Fins are a snorkeler's means of locomotion in the water. You may believe that a fin is just a fin, but this is not true. There is a difference and the purpose of this article is to help you become a little better informed about those differences to be able to make a more educated decision when looking to purchase fins for snorkeling.

For the longest time fins could be broken up into two basic categories. You had warm water fins and cold water fins. The warm water fins were made to be worn barefoot with the foot pocket encasing the foot much like a pair of slip on shoes. The cold water fins were made to be worn with some sort of water shoe or boot which provided more thermal insulation. This style of fin was secured to the foot by using an adjustable rubber strap. The warm water fins are also known as full foot fins, barefoot fins and have also been called snorkeling fins. The cold water fins are known by their more common name which is simply the strap fin or open heel fin. Both types of fins were suitable to snorkeling as well as scuba diving but Scuba divers tended to prefer the strap fin as it also allowed them to go scuba diving in a wider range of water temperatures. Snorkelers have leaned more toward warm water fins because they didn't have to pack extra footwear when heading to their tropical destination.

The strap fins started being designed with a wider blade and the full foot fins were becoming more streamlined in appearance. Manufacturers began making modifications to the 2 styles trying to make them different enough to be unique. Strap fins were, by tradition, heavier and bulkier than the full foot fins. This made snorkeling with them a little awkward. Full foot fins were not without their own share of of problems. The foot pocket was limited as to the size and shape foot and it would accomodate. People with wider feet combined with a smaller foot size were made people feel like Cinderella's wicked step sisters. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't fit into the fin that was labeled to be their size. If they were able to get the fin on, they usually ended up getting foot cramps because of the fin. People with higher arches also tended to be hard to fit comfortably in the full foot fins. The strap fins were more forgiving for the person with the wider foot and even those with higher arches. The foot pocket on the strap fin was larger and, because of the adjustable strap, made them capable of fitting a broader range of foot size. Even though they were able to fit more sizes, they were still heavy and awkward to use for snorkeling. Another problem was that if someone wore the strap fins without the boot or water shoe they ended up irritating the heel area and top portion of the foot because of the stiffer materials used in the construction of of the foot pocket.

Whether people were complaining or the manufacturers realized that this was a concern, they began to incorporate features that people liked from the full foot fins into some of their adjustable strap fin designs and likeable features of the adjustable strap fins into their full foot fins. This blending of features brought forth an adjustable strap fin that could be worn barefooted. The foot pocket was made from a softer grade material and some companies also added a neoprene pad on the heel portion of the strap. Because these were worn barefooted they were still considered warm water fins. The blade size was still streamlined but now the fin could fit a wider range of sizes. Parents of still-growing kids also found that if they bought the next bigger size for their kids, they could wear it with water shoes then barefoot when their feet grew.

All fins do share the same basic components. They all have some way to secure the fins to your feet. They all have a blades which is the flat-paddle like portion which when used correctly will propel you through the water for greater distances in a more energy efficient manner than swimming would. As for the means to keep the fins on your feet, the full foot fins all use a foot pocket built along the same lines as slip on shoes. The strap fins are the more diverse with the majority using a sturdy strap made of either rubber or silicone. Some are also being made using a metal spring in place of the strap itself but it is more common to find the hard core technical scuba divers using this style. The strap may have a fixed buckle system where the strap is threaded through it but for the most part, the fixed buckles have gone the way of the horse and cart having been replaced with buckles featuring a quick release mechanism. The quick release is meant to be used to help you get out of your fins without having to struggle. Many snorkelers, myself included, prefer the quick release buckles over the fixed buckles.

The fin blades are the meat and potatoes of the fin design. There are long blades, short blades, wide blades, narrow blades, blades with vents, solid blades, straight blades, blades that combine blades that are ergonomically prebent, blades that are split, stiff blades, flexible blades (breathe here), there are blades with deep side rails, medium side rails, short side rails and even no side rails. If you have gotten this far, then what you need to do is close your eyes go to your happy place but come back after 10 deep cleansing breaths.

Welcome back. It's time to bring you and your fins together. When looking at fins you need to look at the key features to find out if you and your fins will be compatible. The stiffer or less flexible the fin blade is will be a factor in how much energy will exerted when using them. The stiffer the blade will get more propulsion and more distance with each kick but you will also need the muscles and stamina in order to kick with them. If you run, jog or work out with emphasis on strengthening the leg muscles on a regular basis then the stiffer blades could be an asset. If you are stronger than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound then by all means get the stiffer blades. If you are anything like me however, then I would suggest staying away from the stiffer blades. A good rule of thumb is if the blade is bolted to the side rails and its length rivals your height, do not get the fin. Getting a too flexible blade is not without problems of its own. If the fin blade is too flexible you will be kicking a lot and not getting very far. Anyone who has never worn fins will begin to notice muscles that they may have never thought existed. Most fin manufacturers will notate in their description of the fin, whether the fin is a good snorkeling fin or if it is more of a specialty type. Manufacturers are designing most of their fins to be pre-bent which does make them more user friendly because they put less stress on the snorkeler's ankles by allowing them to be in a more natural position while kicking.

When kicking with fins it is best to kick using wide straight legged kicks. If you find that you are bending your knees a lot while kicking, then you are kicking too hard. Slow your kick down to a point where knee bending is kept to a minimum. Excessive and extreme knee bending while kicking will only serve to tire your legs out quicker. Your body should also be streamlined. Avoid using your hands in lieu of fin kicks to move you through the water. Using your arms will create excessive drag in the water. I find putting my hands behind me in the small of my back the best. Not only does it keep you from using your hands but it also helps to keep your body in better snorkeling form.

If you have been looking at fins in stores or on the internet you will have probably seen some fins out there that look radically different the the aforementioned style. These include Travel ready fins, workout fins and split fins.

Split fins were developed in the 1990s by a company called Nature's Wing LLC who holds the patent on split fin technology. Split fins were designed by studying the tail structure of whales and dolphins and incorporating the key elements of their method of propulsion into a fin design that would comfortably work for humans. The Split fin actually added a whole new category to the world of fins. At first glance these fins look very innefficient because of the blade being split right down the middle. As with everything one should never judge a book by it's cover. The split fin design actually allows the snorkeler to use smaller flutter kicks which conserves on energy. Some studies have shown them to be up to 40% more efficient than some paddle fins. The split fin design has been adopted by most of the major scuba and snorkeling manufacturers throughout the world and are available in strap and full foot design as well. They are a bit pricier than most of the paddle fins but avid snorkelers throughout the world are using them more and more as time passes.

The travel ready fins, are a newer innovation which cuts the fin in half perpenducular to the foot pocket. It would seem that this design defeats the the fin's original purpose but upon closer inspection, one will notice that though the blade is shorter than traditional fins, it is also wider. The wider/shorter blade is still able to provide a good deal of propulsion for the snorkeler and because they are smaller, people are finding them easier to pack in their luggage.

Business travelers who are also fitness swimmers are bringing the fitness fins on trips with them and using them in hotel pools. They can easily fit in carry-on luggage and with the airlines adopting stricter luggage weight allowances these fins are less likely to be left at home because of their size and shape.

Are you still with me here? If so, congratulations. You have now either earned the title of "Informed Consumer" with an emphasis on fins or I have totally confused you. That's the snorkeling difference on fins and I'm sticking to it.