Whether you’re a fanatic scuba diver, a dedicated swimmer, or simply looking to upgrade your underwater activities, you’ve probably considered buying swim fins.

But as you began to search for the best swim fins for your desired purpose, you hit a wall. You didn’t know there were so many kinds of fin will be leg. How are you supposed to decide which shape or length will best fit your swimming needs?

If you’re looking for a place to start, you’ve found fin will be leg. Below you’ll find a breakdown between long and short swim fins, and when to use each of them.

Fin Will Be Leg

Long and short fins are, understandably, defined by the length of the fin will be leg. Long swim fins are any which are longer than 25 inches in length. As expected, long fins have a larger surface area on the water. Each kick will require a little more power, but it will push you forward faster.

When to Use Them

Although long swim fins can be a bit cumbersome for beginners, they are ideal for increasing leg strength and ankle fin will be leg flexibility.

Snorkelers and freedivers will also prefer a longer fin blade to propel them through the water faster as they explore the depths of whatever ocean or lake they’ve doven into.

Downsides to Long Fins

Despite the extra thrust power for moving through the water, long fins will tire out leg muscles much quicker than shorter fins. They can be especially exhausting for new swimmers not accustomed to wearing fins.

Long swim fins are also not ideal for working on technique and tempo while swimming. So if you’re planning to focus your swim flipper use for laps in the pool or for practicing the backstroke, long fins may not be as much of a help as they are a hindrance.

Short Swim Fins

Short swim fins are those which are shorter than 25 inches in length. They provide a little less resistance on the water and are more akin to the feel of swimming without fins.

You can also explore several different styles of these swim fins to get a better idea of what shape will work best for your swimming purposes.

When to Use Them

Small swim fins are best used for lap swimmers working on training their kicking speed and form. They will still train the leg muscles like long swim fins, but without as much fatigue from having to kick harder with each stroke.

They will, however, still tire out the legs from the increase in kicking tempo and strength, since each kick will not get you as far as a long fin stroke will.

Downsides for Short Fins

While swimmers of all kinds can use short flippers, they may not be as useful for snorkelers and scuba divers.

It will take more energy for divers to reach their destinations while having to kick harder and more frequently. And less energy means less time to study and be fascinated by the ocean floor.

Final Decisions

When deciding which swim fins are best fin will be leg for you, there are obviously other factors to consider as well. Some other options to consider will be material, budget, and fit of your fin will be leg, as these will affect your experience and satisfaction every time you jump in the water.

You’re one step closer to finding the perfect style of swim fin for you, and then you’ll be ready to take the dive and swim stronger than ever.