Need to make a purchase so of course I am consulting Slowtwitch. Masters coach wants me to buy longer, flexible fins. Wondering if anyone has a recommendation on a pair they find comfortable. Tried one type today and they were not very comfortable…flimsy in the foot and toe opening was rigid. What is your go to, longer, fin?
Cressi Gara 300 LD or Cressi Professional LD, I use these two for Long Distance swimming in the mediterranean Sea and find them quite comfy. Not sure though what you mean with “longer fins”, they’re classical LD fins (very long) and if you’re used to small fins for technical improvement better forget about being able to make good use of them in the short term. They demand a technique different from the standard freestyle (f.e. you’ll have to use your complete leg down from the hipbone, and your leg rhythm will equal your armstroke rhythm). They’re also almost not suitable in pools below 50m, simply because you cannot make enough strokes befor you have to turn again…
Best, form
Need to make a purchase so of course I am consulting Slowtwitch. Masters coach wants me to buy longer, flexible fins. Wondering if anyone has a recommendation on a pair they find comfortable. Tried one type today and they were not very comfortable…flimsy in the foot and toe opening was rigid. What is your go to, longer, fin?
No recommendations, but… why???
Only one guy I can think of at masters has long fins (these aren’t the stupid long scuba fins, just not short zoomer style). He wears the speedo fins, like this. http://allamericanswim.com/swim-fins/86-speedo-trialon-swim-fins.html Seems to like them well enough.
I have found that the aquasphere alphas are very good for triathletes and masters swimmers trying to develop a better kicking motor program:
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Our head coach recommends that we use Speedo Trialon fins.
http://www.speedousa.com/trialon-rubber-swim-fins/style-7530039
I like them OK. But full disclosure, we really don’t use them a lot in practice, maybe only a couple times a week.
Mark
Need to make a purchase so of course I am consulting Slowtwitch. Masters coach wants me to buy longer, flexible fins. Wondering if anyone has a recommendation on a pair they find comfortable. Tried one type today and they were not very comfortable…flimsy in the foot and toe opening was rigid. What is your go to, longer, fin?
Finis Floating fins, longer than sprint zoomers & flexible, good for helping get aligned in the water - recommended by the Swimsmooth crowd also…
As Dark Speed Works mentioned, the Alpha is a favorite within the Triathlon and Master’s swimming crowds.
The fin is blown EVA foam which is soft and flexible, also buoyant. The fin is easy on your joints with the flexibility. It is a fin that will give you propulsion, but will also make you work for it. This is technically a shortbladed fin, but the anatomical fit provides for a long blade fin performance with a larger bladed surface.
Aqua Sphere Alpha Fin
Another fin to look at is the US Diver’s Sea Lion fin. Most swim brands have a long bladed rubber fin. This is a great option at a great price point, and may be more what your coach means.
US Diver’s Sea Lion Fin
Did your coach elaborate on why he/ she wanted you to switch to a longer bladed fin?
jake
NO to long fins… bad for triathletes- too much pressure on achilles and calf.
Try these Speedo Short Blade Training Fins- they give you the extra work, work on ankle flexibility and more work when kicking
Trust me…lifelong swimmer, 54 min IM swim split and a coach
I second the Finis floating fins. Very comfortable fit with lots of sizes. Great propulsion for drills if your goal is to tune up the front end of your stroke.
Is there a reason your coach recommends long fins? We recommend short training fins - specifically DMC, to encourage better swimming technique and less knee bend. Less torque on your knees and better to encourage more plantar flexion in your ankles, simulating swimming without fins. http://shop.theraceclub.com/store/training-equipment/swim-fins.html
I like the Finis long fins, which are very comfortable and flexible. Be warned, though - mine only last about 2-3 months before the rubber breaks down (ie where the toe opening meets the fin). I tried the TYR long fins but they were way too firm and uncomfortable. Gave up on them after a few laps.
I know short fins are better for technique work, but for me the long fins are more fun. I’ve always dreaded kick sets, but now I look forward to them. Anything that keeps me in the pool longer is a win.
I had some Speedo fins with a longer blade for a few years and realized my kick was nothing like my kick when really swimming. The long fins led to a much slower cadence and a different body position than when I kicked swimming - something that held true for ‘fast’ intervals or a more tri-style with a minimal kick. These were meant for pool / training use and not nearly as long as scuba-type fins.
I got a pair of Jammers a few years back and have been very happy - they feel like a normal kick rhythm and position just with a bit more propulsion. The Speedo fins were unquestionably faster, but I didn’t think they were training technique or even the same muscles I use in a race.
Rather than bigger fins, I would think about some long kick sets outside of a masters / training class. Try adding 1-2 kick sets of 1,000 meters or so per week for a month or two, and watch the clock. They don’t need to be hard intervals, but play with body position, how you hold the kickboard, foot angle, deep, shallow kicks… and see what helps you drop a few seconds.
My guess is you are lagging on kick sets. Big fins will speed you up some, but won’t fix the underlying problem. The most common flaws are too much knee (kick should come from the hips, not the knees) or a dragging / sagging body position with the hips below the waterline and toes pointed at the bottom of the pool instead of the wall behind you. You should have the same position as you would have with a pull buoy between your legs.
I have the exact same question. I was told by the coach to get some fins. I showed up today with some short fins and he said, “NO!!! Take those back and get longer ones.” I used some (2 different colors) out of the treasure chest of goodies on the pool deck. Those Speedo ones are the ones he told me to get.
Jason, I think the reason he wants ME to get fins is because I am too slow without them and get left behind when everybody else is getting through the set. He cuts my, “kick with fin” drills short so I can stay with the group, or at least within the hour for Masters Swim. I will say that I feel the kick drills WITHOUT fins a lot more in my hips than I do with the fins. I feel the fins more in the ankles but he is the coach.