Free Diving Fins for Swimming

[chopshop777]

Hi all, I am brand new here and don't know anything about diving, hope you guys don't mind but I just wanna ask a question, are free diving fins good for swimming ? long distance swimming ? and snorkeling ? thanks in advance for your help. cheers. Ed

 

[cdavis]

For snorkeling just fine. for pool work, unless you have something specific to longfins that you are trying to accomplish, they are too long and clunky. For long distance swimmingin open water, they should be very good, especially with a mask and snorkel, although I haven't tried that. Long distance in a pool is very easy if you ignore the clunky aspect.

Fair warning, longfins require reasonably strong legs and ankles.

Connor

 

[chopshop777]

Hey Connor, awesome thank you so much for your informative reply, I got all I wanted out of that answer, so what brand do you recommend ? Beuchat ? Mares ? thanks again, cheers. Ed

 

[chopshop777]

For snorkeling just fine. for pool work, unless you have something specific to longfins that you are trying to accomplish, they are too long and clunky. For long distance swimmingin open water, they should be very good, especially with a mask and snorkel, although I haven't tried that. Long distance in a pool is very easy if you ignore the clunky aspect.

Fair warning, longfins require reasonably strong legs and ankles.

Connor

Hey Connor, awesome thank you so much for your informative reply, I got all I wanted out of that answer, so what brand do you recommend ? Beuchat ? Mares ? thanks again, cheers. Ed

 

[Simos]

My view is that they are rubbish for surface swimming, especially for a non-freediver lol

If you are planning on doing front crawl etc I think you'll find them a pain, if you are just snorkelling and kicking with the legs only maybe they'll be fine if you have strong legs but most people would find them too tiring for a long day of snorkelling. I think normal fins would work better unless you need to swim against strong currents etc which for most people is unlikely.

The best advantage for 'snorkelling' is that with freediving fins you'll have better chances of keeping up with sea life but again as Connor mentioned, that's assuming you have strong legs etc.

Overall personally I don't think they're worth the extra $$$ for snorkelling alone, especially if you already have a set of fins. Maybe put the $$$ towards a freediving lesson/course instead

Also seeing as you are from Canada - don't know where you are planning on using them but if it does involve a flight, they can be a real pain to pack as they don't fit in suitcases mostly.

 

[chopshop777]

My view is that they are rubbish for surface swimming, especially for a non-freediver lol

If you are planning on doing front crawl etc I think you'll find them a pain, if you are just snorkelling and kicking with the legs only maybe they'll be fine if you have strong legs but most people would find them too tiring for a long day of snorkelling. I think normal fins would work better unless you need to swim against strong currents etc which for most people is unlikely.

The best advantage for 'snorkelling' is that with freediving fins you'll have better chances of keeping up with sea life but again as Connor mentioned, that's assuming you have strong legs etc.

Overall personally I don't think they're worth the extra $$$ for snorkelling alone, especially if you already have a set of fins. Maybe put the $$$ towards a freediving lesson/course instead

Also seeing as you are from Canada - don't know where you are planning on using them but if it does involve a flight, they can be a real pain to pack as they don't fit in suitcases mostly.

Ok thanks for the reply , I have extremely strong legs and ankles, and I live in Vancouver BC, we are surrounded by oceans and lakes all over the place.

 

[cdavis]

"My view is that they are rubbish for surface swimming, especially for a non-freediver lol"

Simos, you just reminded me how different we all are. Since I've been wearing longfins so long, if given a choice for surface long distance, I'd choose the longfins over shortfins or scuba fins. Longfins would be much better, even if the longfins were very stiff, like my Cressi 2000hfs. I'm neither very strong nor have great endurance, but longfins are so part of me that they would be much better. Somebody else, especially somebody not used to longfins, might have a very different experience.

 

[cdavis]

Brand? The one that is comfortable on your particular feet. Try'em before you buy'em. For a first pair of longfins, I personally would not spend a huge amount. Plastic will work fine and teach you what you need to know before spending serious money on fiberglass or carbon.

After that, softer is normally better than harder, although doing much depth in Canadian temperatures makes a stiff fin look pretty good.

Connor

 

[Simos]

"My view is that they are rubbish for surface swimming, especially for a non-freediver lol"

Simos, you just reminded me how different we all are. Since I've been wearing longfins so long, if given a choice for surface long distance, I'd choose the longfins over shortfins or scuba fins. Longfins would be much better, even if the longfins were very stiff, like my Cressi 2000hfs. I'm neither very strong nor have great endurance, but longfins are so part of me that they would be much better. Somebody else, especially somebody not used to longfins, might have a very different experience.

Yes very true Connor, I was half-serious but after nearly 2 years of no freediving or other exercise the prospect of long fins for surface swimming is scary

I never had good kicking technique or strong legs so for a long swim i'd probably choose medium length soft fins. My Cressi Gara Pro long fins used to annoy me a little for surface swims but then again I used to only use them very rarely on open water days whereas every week I was using rubber fins at pool training so was very used to swimming with those.

Another thing that I used to prefer about my rubber fins was that the heel was cut out so I could straighten the fins just a bit more, if that makes sense. Basically for me softer fins plus cut out heel seemed to make a difference between a nice straight leg kick and a 'cycling' motion/knee kicking.

All a question of practice of course but I was reminded of how tricky long fins can be for some people when I saw a beginner use them in the pool the other week that didn't have the strength and he had to work pretty hard with the rest of his body to counterbalance the kicking...

 

[cdavis]

Tail wagging the dog syndrome. I remember it well from my first day with longfins.

 

[Nightstrife]

We are all new at one point or another. with that said I am new at the whole free dive/spearfisning thing. my additional question to this thread is that i already own a set of Voit Duck Feet fins as i use them regualrly for boogy boarding in the surf. my question is what is the difference in kick style in my short stiff "quick burst of speed" fins and the longer "free" dive fins. Can i get buy for a while spearfishing with my current fins and if so what is the draw backs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cdavis]

Some very good divers spearfished with duckfeet for a lot of years. If you are used to them, they will work fine. Longfins will work better. Longfins need a much slower, somewhat wider, more straight legged kick. Its much less acceleration, but much more efficient, far better for depth and/or staying down longer.

Connor

 

[Nightstrife]

Some very good divers spearfished with duckfeet for a lot of years. If you are used to them, they will work fine. Longfins will work better. Longfins need a much slower, somewhat wider, more straight legged kick. Its much less acceleration, but much more efficient, far better for depth and/or staying down longer.

Connor

Awesome thanks!
I will keep using my duck feet for now and save my cash for other gear... No onto other threads for DIY spears lol
Thanks again!