I have not been able to use fins at all. I tried them last year upon joining the local masters team, but my toes cramped immediately. So I waited. Yesterday I tried again figuring I'm no longer a newbie having done my share of kick sets, so I grabbed a pair of fins off the rack at the YMCA, but only made it 1/2 a length and the feet began cramping again.
I wear a size 11D shoe, nothing unusual or extra wide. The fins on the rack are a stiff rubber so the feet are heavily constrained. Are there any fins that have more flexibility and less pinch?
BTW, I am very prone to cramping in the legs as well, but I bring a bottle of pickle juice. A couple swigs and the cramps subside in seconds.
With your running background, you may have to take it slowly until you develop more flexibility in your calves. Fins force your feet & ankles into a more extended (plantarflexion) position. That's good for swimming, but beyond the range of motion typically developed by running.
I've got a couple of sets of fins in my bag: A pair of generic Voit-style long fins and a pair of short Finis Zoomers.
I initially got blisters from each of them when they were new until I built up some calluses on my feet and the fins got stretched out a bit.
Swimmer magazine did a fin comparison article a couple of years ago that did a good job of comparing the comfort and performance of different models.
With your running background, you may have to take it slowly until you develop more flexibility in your calves. Fins force your feet & ankles into a more extended (plantarflexion) position. That's good for swimming, but beyond the range of motion typically developed by running.
I've got a couple of sets of fins in my bag: A pair of generic Voit-style long fins and a pair of short Finis Zoomers.
I initially got blisters from each of them when they were new until I built up some calluses on my feet and the fins got stretched out a bit.
Swimmer magazine did a fin comparison article a couple of years ago that did a good job of comparing the comfort and performance of different models.
