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.
When I first tried on fins, I did get cramps on my calf and toes. I eat a banana every morning before I swim, and I would slowly increase the time spent on my fins each practice. The cramps eventually stopped. I broke my foot and haven't been in the water for 6 weeks. When I did try on the fins, my calf cramped. I am most probably going to do what I did before and slowly increase the time spent with the fins. Maybe I need to get used to it again.
Also, I did notice that in the masters team, the ones with the short fins tend to be younger, whereas the older folks prefer longer fins.
When I first tried on fins, I did get cramps on my calf and toes. I eat a banana every morning before I swim, and I would slowly increase the time spent on my fins each practice. The cramps eventually stopped. I broke my foot and haven't been in the water for 6 weeks. When I did try on the fins, my calf cramped. I am most probably going to do what I did before and slowly increase the time spent with the fins. Maybe I need to get used to it again.
Also, I did notice that in the masters team, the ones with the short fins tend to be younger, whereas the older folks prefer longer fins.
