The 6 Best Freediving Fins [Freediving Fins Buying Guide]

Half the fun of freediving lies in finding the right freediving fins. Whether you’re a professional free diver or a beginner you must be on the lookout for the most durable and comfortable freediving fins to complete your experience. We’ve narrowed down the choices for your convenience to the best/ top 6 freediving fins.

 1. Gara Professional LD made by Cressi

The Gara Pro LD combines elasticity and softness of the foot pocket as well as rigidity and strength of the blades for powerful kicks. The fin is made from elastomer polypropylene which is both durable and powerful which allows you to dive freely without exerting too much energy.

It’s a full foot pocket style fin made of soft elastomer which enables you to comfortably wear it barefoot or without neoprene socks. Thus you can enjoy a whole day of diving without worrying about getting your feet wounded or scarred.

 What we like

• Easy to put on and to take off
• Powerful propulsion
• Comfortable foot pocket

 What we don’t like

• Due to its length, it may not fit in some luggage
• Requires some leg muscles strength

 

2. GARA 3000 LD Long Distance Diving Fins

The Gara 3000 LD  is constructed using a molding process where three materials are bonded together to guarantee the stiffness that transfers power through the blades. This also ensures flexibility in the foot area which makes them soft and comfortable to wear.

The blades are soft which enables the novice diver to enjoy the fins without needing special muscle training. The professional diver will also be able to indulge in long dives without exerting much energy.

What we like

• Comfortable foot pocket, no need for neoprene socks
• Flexible and lightweight thus excellent for beginners
• Made of a combination of materials which makes it durable

What we don’t like

• Due to its length, it may not be suitable for some luggage

3. GARA 2000 HF

GARA 2000 HF is another fin constructed by the combination of three different materials. The blade is made from polypropylene which ensures sensitivity. The foot pockets are made of a soft elastomer that guarantees comfort and excellent transmission of the leg-fin thrust. Some critical parts of the fin and the lateral stringers are reinforced by solid copolymer which regulates the bending of the blades, and at the same time protects it from shocks and abrasions.

The GARA 2000 HF thus combines lightness and sensitivity with strength and durability.

What we like

• Excellent propulsion thanks to the stiffness of the blades
• Comfortable foot pocket
• Can be used for snorkeling as well as for freediving

What we don’t like

• There isn’t much to complain about, but the foot pocket size is sometimes smaller than your regular shoe size.

 4. Mares Razor Pro Spearfishing Dive Fins

The Razor Pro combines agility and elasticity as it’s made of the best technopolymers available. The channels on the blade and the lateral stringers on the foot pocket are meticulously designed to increase the flow of water toward the pronounced “V” at the tip of a blade which increases thrust and prevents the fin from slipping laterally.

It’s also one of the few diving fins that has the advantage of an interchangeable blade. The design of the foot pocket is created in collaboration with an Italian podology clinic to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency.

What we like

• Upgradeable and changeable blades
• Powerful propulsion and the blades don’t shake sideways due to the “V” tip
• The foot pocket is angled which makes it great for surface swimming

What we don’t like

• The foot pocket size may sometimes be bigger than your regular shoe size.

5. Freedive Hunter Freediving Fins by MAKO

Freedive Hunter Freediving Fins are made of Polypropylene composite material which is both highly flexible and strong. This ensure maximum thrust and stability at the same time.

The foot pockets are made of thermoplastic rubber which allows them to be soft for comfort yet stiff for the easy transfer of energy.

What we like

• Comfortable foot pockets
• A lot of foot pocket sizes available

What we don’t like

• We don’t have any complaints about this fin

 6. Omer Stingray Fins

The blades of the  Omer Stingray Fins are produced in a low-modular Polypropylene material which ensures elasticity as well as strength. In addition to being channeled, the blade is also reinforced by side rails which focus the movement of water down the surface of the blade thus increasing the power of the kick.

The fin is characterized by its Thermo Rubber foot pocket and for the angle between foot pocket and the blade. Thermo Rubber increases the comfort of the foot pocket while the 22 degree angle of the blade ensure maximum kick efficiency.

What we like

• Medium stiffness which suits most divers; beginners and professionals
• Comfortable foot pocket

What we don’t like

We don’t have any complaints about this fin.

That’s all so great, but how do I choose from these fins and how do I know which fin is right for me?

Three major factors to take into consideration when choosing a fin

1. Blade Material

Plastic (polymar)

Pros

• Plastic fins are generally cheaper than other options
• It’s durable. It can take a few hits on the rocks while diving and drops while storing without breaking

 Cons

• Plastic fins don’t snap back as fast as other materials
• Over years of usage, they might start losing stiffness

Fiberglass

Pros

• Fiberglass fins have a better snap than plastic
• They keep their stiffness longer

 Cons

• They are more expensive than plastic
• They are also more fragile and can break if dropped

Carbon fiber

Pros

• The lightest material for making fins which also means it would be easier to travel with
• The highest reactive blade snap

 Cons

• The most expensive fins
• The most fragile. You should be extra money when storing or using them

For more information about how to keep your carbon fiber fin from breaking, watch this video.

And if you want to learn more about the differences between the blade materials, watch this video.

2. Stiffness

Choosing the stiffness of the fin depends mainly on two factors:

A. Diver’s strength

Whereas hard blades do give stronger thrusts, they also require stronger leg muscles to use them. Softer blades, on the other hand, don’t require much strength to use them, yet they won’t give you the same propulsion hard blades give.

In a nutshell, if your leg muscles aren’t strong enough, your legs will feel like boiled spaghetti after a few minutes with a hard blade. You’ll also consume more energy and oxygen in no time.

B. Diving environment

If you are going to dive in high-current waters, you will definitely need a strong/ stiffer fin to give you powerful propulsions.

3. Foot pocket comfort

Spending long hours in water basically requires technique and comfort. Therefore, it’s crucial for a diver to find comfortable foot pockets. If with every kick the foot pocket rubs on your foot it will give you lots of scars and blisters and make your dive short and annoying.Some manufacturers offer to custom make the foot pocket to specially suit your feet.

You can read more about the differences between freediving fins here.

Tips before buying

• Due to some discrepancies between the foot pocket size and regular shoe sizes, it’s quite important to try your chosen fins on in the store even if you’re planning to buy them online just to make sure that they suit you best.
• If for any reason you can’t try your fins on before you buy them, we’d recommend you get one size bigger than your regular shoe size. This way if the fin is a little big for you, you can wear neoprene socks to make them fit perfectly.
• Don’t be tempted to get a two or three sizes bigger pocket, believing that neoprene socks would make them perfect for your feet. Bigger foot pocket could lead to the fin slipping from your feet while diving.
• When you find the perfect pair, make sure to buy another pair and keep them as spares.
• If you’re not sure about the most suitable blade stiffness for you, get a soft or a medium. These are suitable for most divers.
• Look for fins with changeable blades, so that if your blade breaks or you want to upgrade it, it won’t cost you as much as buying a whole new fin.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How are freediving fins used?

Using your freediving fins is quite easy. Due to their length, make sure to wear them on the boat or in the water as it’s a bit difficult to walk on the ground or on the beach wearing them. The minute you start diving they will give you powerful thrust to dive deeper and they will help you come to the surface faster.

Q: Why are freediving fins so long?

freediving blades are so long to give the diver higher propulsion. This way you don’t have to exert a lot of energy diving or coming to the surface. Thus you enjoy long hours of freediving.

Q: Can I use my freediving fins for scuba diving?

Ideally, most freediving fins are also suitable for scuba diving. However, the longer the fin, the more difficult it becomes for scuba diving. When it comes to snorkeling or shallow water diving, you might find that some freediving fins tend to float to the surface (specially if they’re made of plastic) and to create big splashes.

Q: Can I use my scuba diving fins for freediving?

You certainly can. Some free divers can even dive barefoot. So don’t worry, even though they won’t get you the powerful propulsions freediving fins give, they might work just fine.

Q: How do I take care of my freediving fins?

It’s quite easy to take good care of your freediving fins. Here are some advice to guide you:

• Make sure you don’t drop anything heavy or stand on the blades as it will bend or break. Also, if possible try not to bang them while diving to rocks or the corals.
• Don’t store or leave your fins in extreme weather for a long time. The rubber of the foot pocket might get too dry and crack. The blades could also get damaged.
• To store the fins after diving, simply rinse them with fresh water then dry them well. You can then store them in a cool dark place.
• If you spill any harmful chemicals , like tar, gasoline or alcohol, on your fins which would damage them. Don’t panic! Simply wash them with fresh water, and if this doesn’t work use soap and water. They should work.
• If you’ve been using your carbon fiber fins for a while, check for cracks. If you find any while you’re on a diving trip, just super glue them until you’re home and can replace them. You can watch this video to learn more about storing your diving gear.

In conclusion, you don’t have to buy the most expensive freediving fins to improve your technique or to increase your joy underwater. The most durable and efficient fins are those made of plastic/ polymer which don’t cost as much as the more fragile carbon fiber fins.

Cressi, for example, is keen on making the most attractive freediving fin in every possible way. Three of their freediving fins have made it to our list due to their continuous attempts to please their customers.

All three Garas, made by Cressi which is run by a PADI Master scuba diving instructor, are competing for the most comfortable foot pocket. And we believe that they have succeeded. They are also competing to create the most efficient and durable blades.

The Gara Professional  LD are full pocket, high performance long soft blades. Similarly, the Gara 3000 are long freediving soft and powerful fins. The Gara 2000 HF are long freediving reactive fins that are made of combining three different materials to ensure superior performance.

The Mares Razor Pro Spearfishing Dive Fins have the unique quality of being an interchangeable blade which means you can upgrade or change your blades whenever you need to without having to pay for a whole new fin. The blades are also supported by side ribs and the foot pocket is quite comfortable.

The Freedive Hunter Freediving Fins by Mako are good quality freediving fins that are both highly flexible and strong. Another reliable fin is the Omer Stingray Fins that are medium stiffness blades with a 22 degree angled foot pocket that optimizes the power of a diver’s kick to make the fins the most efficient.

Whether you’re a beginner at freediving or a professional, you will find your all-time favorite fin in this list. So hurry up and choose one before the diving season starts.