10 Best Snorkel Fins – Review & Buying Guide

Just like with any type of sport, having the right gear can make snorkeling a lot more safe and fun. For those who enjoy this activity, your gear will not be complete without fins.

It’s true that you can snorkel without fins. But do you know that there is a big difference when you use that extra floppy pair of footwear?

Fins help you move, swim and maneuver in the water faster and easier. That could mean swimming three or more times than your normal speed. And when you can swim faster, you could explore more underwater places.

Aside from that, fins are also designed for your comfort and safety. Without fins, you’ll need to exert more effort to move. You’ll also expose yourself from sharp objects that can possibly cause you injury.

Best Snorkel Fins – Comparison Table

IMAGE	SNORKEL FINS	FEATURES
	CAPAS Snorkel Fins	Made of: High-Quality Silicone Great for: Swimmers and Snorkelers Price: $$	Check Price
	Cressi Palau Short Snorkeling Swim Fins	Designed With: Innovative Technology Great for: Pools and Beaches Price: $$	Check Price
	Seavenger Torpedo Snorkeling Fins	Made of: Sturdy and Flexible Material Great For: Travelers Price: $$	Check Price
	BPS Short-Blade Adjustable Swim Fins	Made of: High-Quality Polypropylene Great For: Workout Price: $$	Check Price
	Cressi Adult Short Light Swim Fins	Made of: High-Quality Silicone Great For: Swimming and Training Price: $$	Check Price
	Cozia Design Snorkel Set with Swim Fins	Made of: Strong and Durable Material Great For: Seasoned Players Price: $$	Check Price
	Wildhorn Topside Snorkel Fins	Made of: Sturdy and Flexible Material Great For: Snorkeling, Paddle Boarding, and Body Boarding Price: $$	Check Price
	U.S. Divers Proflex FX Fin	Made of: Strong and Flexible Material Great For: Swimming and Snorkeling Price: $$	Check Price
	Cressi Pluma Snorkeling Full Foot Pocket Fins	Made of: Patented Material Great For: Snorkeling and Scuba Diving Price: $$	Check Price
	U.S. Divers Proflex II Snorkel Fins	Made of: Dual Composite Material Great For: Snorkel and Scuba Adventures Price: $$	Check Price

For the best snorkeling experience, invest in a good pair of fins. It’s all worth it.

Here are our top 3 choices for snorkeling fins:

• CAPAS Snorkel Fins – This is our top choice for overall construction. This product is a total package when it comes to quality and functionality of design. It is lightweight, compact, with soft-foot pockets and an open-heel design, and easy to adjust the straps.
• Cressi Palau Short Snorkeling Swim Fins – It is our first choice for recreational swimming or snorkeling. Its short, flexible and durable fins allow you to easily move in the water.
• Seavenger Torpedo Snorkeling Fins – If you are after faster speed, this is one of the best fins on the market for you. This product comes with a long blade and easy-kick design to help you propel at a faster speed.

Snorkel Fin Buying Guide

With hundreds of products to compare and numerous factors to consider in buying snorkel fins, you might end up confused and not able to get the best product for your needs. This guide will help you find the best snorkel fins based on your intended purpose, needs and preferences.

Kinds of Snorkel Fins

a. Full Foot vs Open Heel

Full-footed fins come with soft and flexible foot pockets that completely surround the divers’ feet. You can wear these fins without booties or socks, which means less things to pack for your snorkeling adventure.

It’s important to note though that without booties, your feet will be exposed to any hazard underwater. Moreover, this type of fins is commonly used for snorkeling in warm or tropical waters where you don’t have to worry about thermal protection.

Open-heeled fins, on the other hand, have open-foot pockets at the back. These fins are designed to be used with booties and are best used not only in warm water but also in cold water snorkeling as they offer thermal protection.

b. Split vs Paddle

Paddle fins are the traditional, single blade fins typically made of stiff rubber that offers more forward velocity everytime you kick. Because of this quality, these fins are perfect for exploring areas with strong current and confined spaces such as cavern, cave and wrecks.

The drawback though of paddle fins is that due to their stiffness, they are also a bit bulkier and heavier to use than split fins. You also need to have strong kicks; Otherwise, these fins can cause cramping.

Split fins are considered as an alternative to the traditional paddle fins. These fins are more pliable and not as stiff as their counterpart, thus reducing the possibility of cramping and leg muscle fatigue.

However, due to their pliability, they can’t tackle currents as well as paddle fins do. Split fins are ideal for you if you can’t make powerful kicks and prefer to do the bicycle kicks.

c. Long Fins vs Short Fins

The length of the fins does not just equate to portability but it also affects performance. Short fins are easier to pack and allow you to quickly change direction at sea.

Long fins, on the other hand, require more space to pack, and in terms of performance, they require more energy to use. Also, you can’t easily change your direction with it. What’s good about long fins is that they help you move faster and farther.

d. Hinge vs Pivot Fins

The hinged fin is a newer type of blade and is often referred to as Optimized Pivoting Blade (OPB). It is characterized by a hinging joint under the foot pocket, causing the end of the blade to snap up and down, which in turn maximizes thrust while reducing stress on the leg.

e. Channel Blade

Channel blade is a fin feature that integrates seamlessly with the paddle blade through the use of a softer and more flexible material such as neoprene to create panels.

Channel blades make the fins more flexible, allowing them to cup the water as you kick. This cupping action in turn reduces stress on the leg while allowing you to drive more volume of water with each kick.

f. Blade Vents

The blade vents are also a common feature in snorkel fins. These vents are located just below the foot pockets, following the water to pass through the blades to reduce drag. Without blade vents, you’ll end up pushing water without moving forward.

g. Blades

Blades are the flat surfaces of the fins that push the water when you kick. The type of blades that the fins have determines how powerful they are, how hard your kick should be, and what type of kick is needed to use them.

We have listed above some of the common types of fin blades which include split, paddle, channel and hinged. Knowing the characteristics as well as the pros and cons of each type of blade design allows you to easily select a pair of fins that suits you.

h. Vented foot pockets

The foot pockets are responsible for creating a vacuum around your foot which is useful when you’re in the water. However, this same feature also makes it hard to remove the fins.

i. Weight

One obvious benefit of having lighter fins is that they are easier and more convenient to carry, making them ideal for those frequently traveling to various snorkeling sites. Lighter fins are also easier to control when you are gliding underwater.

Below are some of the best snorkel fins in the market:

1. CAPAS Snorkel Fins

These CAPAS fins are the best choice for avid travelers who go places to swim or snorkel. Their compact and lightweight design lets you pack and carry them with ease. Not only that, since they have an open heel design, you can take them with you to any type of water – warm or cold as they offer good thermal protection.

Moreover, the CAPAS snorkel fins are made of a high-grade silicone material that will not sink in fresh or pool water. That means you can use them in the pool or in the open sea. And that is ultimate versatility!

Aside from their versatility, these fins are also designed with their users in mind. They come with soft heel straps that you can easily adjust to fit your size. These straps also allow you to easily put on and remove the fins.

Once you put them on, you’ll notice that they have sturdy and flexible soles with large non-slip inserts. These characteristics offer total protection of your feet while exploring underwater.

2. Cressi Palau Short Snorkeling Swim Fins

If you frequently snorkel just to enjoy the underwater scenery, the Cressi Palau short fins are among the best choices available. These fins have short and soft blades that are ideal for recreational swimming or snorkeling.

The short blades help you move around easily but they don’t provide enough power for swimming faster. Aside from being short, these fins are also lightweight, which allows you to easily tuck them inside your luggage for your snorkeling adventure.

3. Seavenger Torpedo Snorkeling Fins

The Seavenger Torpedo Snorkeling Fins are one of the best choices for those who are interested in speed and mobility which can be attributed to the fins’ 16-inch long blades and easy kick design.

Moreover, due to these fins’ lightweight and compact features, you can conveniently take them with you on your snorkeling trips. The quick-dry mesh bag that these fins come with are handy for storing them in your carry-on.

In terms of overall construction, these open-heeled fins are well made from sturdy, durable and flexible materials that will hold up even with frequent use. The foot pockets are soft and designed with large openings for long-lasting comfort.

4. BPS Short-Blade Adjustable Swim Fins

If you love water sports including snorkeling, swimming and diving, this pair of versatile fins is one of the best choices available. Its versatility is partly due to its short blades which allow ease of movement, and open heel design which allows you to use these fins in either warm or cold water.

Checking the materials of these fins, they use polypropylene and thermoplastic rubber. These are among the best in terms of comfort as they make the fins feel more like a natural extension of your feet. That means total comfort when wearing them.

On top of those best features, you’ll also love the fact that these fins reduce your risk of cramps and leg fatigue, which are common in water sports.

5. Cressi Adult Short Light Swim Fins

The Cressi Adult Short Light Swim Fins is the shorter and more versatile version of the popular Agua long blade fins from the same brand. If you like to swim with fins in a pool or to snorkel in your favorite spot, these snorkelling fins are a perfect match for your needs.

What makes these snorkeling fins incredibly useful in the pool or in the sea are their durable construction and highly reactive materials that offer you agile and powerful kicks every time. They are also easy to use even for beginners.

6. Cozia Design Snorkel Set with Swim Fins

Looking to get different snorkeling gear for the price of one? This snorkel set is perfect. In fact it is one of the most budget-friendly options for those who are serious about snorkeling.

This set comes with a full-face mask that allows for a 180-degree panoramic view, and has an anti-fogging and draining system. With this set, you also get a GoPro mount foldable tube, flippers, socks and snorkeling fins.

As for the fins, they have just the right amount of flexibility for comfort, easy movement, propulsion and power. They also have some basic fittings such as the pull-and-click system for adjustability and extra padding which maintains the fins’ shape when not in used.

7. Wildhorn Topside Snorkel Fins

The Wildhorn Topside Snorkel Fins is our top choice when it comes to comfort and performance in both land and sea. So if you are looking for walkable fins, don’t miss checking this product out.

Yes, they are walkable fins which allow you to have an easy and safe transition to and from land. The fins are extra durable as they are crafted from a high-grade polymer blend base with neoprene on the upper part.

The neoprene component is one of the best materials for fins as it offers additional comfort to the feet. Moreover, they fit like a shoe due to their closed toe and heel design.

Thus, you will not feel any cramping or strained in your feet. And to provide further support on your feet, the fins come with adjustable Velcro strap around the ankles.

8. U.S. Divers Proflex FX Fin

This is another perfect snorkel fins for travel. You can conveniently carry it with you without adding much extra weight on your luggage. It even comes with a mesh carrying bag that will fit most 27-inch luggage, making it one of the best options for water sports lovers who are always on the go.

Performance wise, the U.S. Divers Proflex FX Fin is designed with full dual composite blades that work with slow and steady kicking.

9. Cressi Pluma Snorkeling Full Foot Pocket Fins

Cressi is indeed one of the leading brands when it comes to swimming and snorkeling fins. Another popular product from them is the Cressi Pluma Snorkeling Full Foot Pocket Fins. Pluma uses a patented molding technology to create multi-purpose lightweight and responsive blades.

They ensure that the foot pockets are also soft and comfortable to wear even with too much movement, by using thermo-rubber. With these characteristics, we can say that this product is suitable for users who are into snorkeling, scuba diving and freediving.

We found that many customers are happy with how this product performs in water. It offers good propulsion, power and speed. It also makes kicking easier, letting you to move pretty fast while still in control.

10. U.S. Divers Proflex II Snorkel Fins

This product is a perfect choice if you enjoy cruising and recreational snorkeling. You can also use it for diving and scuba diving. What makes it one of the best fins for these activities is its use of dual composite and vented blades which allow for longer strides; you don’t have to exert much effort to propel yourself.

It also gives you more power to boost your speed. You can then cover more areas without straining your feet in kicking.

The U.S. Divers Proflex II Snorkel Fin also comes with many other good features. One of them is full foot pockets which offer ultimate protection for your feet.

Conclusion

After reviewing 10 of the best snorkel fins in the market by considering their craftsmanship, comfort and how they perform, our top choice is the CAPAS Snorkel Fins. You could travel places and explore more snorkeling sites with these snorkel fins.

They are not heavy nor bulky at all. Also, you don’t have to bring two sets of fins if you also wish to use one in the pool, as you can use them in both pool and open sea.

In terms of protecting your feet, you can also rely on this set of fins. Due to their open heel design, they are able to provide good thermal protection in warm and cold water temperature activities. And they do have non-slip inserts to protect your feet from sharp objects and other obstacles underwater.

If you are concerned about comfort, the CAPAS Snorkel Fins also offers that, thanks to its durable, flexible and soft material. You could use these snorkeling fins for hours without straining your feet.

Overall, we give CAPAS Snorkel Fins a high rating due to its well-thought design, making it versatile, highly functional and comfortable to wear.