Hi,
I need to widen my swim gear inventory. A waterski is about the closest thing to fins I have experience with (id est - never used fins). I feel I can really make use of a pair of them but I haven't a clue as to what type to try first. :help:
If it's possible to point me in the right direction, would anyone know what fins to try first?
If it helps:
Short distance swimmer (order of ability level: free, fly, back, ***)
Foot size: 10.5 (very wide)
moderate ankle/foot flexibility
average flutter kick speed
below average SDK speed (but moderate efficiency)
Primary uses: to augment fly, various drills, and to spend more time feeling hydrodynamic forces at race pace and faster.
Not sure I know what I exactly need but I was thinking of something that will allow me to swim 2 x 50 (at 1 sec faster than race pace) @ 0:90, yet be forgiving enough to assist other uses (i.e. fly sets, drills).
:notworthy: Merci Obrigado!
Former Member
What about monofins? What do those do besides make you swim like a mermaid? :0)
I used fins for the first time (recently) after nearly 5 years of swimming without. I can't assume my swimming skill or conditioning would be better off now if I had used them earlier, but one thing for certain is my swimming and kicking has improved shortly after my first pair, and I currently use them for the greater part of my workout. My shoulders are also happier.
The one thing I don't use fins for is to get a goal distance or time (unless it is within context of the set).
But I do use fins to:
1) feel what it's like to travel through water efficiently and to notice how position effects drag
2) complete difficult stroke drills and have more drill endurance
3) concentrate on form swimming at speeds that, without fins, are too fast to be able to concentrate on anything at all.
Maybe it would be good to have them in your bag at this time, but not next to the goggles
As a swimmer returning to the pool after quite a few years away, are fins going to be a good training aid? I put some on today (not the real short ones) and I felt like I was "cheating." I was across the pool (25 yards) in 20 seconds. I still felt the workout and all of that, but isn't it cheating?
It's cheating if you use them as a crutch. Using fins occasionally for specifically targeted uses is fine, but once you start using them because they make you faster then, yes, it's cheating.
I'm looking at the Burners, but am between two sizes. My feet are 11's and the size of the fins are 9-11 or 11-13. According to the reviews on swimoutlet they run true to size. Hmm... Is it better to go smaller or larger for these?
I'm looking at the Burners, but am between two sizes. My feet are 11's and the size of the fins are 9-11 or 11-13. According to the reviews on swimoutlet they run true to size. Hmm... Is it better to go smaller or larger for these?
I don't have experience with Burners (hopefully someone else does!), but I do have fins that are a bit snug and some that are a bit loose. I have Speedo fins that are similar to the Burners - they are quite tight. I'm prone to blisters, but these don't bother me at all. I'd say tight fitting isn't a big deal. I also have a pair of Speedo breaststroke fins that are quite loose. These were supposed to be the correct size range for me, but I worry sometimes that they will fall off.
So, per my experience, I'd err on the side of too snug rather than too loose.
I'd think about a little too loose. If worse comes to worst, you can always get a pair of thin aquasocks to take up the slack. That's not the right name - I'm thinking of the little neoprene liners you can get at dive shops.
Thanks for the input.
Looks like they can be returned if they don't fit right. But want to avoid that hassle. Yeah, don't want them uncomfortably tight or too loose and have them fall off. Swim socks sound like a good idea if they are too big, and would probably cut down on blisters. Also I wasn't sure if the fins would stretch out over time.
I was looking at the Zoomers, Z2s and other short fins... too many choices!
Former Member
I don't have experience with Burners (hopefully someone else does!), but I do have fins that are a bit snug and some that are a bit loose. I have Speedo fins that are similar to the Burners - they are quite tight. I'm prone to blisters, but these don't bother me at all. I'd say tight fitting isn't a big deal. I also have a pair of Speedo breaststroke fins that are quite loose. These were supposed to be the correct size range for me, but I worry sometimes that they will fall off.
So, per my experience, I'd err on the side of too snug rather than too loose.
Also if fins are too loose they can fall off when you turn, although you can buy socks to give them a tighter fit. It really depends on your foot shape and the brand of fin.
I was looking at the Zoomers, Z2s and other short fins... too many choices!
I just sold my Zoomers. I don't think I got much out of them after a fairly short period of time. The biggest use I made of them was during rehab from some rotator cuff problems. My next fins will be long fins. YMMV.
