Sizing scuba diving fins is essentially the same as sizing your feet for shoes. The sizes are really similar. Men should start with a fin size that is the same as their shoe size. For women, the starting point is frequently a size smaller than their shoe size.
Full foot fins are tailored to fit your standard shoe size. Your feet should fit snugly inside the fins, neither too tight nor too loose. Your toes may or may not poke out from the end of the foot pocket on some models when the fin is sized over various sizes.
Bands are used to size adjustable heel fins, however not all manufacturers use the same bands or descriptions. For example, one manufacturer may refer to a fin size as normal, while another may refer to it as a medium, even if both correspond to the same physical size.
How to Judge the Sizing
When trying on full foot fins, you should wear them with boots. Your ankle should be about parallel to the very rear of the bottom of the fin foot pocket.
If you chose open heel fins and intend to wear booties with them, buy the booties beforehand. When trying on scuba diving fins, you must wear the bootie to guarantee optimum size and fit.
Adjust the strap to the loosest setting with open heel fins and insert your foot. Your foot should stretch a couple of inches past the rear of the boot heel on the open heel fins, and the top lip should line up with your instep. If your foot sticks out too much in the pocket, the fin is definitely too big.
The shaking test should be performed on both types of fins. Sit down and move your foot in all directions. The fin should be snug but without rubbing or pinching in any way. If it seems too tight and there is no mobility, try the next size up. If your foot moves a lot when you shake it, go down a size and start over.
Fin Straps
Just a brief note on diving fin straps. The strap-on fins can break, so keep a replacement on hand. You don’t want to miss a dive because your strap snaps while you’re getting ready on the diving boat. Look for a well-constructed strap. The strap for your fins should be thick, with well-made and long-lasting buckles.
Check the buckles to ensure they are simple to operate. You should also be able to loosen the strap on the fins without having to remove the entire strap. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you discover the best set of scuba diving fins for you. A pair that you won’t have to consider while diving!
The Takeaway
Begin with the fin size. Test them out to see how they feel. If you’re wearing a bootie, go one size up depending on the thickness and sole of the bootie. Scuba diving fins should be as comfortable as your sneakers. Not too big, not too little. They should fit snugly with no pinching.
If you follow these rules for fitting and sizing your scuba diving fins, you should enjoy a good comfortable dive with no need to bother about your fins. That is having the correct fin size!
