Looking for swim fin recommendations for body boarding. Never having used them before for body boarding, I'm worried about them getting stripped off by wave action. I tend to ride all the way into shore, so I'll be in pretty turbulent water during some of those rides. Thanks.
MS Vipers are great, traditional Mak's(now the Churchill factory moved I've heard quality has dropped), Tech 2's are great for DK...there's really alot of good ones out there. And get tethers, those will keep the fins tied to your feet.
Its really personal preference, and what fits the best. Some fins don't fit quite right, and I'm in between sizes. Trying them on in the store if you can, but even then its hard to tell how they will feel in the water. I personally like the feel and power of Tech fins. I've been riding them for a while now, and I'm very used to them. But, in the winter, I can't find a tech size that fits me over the boots, so I often go to a different fin.
MS Vipers are my personal favorite I agree invereldom on the Fin teathers And if u stay in the water for a long time u might want to Invest in fin socks I
I use Churchill Makapuus also... with no tethers... they claim to float but THEY DO NOT FLOAT IT IS A LIE. Especially in fresh water but they don't float in salt water either. I know when you are watching pro bboarder videos on Youtube, it seems like about 50% of the pros use Makapuus, the other 50% use all the various other kinds (Makapuus seem especially not-very-good for drop knee).
Fin socks sound like excellent advice. As someone who can't get to the beach nearly as often as I'd like, messed up feet can ruin a good part of a vacation. It always takes me a couple of days to get the old feet acclimated to the sand friction when running around during frisbee sessions. Allowing fins to tear 'em up would be even worse.
i would like to take this time to pay homage to the best fins i ever owned. BZ rubbers. they are not made anymore, and i cannot find them in my size (large). the ones i have been using for years started to crack and fall apart. then one day i heard about sponge rez. i poured that stuff all over them, in the cracks and around the drainage holes where it was actually just ripping open. it did the job, and now they are good as new. i cant say enough good things about sponge rez. i bought a couple extra tubes for when i need more down the road, just in case it stops getting made as well.
over the past few years i have gone through OG churchill makapuu's which are a classic but i find they are too long for me to ride DK. i have also tried the churchill slashers which i was not a fan of, i tried kicks and blunt cuts which are both great fins. but my favorite fin for sponging are the hydro tech 2's.....they generate a more thrust per kick compared to all the other fins imo, and i like the shorter fin length which makes it easier for DK riding. the material they are made out of is super soft and comfortable to use for extended paddle out sessions. they also have good drainage features so that sand doesnt get caught up in your toes. the tech 2's are not cheap but well worth the $$$.
