Head- To-Head Testing

How We Test

Test dives were conducted at Alexander Springs in central Florida. Using waterproof test sheets and slates, test divers scored each of the fins in 12 performance categories, with 1 being poor performance and 5 being excellent. Test divers also recorded comments about their experience using each fin and were asked to rank their favorites from each category. The performance categories were:

Ease of Donning

Both in and out of the water, how easy is the fin to put on?

Adjusting for Fit

If straps and buckles are adjustable without tools, how effective and easy to use are they? Are they intuitive or complicated to operate?

Fit and Comfort

How comfortable and secure is the fin on the foot? Does it slip/slide/ pinch, etc., during hard kicking?

Stability

Do the fins have a tendency to wobble, slice side-to-side or strike each other while kicking? Do they track straight?

Power Versus Stress

Propulsion produced during the kick cycle relative to the amount of effort being put into the kick.

Flutter Kick

The ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in flutter kick.

Frog Kick

The ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in frog kick.

Alternate Kick Style

The ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in dolphin, scissor or other kick styles.

Acceleration

How efficiently do the fins allow you to quickly increase speed?

Related Reading: Gear of The Year: The Best New Dive Gear & Equipment

Maneuverability

How well do the fins allow you to get in and out of tight locations, including spinning, backing up or reversing direction?

Surface Swimming

While on the surface on scuba or snorkel, how efficiently do the fins propel you relative to the effort?

Ease of Doffing

How easily can you remove the fins, in and out of the water? Are the straps or buckles easy to grasp? Is it unusually difficult to slide your boot out of open-heel pockets?

Fins also were evaluated for weight and buoyancy (in fresh water), construction and durability, and the effectiveness of nonslip material on the bottom of the foot pocket.

Paddle Fins

SCUBAPRO

Go Sport Gorilla

Stiffer than the original Go Sport, this new version requires a bit more effort to kick than the original for an equivalent increase in propulsion. The difference is noticeable, but not so extreme as to exclude the average diver from using these fins. Test divers felt the fin performed highly across the board and were impressed by its versatility.

It took the only excellent score for frog kick in the test and earned very good scores for flutter and alternative kicking styles. The short blade is adept at backing and turning, providing excellent maneuverability in tight spaces. Getting up to speed is quick and easy.

“Acceleration tops out lower than some, but you can keep moving along nicely without a ton of effort,” is how one tester described it. The open-heel pocket is very comfy and uses a sturdy three-position bungee with a large grip.

Testers scored the fin excellent for ease of donning and doffing. Lightweight and just over 20 inches in length (size medium), these heavy-duty kickers are also very easy to travel with. Picked overwhelmingly as a favorite of test divers, the Go Sport Gorilla is our Testers Choice.

MSRP $216

CONTACT scubapro.com

"Good power in all styles and smooth, fast kicker."

Aqualung

Storm Max

This fin has a stiff blade and is 22 inches long in size medium. However, testers didn’t feel like it was too difficult or tiring to use. It scored good for power versus stress. One diver described it as being good for “easy cruising” but having “power when you need it.”

Testers were mixed on the effectiveness of the fin for frog kick, but it still scored good for all kicking styles. “Real get-up-and-go,” one tester noted. It accelerates quickly, and moderate to low speeds are easy to maintain. The blade tracks well with little knocking or slicing. Maneuverability and turning are good, but back kicking can be tricky.

The silicone bungee uses a wide heel strap. Not only did it hold the foot comfortably snug, but it pivots out of the way when removing or inserting one’s foot, earning excellent scores for donning and doffing.

MSRP $159

CONTACT aqualung.com

"Stiff, but friendly, with wide application outside of tight environments."

Fourth Element

Rec

This four-channel fin combines a classic design with a forward-thinking ethos—its blade and foot pocket are made of 100 percent recycled materials. The 25-inch-long fin is stiff enough to cause some ankle stress, but not without a great return on investment.

“Good bang for your buck,” is how one tester described it. The fin performed well in all kicking styles. Testers especially loved what they described as “the powerful, gliding” frog kick. They also found it easy to reverse course. Multiple divers noted some wobbling and sideways slicing in flutter, but still scored the Rec very good for stability.

The soft foot pocket is very comfortable. The adjustable bungee strap is easy to get on and off. The Rec combines powerful thrust and solid performance with a novel eco-friendly construction.

MSRP $159

CONTACT fourthelement.com

"Classic style with good performance suitable for any conditions."

Fourth Element

Tech

This tec-oriented fin is negatively buoyant with a stiff spring strap and a boxy foot pocket. While the fin may be better suited for drysuit boots, it still performed well during our test dives with wetsuit-clad divers. The stainless-steel spring strap earned very good scores for donning and doffing. It includes a large finger grip and a curved heel pad.

“Good output for effort” and “accelerates a decent amount with little effort” were typical test diver comments. The Tech scored good in all kicking styles and very good for maneuverability. “Great reverse and turns on a dime,” one test diver observed.

The Tech’s environmentally responsible natural-rubber construction and stainless-steel spring strap are incredibly durable for many years of hard use and are 100 percent recyclable.

MSRP $219

CONTACT fourthelement.com

"Surprising getup-and-go with little effort."

Gull

Super Mew XX

Designed with a strategic use of flexible and stiffer rubber, this fin has a very comfy foot pocket with easy, efficient kicking. While a couple of testers felt the blade didn’t provide quite as much power as they would’ve liked, others were impressed by its overall power, speed, and responsiveness.

“Didn’t expect so much power from such small, supple fins, but really surprising turn of speed. In flutter and dolphin I could feel my reg hose vibrating,” one tester said. The fin scored good for frog kick and very good for flutter and alternative styles. It boasts very good maneuverability and snappy acceleration.

Heavier than average and negatively buoyant, it scored very good for surface swimming. The Super Mew XX offers great all-around performance and was a favorite of several test divers.

MSRP $210

CONTACT gull.kinugawa-net.com

"Really smooth kick. Speedy with low effort and zero drag."

Oceanic

Accel

One of the lightest and shortest fins here, the Accel offers solid performance in a travel-ready package. The foot pocket is a bit boxy, but comfortable. It uses a simple elastic strap that can easily be adjusted between three positions. The strap’s streamlined design reduces weight and drag.

It scored excellent for donning, but only very good for doffing as the tiny grip can make it slightly more difficult to pull free. The fin performs well across all kicking styles with very good maneuverability and easy backing. It is stable, with easy acceleration.

“Nice and supple. More power than you would think for such a small and light fin,” one test diver noted. The fin is slightly negatively buoyant. It scored highly for surface swimming, making it a travel-ready option for both diving and snorkeling.

MSRP $109.95

CONTACT oceanicworldwide.com

"Nice speed in flutter with low effort and decent frogger."

SCUBAPRO

S - Tek Fin

This tec-diving-oriented fin has a prominent 30-degree bend in the blade designed to provide a more efficient kick. The design takes some getting used to but earned good scores for flutter, frog and alternative kicking styles. Each fin includes two removable stainless-steel weight plates to adjust buoyancy to positive, negative, or neutral—fins were negative during testing.

The fin tracks straight, with no knocking, even when churning hard. “Slow and steady. Rolls like a freight train,” one tester said of the fin’s acceleration. It scored very good for stability and maneuverability. The comfortable foot pocket has an adjustable heavy-duty bungee.

The blade can be removed from the foot pocket, allowing the user to swap out blade types or foot pocket types, or break down the fins for travel.

MSRP $299

CONTACT scubapro.com

"Smooth kick and comfortable foot pocket."

SCUBAPRO

Seawing Supernova

A great all-rounder, this fin automatically adjusts to the strength of the kick to provide easy kicking at low speed and extra power when it’s needed. The fin scored very good for power versus stress.

Acceleration was good and easy to maintain at moderate exertion, although some testers felt the positively buoyant fin could feel a bit “draggy” underwater. “Speed so-so, but nice power. Good consistent thrust,” one test diver said. The fin scored very good for the efficiency and ease of kicking in frog and flutter.

“Fin tips really grab the water in frog kick to drive you forward,” one tester noted. The fin is very maneuverable. The bungee strap makes for simple donning and doffing. Like the S-Tek fin, this fin uses a separately molded blade and foot pocket, which allows for easy assembly and disassembly.

MSRP $299

CONTACT scubapro.com

"Good balance between effort and acceleration."

Seac

U - 1000

One of the longest fins in the test, the U-1000 is 26½ inches long in size M–L. Long, flexy, and negatively buoyant, the multicompound blade performed very well in flutter and alternative styles such as dolphin kick.

It scored good for frog kick and maneuvering. “Turns like a truck,” one tester said. It scored very good for stability and power versus stress, providing good consistent propulsion without tiring the legs. “Soft blades let you stroke along easily, slowly in flutter,” one tester noted.

Acceleration is very good, going from zero to cruising speed readily and easily. The foot pocket slips on and off “like butter,” said another tester. But, the heel pad and grip do tend to slide to either side of the silicone bungee. With very good performance in flutter kick, the U-1000 was a favorite of multiple test divers.

MSRP $149

CONTACT seacsub.com

"Easy kicking and good power."

Sherwood

Triton

Outfitted with an elastic bungee with a large finger grip and a wide-opening foot pocket, this fin is very easy to get on and off quickly. Testers were impressed with its overall performance. It earned very good scores almost across the board.

These powerful fins are easy to set churning. “Good return on power,” was how one test diver described the fin’s acceleration and efficient transfer of low-impact kicking into powerful propulsion. Testers were very impressed by the fin’s performance in flutter and alternative kicking styles such as dolphin. The fin scored good for frog kick and maneuverability.

Multiple testers felt they were in between sizes—small a little tight, medium a little loose—but still scored the foot pocket very good for comfort. A capable jack-of-all-trades, the Triton is a solid choice for any diver.

MSRP $173

CONTACT sherwoodscuba.com

"Good all-around fin. Consistent in all kicking styles."

Tusa

Solla

The Solla impressed with a combination of efficiency and lightweight comfort. “Feels noticeably smaller” and “hardly feel ’em” were typical test diver comments, which may have more to do with the fin’s neutrally buoyant construction and hydrodynamic design than its actual dimensions—24 inches in medium.

It earned very good scores across the board, but really shines in flutter kick. “Crazy fast and easy kicking,” is how one test diver described it. “Top speed is fast and low effort,” another observed.

Testers felt the fin accelerated quickly and provided good propulsion for very little effort. Sizing seems to run large, but the foot pocket is very comfortable and equipped with an adjustable bungee that makes the fin very easy to don and doff. The Solla is our Best Buy.

MSRP $149

CONTACT tusa.com

"Stable and comfortable, with good power for many scenarios."

Split Fins

SCUBAPRO

Twin Jet II

This scuba fin is constructed out of a single-material thermoplastic rubber for extreme durability and uses a split blade design to maximize kick performance while minimizing leg and ankle stress. The Twin Jet II scored very good for flutter kick, where it provides decent power without wearing out the user’s legs.

“Easy on ankles,” one test diver observed. The snappy blade accelerates quickly, making it easy to reach and maintain top speed. The fins scored good for stability and surface swimming. Test divers scored the fin very good for fit and comfort.

The foot pocket uses a traditional adjustable strap with pinch-release buckles. Users can upgrade to an optional bungee or steel spring strap. Overall, the Twin Jet II offers heavy-duty construction with efficient, low-effort kicking.

"Flutter easy and fast."

Tusa

HyFlex Zoom

This fin utilizes a pre-angled blade and a flexible material to enhance the low-effort kicking offered by the split blade design. “So easy to kick” was typical of test diver comments while using this fin. The snappy blade moves pretty well, scoring very good for acceleration.

Test divers were pleasantly surprised by its balance of thrust to effort. “These get to about 60 percent of the speed of typical paddle fins with little effort. After that there’s no point in kicking harder,” one test diver observed. Flutter kick is effortless and efficient. Frog and maneuvering are better than expected for a split fin, but not by much.

The fin and blade can be disassembled using a hex key for travel or to swap out for a different blade. A favorite of test divers, the HyFlex Zoom is our Testers Choice for split fins.

MSRP $199

CONTACT tusa.com

"Soft kick, easy on ankles."

Hands-Free Footwear

Finclip offers an alternative to traditional fin straps and bungees that may be of interest to divers with limited mobility or any diver that struggles with donning and doffing their fins. The specially designed device allows the wearer to simply step into the fin and push down with their heel to lock the fin in place, like a ski boot.

The long latch is designed to easily pop free using the opposite foot when it is time to remove the fins. This allows you to don and doff without needing to bend over and grab the heel strap. If you struggle to walk with fins toward the back of the boat, the design allows for easy donning while standing, so you can don them at the last possible moment before entering the water.

The system is compatible with most adjustable fins and allows you to fine-tune the fit using a sliding foot plate. For more information visit xsscuba.com.