Scuba fin review: Best 5 scuba fins in 2021

Expert´s recommendation for buying new scuba fins

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Scuba fin review: Best 5 scuba fins in 2021

In a jungle of hundreds of different brands and styles the scuba fin review gives you a quick buyer´s guide. Read this and you know how to avoid a disappointment when buying your new scuba fins!

Every scuba equipment brand has its own product line of scuba fins. Fins have basically one job: Support a diver´s propulsion by increasing the space of his feet. Nevertheless every year a new model enters the market, promising to be the best fin ever. 

If you can spend only a few days per month or year underwater, it is almost impossible to figure out what fin concept makes sense and which one is just marketing.

A scuba fin review of a professional is the best way to narrow the endless options down to a small selection. Based on that you can make your decision and buy the perfect scuba fin for your needs!

Why you should spend the money and buy your own scuba fins

The Problem with rental scuba fins:

We all have made a bad experience when using rental fins in a dive center: Mostly you get snorkeling fins that are too soft and small for scuba diving. Sometimes they have cracks so that you risk to loose them. Others have a very hard shell and cause blisters or even an abrasion.

When the water is cold or you have to pass a stony beach or cliffs, full foot fins for barefoot use are uncomfortable as well. Last but not least you have to adapt every time to a new fin.

The Advantage of having your own scuba fins:

Imagine you enter the water walking over a rocky surface. But your own dive boots with a hard sole protect your feet nicely. When you are deep enough to put your fins on, you know how to do it the best way, because they are YOUR SCUBA FINS. You can easily keep up with your dive guide, even in current, because YOUR FINS are made for scuba diving, not for snorkeling or looking fancy. After a week of diving your feet have no blisters or pressure marks, because YOUR BOOTS AND FINS fit perfectly. 

What you should avoid when buying scuba fins

  • Don´t buy full foot fins, even in warm water open heel fins with boots have many advantages. 
  • Don´t buy fins with rubber/ silicone straps and plastic connections! They are designed to break and they do so always in the worst situations.
  • Stay away from any type of blade concept with filigran plastic parts that promise the best propulsion ever. They don´t work and are designed to break.

What you should look for when buying scuba fins

  • Clean and simple blade design without fragile parts and applications
  • Open heel with a solid bungee or metal spring heel strap and a simple, plastic-free connection
  • Buy your boots first or at least decide if you want to go for boots with soft or hard sole. That makes a huge difference in the fitting size!
  • Know what buoyancy characteristics your scuba fin of choice has. If you have "light feet" a positive buoyant fin pulls you constantly head down
  • Don´t choose a fin because of its look. If it doesn´t fit to your physiology or your experience it will ruin your precious dive time!

OVERVIEW - My top rated scuba fins

Scuba fin OMS Slipstream product picture

#1st Rated

OMS Slipstream

Basically identical design of the classic jet fin from other brands, but made of solid monoprene. This material is lighter (2.6 kg size XL compared to 3.2 kg). Hence the fin itself is neutrally buoyant, the metal spring makes it slightly negative. Metal spring heal straps are connected indestructible to the fin.  

scuba fins mares avanti quattro product picture

#2nd Rated

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Many instructors love their Avanti Quattro. A weight of 1.8 kg makes them the lightest of the top 5 fins. paddle design, Thermoplastic rubber-Tecralene®, Bungee heel strap with plastic caps, slightly negative buoyant 

scuba fins dive rite xt product picture

#3rd Rated

Dive Rite XT fin

2.7 kg, solid metal spring straps, Injection molded Monoprene blade with monoprene center strip gives rigidity and flexibility, paddle design, stiff blade, negative buoyant

scuba fin force fin original product picture

#4th Rated

Force Fin

weight 2.3 kg, bungee or fabric strap, solid connection, material polyurethane, slightly negative buoyant

scuba fin hollis f1 product picture

#5th Rated

Hollis F1

rubber construction, Spring heel straps with easy-grip heel tab, Multiple strap mounting positions for a fine tuned fit, weight 3.2 kg

Detailed review of the top 5 scuba fins

OMS Slipstream

Scuba fin OMS Slipstream product picture
  • Blade style
    Jet fin style. The shape is actually the same like scubapro jet fins, which didn´t changed much since it was invented in 1964 by Beuchat.
  • Propulsion
    Great propulsion even in strong currents. Especially frog kicks are very easy with the Slipstream. 
  • Precision
    For perfect maneuvering in conditions like wreck or cave diving you can wish for no better control.
  • Quality
    Jet fins are made of one piece. The attachment point for the metal spring heel straps is very solid. No easy to break plastic parts at all. 
  • Weight/ buoyancy
    Other than the classic jet fin the Slipstream is made of Monoprene. This material is lighter than rubber, hence a Slipstream in size XL is 2.6kg, a Scubapro 3.2 kg. This is also affecting the buoyancy. The fin body is neutrally buoyant, just the heel straps makes them slightly negative. 

Pros

  • Propulsion
  • Precision
  • Quality
  • Weight
  • Price

Cons

  • Flutter kicks demand some muscle strength
  • If you need heavy fins for mainly dry suit diving they are too light

Conclusion:

The OMS Slipstream is a perfect fin for advanced divers and pro´s. It works in all conditions, is indestructible, the lightest of all jet fin models. I would only recommend to choose the Scubapro model if you have "light feet" and do mainly dry suit diving. For technical diving they provide the necessary precision to use all kicking techniques in perfection. 

Scuba fin OMS Slipstream product picture

Product Rating Summary 

98% Overall

The 2% missing are credit to the fact that the efficiency for flutter kicks is not perfect. The stiffness and paddle size demand more muscle power for thrust than some other fin concepts.

90%
Efficency
100%
quality
100%
Precision
100%
cost

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About the author

Hello, my name is Tillmann and I am instructor for recreational and technical diving with TDI SDI. I work as private instructor and guide for cavern and cave diving as well as shark diving. I live since 5 years in Cancún, Mexico - a paradise for scuba diving. In thousands of dives in different countries and conditions I gained a lot of experience how to find the best scuba diving equipment. In my blog I share my knowledge with you.

If you purchase products by clicking on the amazon links you will support me. I only select products I would choose for myself.


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