Your snorkel mask is the most critical piece of equipment for a good day of snorkeling, but your fins are a close second.

The best snorkeling fins are a combination of comfort, compact size and propulsion.

After evaluating the most popular fins, we have come up with our top picks that excel in each of these three categories.

Using any of these fins will make your day on the water a good one.

Best Snorkeling Fins

	cozia design Snorkel Fins	Cressi Palau Light Weight Travel Fin	U.S. Divers Sea Lion Fin
Construction:	Composite	Rubber	Rubber
Size:	Compact	Medium	Compact
Design:	Open foot	Open foot	Full foot
Features:	Includes water sock, perfect for traveling	Soft elastomer foot pocket for an ergonomic and comfortable fit	Brilliant yellow color for good visibility

For more of my snorkel gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Snorkeling Cameras, Full Face Snorkel Masks, Wetsuits.

Quick Answer: The Best Snorkeling Fins

1. cozia design Snorkel Fins with Water Socks
2. Cressi Palau Travel Snorkeling Fin
3. U.S. Divers Sea Lion Snorkel Fin
4. Cressi Frog Plus Snorkeling Fins
5. Oceanic Vortex V-6 Snorkel Fins

Let’s take a look at the top rated snorkel fins, then we’ll talk about how to find the right pair for you in our buying guide below.

Snorkel Fin Reviews

#1 cozia design Snorkel Fins with Water Socks

The cozia design Snorkel Fins with Water Socks are the ultimate snorkeling fins for portability.

They are the only pair of snorkel fins on our list that come with neoprene socks for comfort. They prevent chafing and blisters on your feet.

The fins are extremely compact and light weight, easily fitting in just about any suitcase or backpack and are the best snorkeling fins for travel.

Even though they are pretty short in length, you will be surprised at how well they still work for moving you through the water with a minimum of effort.

If you are doing your snorkeling from a boat, you will really appreciate the fact that you can actually walk around with these fins.

Try that with a normal size set of fins and you will be tripping over your feet in no time.

The Dual composite fins are tough, they can take a beating from scraping against sharp rocks and coral.

#2 Cressi Palau Light Weight Travel Snorkeling Fins

Cressi is well known for their diving fins, they are one of the most popular brands on the market.

They have recently introduced a line of snorkeling fins and the Palau fins are the most compact making them ideal for traveling.

These are the best snorkel fins for beginners and for people with wide feet because they are so easy to adjust to almost any size foot.

The soft open heel is adjustable to fit a wide range of foot sizes and are very comfortable, even for extended periods of time in the water.

Cressi has created these fins with a comfortable foot pocket that doesn’t require a sock like most other fins. They are also well suited for other water sports like body surfing and boogie boards.

The patented ribbed insole is designed to give maximum amount of thrust from the fin, keeping fatigue to a minimum. With a pair of these fins you are sure to have a good day on the water!

#3 U.S. Divers Sea Lion Snorkeling Fins

The US Divers Sea Lion fins are the largest of the compact fins reviewed here.

They are still considered a “compact size” fin so they are good for travel and will fit in most any backpack or suitcase.

The Sea Lion fins are full foot, meaning there is not adjustment so getting the correct size is more important than with an adjustable fin.

With the full foot design comes a more comfortable fit as there is not an uncomfortable strap in the back of your foot rubbing it. The rubber is very soft and suitable for snorkeling all day.

Since they are a slightly larger fin, you will get more thrust out of these fins meaning you will be less fatigued.

The Sea Lion fins are the best full foot snorkeling fins because they are ideal of most any water sport as well, so if you want to try some boogie boarding or body surfing, there is no need for a different set of fins.

Overall the US Divers Sea Lion fins are a good bet for your snorkeling adventure.

#4 Cressi Frog Plus Snorkeling Fins

Cressi makes some of the best snorkeling and diving gear so I couldn’t leave the Frog Plus fins off my list.

The Frog Plus fins are an open heel type of fin so they are more forgiving to sizing and allow you to use a bootie if your feet are getting chaffed or cold.

The fins are made from a polymer that not only is extremely durable but also stay flexible over a wide range of temperatures.

It also keeps them flexible for many years so they don’t lose their ability to give you the propulsion you need.

The Cressi’s have channels on the edges of the fin that add to the thrust and as a result are more efficient and as a result you will be less fatigued with these fins vs fins that don’t use this technology.

The buckle is easy to unbuckle so you don’t have to struggle to get the fins on and off. They are a quality set of fins that will have you snorkeling all day in comfort!

#5 Oceanic Viper Full Foot Dive Fins

The Viper fins are a full foot snorkeling fin so they offer the advantage of greater efficiency that most open heel fins offer.

Similar to the Cressi Frog Plus fins they are made from a composite polymer that resists tears and scratches so they will hold up to rubbing against rocks and coral.

Being a closed foot fin sizing is more important than an open heel fin.

They have a have a very comfortable foot pocket so using a bootie is not necessary with these fins.

The Viper fins have a longer blade design that are more efficient than the typical standard snorkel fin. If you snorkel any distance you will notice less fatigue.

Overall they Oceanic Viper’s are a good pair of snorkel fins for a very reasonable price!

Snorkeling Fins Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Snorkeling Fins for You

• Why You Need Snorkeling Fins
• Buying vs. Renting Fins
• Types of Fins
• Getting the Proper Fit
• Short Fins vs Long Fins
• Snorkel Fin Considerations
• Caring For Your Fins

Why You Need Snorkeling Fins

Being an avid snorkeler and scuba diver I can tell you that having a pair of snorkel fins will make a world of difference. You would never find a scuba diver without fins because they make propulsion so much more efficient.

They perform the exact function for snorkelers. Kicking without fins is extremely inefficient. As a result you will become tired MUCH faster and not be able to cover very much territory as you could wearing fins.

If there are any water currents, having a pair of fins will be that much more important!

Buying vs. Renting Snorkeling Fins

Most companies that host excursions offer “house” fins complimentary for booking with them. Many people never consider purchasing personal fins, only to be let-down with the cheap, substandard fins supplied by the company hosting the excursion.

These fins generally finite in the selection of sizes, typically ranging in small, medium, and large. The restricted range of sizes are a painful fit for many people, causing irritation or blistering.

In some situations, the size of the fins prevents them from remaining on the feet during the snorkeling experience. This factor alone can single-handedly ruin one’s snorkeling experience.

In addition to sizing impediments, hygiene issues must always be considered. When using any piece of equipment that another human has worn, there are always the possibilities of the cross transfer of bacteria, fungus, or disease.

In the case of fin, you may contract athlete’s foot or something worse.

It is important to be cautious and spend a little extra time and money obtaining personal fins that properly fit and make you feel comfortable, so that you are able to make the most of your snorkeling experience.

Types of Snorkeling Fins

Open-Heel Fins (Strap Fins)

Open heel fins, also known as strap fins are adjustable in size, providing a more secure fit. However, they leave the snorkeler’s heel unprotected.

Some open heel fins can be coupled with dive boots, or scuba booties to protect your heels from being damage by sea life, rocks, or garbage that you encounter during your snorkeling excursion.

If you plan to wear booties or dive boots, you must try your fins on with the added equipment, in order to ensure the best fit.

You can assume that the combination of the two makes these fins more expensive.

Full Foot Fins

A full foot fins keep the heel and the ball of the foot fully covered and safe, but have no way to adjust the size, thus making it difficult to get a secure and comfortable fit. Compared to open-foot fins, full foot fins generally take up less space, allowing for easier storage in a suitcase.

When it comes to propulsion, either type of fin gives the same result. The snorkeler must decide based on need and cost what is the best style fin to meet their particular needs.

Fitting Your Snorkel Fins

Finding the size fin that fits you best, can be the difference between an enjoyable trip and dreadful experience.

After all, your fins can be the most hydrodynamic fin ever made, and be able to propel you fifty feet per second, but they have to fit. Upon getting in the water, your feet will experience thermal constriction (shrink).

Consider this when purchasing your fins. Ideally, the idea is to have fins that fit snuggly, but are not so constrictive that they are uncomfortable. To ensure that there will be no painful blistering, exercise your foot around.

Keep in mind that you may not have an immediate symptoms of the fins rubbing on your feet. If is at all possible, once you have chosen a set of fins you like, take them home and move your foot around inside them.

You may find that prolonged exposure to bring out irritation after you have worn them for a longer period of time. If you have narrowed down your search to just a couple pairs, go with the smaller size.

It is always more comfortable to have fins a bit snug than wrestling with trying to keep them on while you snorkel. For this reason its a good idea to use a neoprene sock with any pair of fins so you done get any chaffing or blisters.

Short vs Long Fins: Which is Better?

There are a couple factors to consider when deciding between a short fin like the Trek Fin and the Sealion Fin.

First and foremost is will you be traveling with them? And will it be by plane where space and size is at a premium. If its by car then probably not as big a factor to you.

Second is your skill level and/or fitness level. If you are just starting out a shorter, easier to kick fin is probably your best bet. If you are fit, have strong legs then a longer fin that gives you better proplusion may be a better fit.

Also a factor would be water currents. If there is a strong current, you may need the extra proplusion that a longer fin will give you.

Snorkel Fin Considerations

Comfort

Your fins of course need to fit correctly so you can enjoy your time on the water. This is one big advantage of an open heel fin that can adjust easily. Not only can you get the perfect fit you will also be able to use a bootie if need be.

Using a bootie has the advantage of preventing and chafing and blisters from your foot rubbing inside the fin. If you use a closed foot fin, you probably will not be able to use a bootie because it may not fit inside the fin pocket.

You may be able to use a very thin bootie however that will not change the fit too much.

Color

While certainly not a consideration for fit and how they function, you may want to consider color for a few reasons. Having a bright colored fin will enable your snorkeling partners to be able to find you easier.

Having multiple colors also allows you to give all of your family members a different color so everyone knows whose fin is whose. Plus it allows for find a fin to suite your “style”.

Packability

This goes hand in hand with what we discussed above in the long fin vs short fin consideration. When your traveling with your snorkel equipment space can be at a premium.

Weight typically is not a concern with fins as they are not that heavy unless you opt for a large full size fin. If you are flying with your snorkel equipment, I would advise you get a fin specifically designed for traveling, like the Trek Fin.

Split or Paddle Fins

Snorkel fin blades come in two varieties.

Paddle Fins – are the typical fin and are a one piece design that work fine for most people.

Split Fin – are as the name suggests are split down the middle acting like two fins. They give slightly more propulsion than a solid blade

Caring For Your Fins

Your snorkel fins are an investment so you want to make sure they last as long as possible. Possibly the single biggest thing you can do is store them out of the sun when you’re not using them. The UV rays will cause them to crack and lose flexibility.

Don’t leave them in your trunk for extended periods of time if it’s hot out. When you are store your fins in between snorkeling trips don’t store them in you attic or garage if they are not temperature controlled. The heat over an extended period of time will cause them to become brittle.

Store your fins in a cool are out of sunlight. When you get out of the water, rinse them off with fresh water and dry them before storing them.

Following these simple tips will extend the life of your snorkel fins.

If you’re in need of a snorkel mask, see our reviews here and snorkel gear sets here. If you’re new to snorkeling, see our beginners guide on how to snorkel.

Enjoy your day on the water!

How We Researched

To come up with the top snorkeling fins, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as Leisurepro, Divermag, DiversDirect and Scuba Pro along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options were for the price. The author, Richard Remick has a wide background in scuba diving and snorkeling in many countries, both shore and from boats.

The author is a PADI certified advanced diver with almost a decade of experience and is eager to share his knowledge with readers.

To help narrow down the selection we used personal experiences along with recommendations from fellow divers, bloggers and dive guides.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.