keep your knees fairly straight, like good swimmers do. They let your ankles and feet relax, and guide the right time to flex. The up and down kicks give smooth force throughout each stroke, optimising efficiency for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
You can adjust the fins to different heights and angles on your legs, to further optimise streamlining. Top fins for natural, streamlined swimming.
In contrast, foot fins sink your hips and thighs down in the water, and make you kick from your knees (the common “bicycle-kick” problem), creating drag and ruining your streamlined technique – not a good idea.