Flippers
A guide to buying fins
Fins are the most important thing of all bodyboarding
accesories. There is a lot of confusion about which fin is the best and
this [I hope] will clear that up.
First of all there are all different shapes and sizes. This is a matter of personal preference. A longer fin will give you more propulsion but will require more effort to kick and because it is larger, has a bigger chance of falling off. A shorter blade will be easier to kick, but you will have to kick more to get the same thrust as the longer fin. A dropkneer will choose a shorter fin so that it will not drag as he gets up. It's really up to you.
Next there is the stiffness of the fin. The floppier it is, the easier it is to kick but the less thrust you will get. A stiffer fin will give you more thrust but will tire your legs quicker. Over time, your legs become stronger so that if you use stiff fins, it is easy to kick.
Lastly there are the shapes. All these shapes have different advantages and disadvantages. The counter-jockey will tell you these but he or she might only know what it claims in the ads. Ask him/her if he/she has used it before and what they think about it. Don't get sucked up into gimmick designs.
Although this is not a very comprehensive guide, I hope this has made your mind a bit clearer about the confusing and often frustrating world of fins.