Best Spearfishing and Freediving Fins – Buyer’s Guide

The biggest problem of freediving is the lack of equipment you need. A good freediving mask and longer fins to propel you faster and deeper are all that is required!

Spearfishing and freediving fins are different from other fins. The first difference is their extended length. They generally have a longer, less complex design than snorkel or diving fins. They are designed for more efficient propulsion. They are thicker and more rigid near the foot pocket than the other outer end of the blade. Their flexibility also helps you go deeper without expending any more oxygen and energy than necessary. In general, the longer the spearfishing/freediving fin is, the greater resistance moving through the water it has. Less energy is needed to move a greater distance as a result, thus conserving breath during your dive.

More durable plastic fins that are less likely to crack or snap are recommended for beginners. As your experience increases, you may choose to upgrade to more flexible and longer-lasting fiberglass or carbon composite fins that allow you to go to even deeper depths for a longer period more efficiently.

Characteristically, spearfishing and freediving fins are compared on their material, durability, and shape, how easy they are to use, and their stiffness and/or flexibility. The best fins are suitable for the type of diving intended as well as the diver’s level of experience.

Absolute Best Spearfishing and Freediving Fins

Top Spearfishing and Freediving Fins – Product Reviews

1. Mares Pure Instinct Razor Pro (Editor’s Choice) – Lightweight Fins w/Interchangeable Blade

Mares Pure Instinct Razor Pro fins are stiff, extremely lightweight (approx. 2 lbs.) quality interchangeable blades.

It is the best-yielding lightweight technopolymer fin on the market. The fin’s technopolymer core varies in thickness, which adds softness and flexibility. As a result, the fin flexes into a curve that increases snap power and thrust on each kick.

Mares has reinforced the fin by adjusting the angle 22 degrees. The improved foot pocket design is a result of researching leading Italian podiatry. The increased instep thickness also adds more power and comfort as it transfers maximum energy to the blade.

The Pure Instinct Razor Pro’s fin tip’s small v-notch aids maneuverability. Its blade channel and foot pocket lateral stringer design prevents lateral slipping and increases thrust by increasing water flow toward the v-notch at the tip. The added ribbing helps direct the water and keep your foot in a natural, more relaxed position.

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2. Rob Allen Scorpia Freediving Fins – Affordable Beginner and Shore Diver Fins

Rob Allen Scorpia freediving fins are one of the most economical, best-fitting, most durable, highest quality freediving and spearfishing blades on the market for beginners and shore divers alike. They have a one millimeter neoprene/Teflon layer that helps them glide more easily through the water. They also come in camo print.

Rob Allen uses a multi-compound of high-quality epoxy resin, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. The soft EPDM foot pocket rubber wraps around your foot to prevent over-flexing for a more comfortable leg fin thrust. Their flexibility allows greater control and a more fluid kick. Efficiency and significant forward propulsion are assured.

The Scorpia fin tip’s v-notch aids maneuverability. Its soft blade has multiple channels running the entire length and foot pocket rubber rails to prevent lateral slipping. Thrust is increased as the water is channeled toward the v-notch tip.

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3. Cressi GARA 3000 LD – Freediving Power w/Shortness for Scuba Diving

The Italian-made Cressi Gara 3000 is a fluid, soft, lightweight plastic polypropylene long blade fin that requires less muscle. It lessens leg fatigue, which makes them ideal for beginner deep freedivers and spearfishing. They have an equally suitable length for travel and scuba diving. The Cressi 3000 LD fin model is similar, only designed to be softer for longer distances.

Cressi uses a patented three-material design that combines reactive polypropylene, soft elastomer, and solid copolymer to produce a responsive, technically-advanced diving fin. The polypropylene enhances stride spring. The soft elastomer wraps around your foot and aids a more comfortable leg fin thrust. Bending and shock protection are controlled by copolymer side lateral stringers.

The Cressi 3000 is made of flexible materials that help beginners learn and improve their skills. These fins feature maximum energy dispersion with minimal effort. Their insulated soft bi-material constructed foot pocket also makes them equally efficient for cold or warm water diving. The foot pocket design provides a more comfortable fit and kick whether you wear neoprene socks or not.

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4. Cressi GARA PROFESSIONAL LD – Maximum Power Minimum Energy

The Italian-made Cressi Gara Professional LD is a soft, more fluid, longer-lasting, plastic polypropylene long distance long blade fin that requires less muscle. This lessens leg fatigue, making them ideal for beginner deep freedivers and spearfishing enthusiasts. Longer blades allow you greater propulsion with less effort. These extremely lightweight fins also allow you to cover greater distances and dive longer. They are not well-suited to surface swimming.

Cressi uses a fin construction design that combines responsive polypropylene and soft elastomer to produce a technically-advanced diving fin. The polypropylene enhances stride spring. The soft elastomer caresses your foot for a more comfortable leg fin thrust. You have greater control and fluid kick due to the flexibility of these fins. Acceleration is slower, but there is less stress on your ankles.

The Gara Professional LD fins are extremely lightweight compared to other rubber-footed fins. The foot pocket has been re-designed and is situated under the blade to reduce effort and disperse energy without compromising performance. The foot pocket design provides a more comfortable fit and kick even when you are not wearing socks.

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5. Beuchat Mundial – Beginner Sport Freediving Fins

The Beuchat Mundial fins are high-quality, comfortable, sufficiently stiff, technopolymer beginner freediving and spearfishing sport long fins. Power, flexibility, and resistance are combined to achieve optimal performance. Stiffness is geared to the beginner, which helps the diver perfect their skill and technique before moving on to stiffer blades.

Beuchat provides top-rated, entry-level, full-foot sport freediving fins. They incorporate a built-in stabilizer that restricts movement to encourage a proper kicking technique into a dual-material thermoplastic elastomer heel and foot pocket with a reinforced instep. Thermoplastic adds durable spring with each kick while the soft elastomer material cushions your foot for a more comfortable leg fin thrust. The design is intended to achieve maximum propulsion and efficiency regardless of your level of freediving expertise.

Mundial non-vented fins are versatile and have removable blades. The reinforced foot pocket comfortably disperses energy to the blade. The blade functions as a sole under the foot pocket, which helps maximize power without compromising performance. Wearing neoprene socks will help provide a more comfortable fit and kick.

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6. Mares Instinct Pro – Light Beginner Freediving/Spearfishing Fins

The Mares Instinct Pro (Polytec Spearfishing) fins are stiff, extremely lightweight, comfortable, and efficient for freediving and spearfishing. They may also be effectively used for snorkeling, reef diving, and other water sports for long periods of time. These fins are well-suited for beginners.

The Mares Instinct Pro is one of the lightest technopolymer freediving fins on the market. The fin’s technopolymer core is a computer-generated design that adds agility and elasticity, which allows the blade to bend during kick action. The fin flexes into a curve that increases snap power and thrust on each kick.

The improved foot pocket design is a result of researching leading Italian podiatry. The increased instep thickness adds more support, power, efficiency, and comfort as it transfers maximum energy to the blade.

The Instinct Pro’s fin tip’s v-notch aids maneuverability. Overall, this is a progressive deformation design with added micro-ribbing that helps direct the water and increases efficiency. It also helps keep your foot in a natural, more relaxed position. Its tapered blade channel and foot pocket stringer design prevents lateral slipping and increases thrust by channeling water flow toward the v-notch at the tip.

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7. Seac Motus Long Blade – Soft Powerful Spearfishing Fins

Seac Motus long blade freediving and spearfishing fins maximize overall thrust without requiring additional work by the diver. These fins are flexible and responsive quality interchangeable blades. Seac offers an all-around closed-shoe innovatively designed product.

These Seac interchangeable blades are made from technopolymer material that maximizes responsiveness and flexibility. Seac Motus fins have optimized thrust power without requiring extra effort by adjusting the angle 22 degrees. The improved hard thermoplastic rubber foot pocket is constructed from double dual-density material that has a hard sole with soft ribbing around the foot. This system restricts movement while cushioning your foot for a more comfortable leg fin thrust. Propulsion and efficiency are increased as a result.

The Motus fin tip’s v-notch aids movement. Foot pocket lateral stringers and blade channels increase thrust by increasing overall water flow. Added ribbing helps direct the water toward the v-notch at the tip.

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8. Cressi Gara 2000HF – Aggressive Freediving, Scuba, and Deep Skin Diving Fins

The Italian-made Cressi Gara 2000 HF is a stiff, lightweight plastic long blade fin designed for the “aggressive” or professional freediver, deep skin diver, or scuba professional.

Cressi uses a patented three-material design that combines reactive polypropylene, soft elastomer, and solid copolymer to produce a responsive, technically-advanced diving fin. The polypropylene enhances stride thrust. The soft elastomer wraps around your foot to also contribute to a more comfortable leg fin thrust. Bending and shock protection are controlled by copolymer side lateral stringers.

The 2000HF’s fin tip’s v-notch facilitates maneuverability and surface performance. Rigidity ensures no power is lost. These fins are extremely lightweight compared to other rubber-footed fins. Their insulated soft bi-material constructed foot pocket also adapts them to cold water diving. The foot pocket design provides a more comfortable fit and kick even without neoprene socks.

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9. Mako Competition Freediving – Competition Fins

MAKO Spearguns competition freediving fins are innovative, removable blades that provide stiffness only where it is needed. These newly designed fins are affordable, yet offer many features only found in higher-end expensive all-fiber and fiberglass blades. They are extremely flexible fins made of durable, quality plastic that provide more ankle and foot endurance during competition. They also promise an overall longer life.

These MAKO Speargun competition blades are made from a revolutionary plastic material comprised of 10% fiberglass and 90% borealis. Their freediving foot pockets are constructed from varying rigid and softer compound materials that are designed to guarantee optimal performance without major leg fin thrust fatigue during competition. They provide restrictive stiffness to support ankles and more cushioned comfort around the foot area.

The MAKO Speargun competition foot pockets fit many different bent or angled blades. They are, in fact, the same foot pockets found on MAKO fiberglass and carbon fiber freediving fins. These fins may be easily removed and upgraded to carbon fiber or fiberglass as your skill level and technique mature. The original foot pockets fit a variety of glue-on rails making upgrading to MAKO Speargun freediving/spearfishing fiberglass fins even more affordable!

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10. SEAC Motus – Solid Innovative Closed-Shoe Power

The Seac Motus is a solid new, all-around, closed-shoe, long blade fin that minimizes work while maximizing overall thrust and performance. These Seac Motus fins are innovative closed-shoe freediving and spearfishing fins that help provide optimal execution and power. These are quality, flexible, responsive, and interchangeable.

The new Seac Motus transposable fins are made from technopolymer material that optimizes responsiveness and flexibility. Seac Motus fins have optimized thrust power by adjusting the angle 22 degrees, which reduces diver effort. The improved hard thermoplastic rubber foot pocket is made of double dual-density material. It also has a hard sole and soft ribbing to caress the foot. This system restricts movement while cushioning your foot for a more comfortable leg fin thrust. Propulsion and efficiency are increased.

The Motus fin tip’s v-notch aids movement and maneuverability. Thrust is aided by blade channels and foot pocket lateral stringers that increase water flow. Added ribbing helps direct the water toward the v-notch at the tip.

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Spearfishing and Freediving Fins – Buyer’s Guide

Expensive freediving / speardiving fins will not make you a better diver. Consider your experience level as well as your leg strength and power before selecting fin material and stiffness. It is also recommended to try your fins on before buying them.

Blades and Foot Pockets

Fin blades may have foot pockets attached or be separate. Attached blades and foot pockets are glued together. Detached blades and foot pockets have fasteners that allow you to travel with your fins more easily. Separate foot pockets are also more convenient when you decide to upgrade or replace your blades. The drawback to having separate blades and foot pockets is the added foot pocket and fastener weight that can slow you down.
Foot pockets should be made of softer material. Some are wider or narrower. They should fit snugly, but not cramp your foot or be so stiff they cause numbness. Check the size. Socks can help when the pocket size is a little big. Oversizing can result in lost power due to the thickness of the material.

Rails / Tendons

Thicker rails, or tendons, make the blades more rigid. Rails that are too soft do not sufficiently support the blade. This can overstress the blade causing it to crack and break.

Types of Spearfishing and Freediving Fins

Materials

Freediving and spearfishing fins may be made from:

• polymer
• fiberglass,
• carbon fiber.

Polymer

Polymer (plastic) is the most commonly-used material to make freediving and spearfishing fins. These fins are less expensive and perform well. They are ideal for beginning divers, for those on a budget, or for those that aren’t ready to invest in high-end fins. Polymer fins offer flexible durability, which allows them to better endure travel and underwater bumps and bruises.

The downside is their efficiency. Polymer fins are not as efficient as fiberglass or carbon fiber types, and they do not last as long. Additionally, since polymer is a ply-able material with memory, it will assume a curved shape if it is consistently bent. Eventually the fin becomes less efficient.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass fins are more expensive and rigid than polymer ones. They retain their shape even after extensive and rugged underwater use, however. Fiberglass fins can endure underwater rock impacts without chipping or breaking. These fins remain perfectly straight and aligned.

The downside of fiberglass fins may be their price. They are more expensive than plastic polymer fins, but not as expensive as higher-end carbon fiber blades.

Carbon Fiber

Premium, carbon fiber-made, linearly-graded fins are the most expensive spearfishing and freediving fins to buy. They are more efficient and have the highest propulsion to energy ratio. You typically get more kick for your buck! Carbon fiber fins are extremely lightweight. However, they are more brittle and require more care. They are rigid, memory-free, and retain their shape even after many years of use.

What to Look for When Buying Fins

Consider price, your level of diving expertise, and fin features before buying freediving or spearfishing fins.

Price

Consider your budget and how often you will use the fins to determine how much you want to spend. Also consider that overall performance depends more on your freedriving/spearfishing style and capabilities than how expensive the fins are.

Freediving fins typically range from $80 (for plastic) to more than $600 for high-quality, custom carbon fiber. An expensive pair of fins will not improve efficiency if you are just learning or if your technique still needs to be improved.

Skill Level

Are you just learning freediving or spearfishing? Choose the best fins according to your skill level. It is easy to upgrade as you perfect your technique or as your budget permits. There is always the possibility that, if you are a beginner, you may find the sport is not for you. Beginners may choose less expensive, but no less durable, polymer (plastic) fins. These are better for learning and can endure rough underwater impacts and treatment. More experienced and professional divers will want lighter weight, more flexible fiberglass or carbon fiber fins.

Ease of Use

No fins perform equally well on the surface (swimming) as they do underwater (diving). Freediving/spearfishing fins are made for underwater performance. They are not designed for surface swimming and are different from shorter snorkeling or scuba fins. Freediving/spearfishing fins are designed to provide maximum efficiency with easy use. Their blades are longer for better water propulsion. They make transitioning from shorter fins easier.

Foot pocket size is important. Most fin sizes run a bit bigger to allow for divers that wear socks with their fins. To achieve maximum efficiency, your fin should fit snuggly around your foot. Check the manufacturer’s sizing chart to see if they mention that sizes run bigger to allow for neoprene socks. Also check their fin return policy in case the size is not correct.

Shape

There are three shapes available. The standard longer, slender blades allow you to impose a more deliberate and efficient pace and motion. This shape also allows better directional control with minimal effort. There are also the fish tail tip and clover tip fin shapes.

Freediving and spearfishing fins vary between 22” – 27” in length. The foot pocket length also varies according to the individual. In general, the average fin length is approximately 40 inches. The longer they are, the more water is displaced, which better propels you through the water.

Flexibility and Stiffness

The fins that have “the best” rigidity or softness are the ones that fit your height, muscle, and body shape.

Freediving and spearfishing fin flexibility varies. For example, fins having a softer blade are better-suited for short-legged divers with less muscle, while a longer blade better-suits a fit, longer-legged diver.

Rails (ribs) add blade elasticity. Generally, a medium-to-soft blade is a good choice. It has adequate bend and enhances your kicks.

Stiffness also varies. Contrary to belief, stiffer fins do not aid deeper dives. Fin stiffness should match the diver’s musculature. A thinner diver or one with longer legs generates less push per stroke than a shorter, stockier diver. The thinner or longer musculature diver, therefore, needs a softer fin. Once technique is mastered, most divers find they perform efficiently using a medium or medium-soft blade stiffness.

Conclusion

The most affordable, most durable, beginner freediving and spearfishing fins are polymer plastic types. They can bend, but safely, and seldom, break.

Carbon fiber fins are on the other end of the spectrum. These are extremely lightweight, provide the best propulsion to energy ratio, and remain straight and stiff. They are also the most expensive. They are fragile and can crack.

Fiberglass fins are in the mid-price range. They are more durable than carbon fiber and won’t bend. They are typically lighter weight than polymer plastic and can also withstand underwater bumps and bruises.

Freediving/spearfishing long blade fins are optimally responsive without requiring more energy. Interchangeable blade models allow you to begin with less expensive polymer plastic fins and upgrade the blades (to fiberglass or carbon fiber) as your skill level improves.

There are many good brands and types of fins on the market. It is up to the individual, their skill level, budget, and use to decide. The common complaint among consumers is size and fit. If possible, try the fins on before buying. Diving socks can sometimes correct fins that are a bit too large. Happy diving!