The 11 Best Snorkeling Fins in 2023
Our writers and editors look for the best Snorkel Fins available. We test, research, and review the best products in different categories with a focus on quality, performance, and the overall value for the price.
Snorkeling is the most popular way to discover the underwater world. With a pair of good snorkeling fins, you’ll be able to move faster and conserve more energy when snorkeling in the ocean.
Each snorkeler values different attributes in fins, whether they want fins for power, travel or just comfort.
There are many great brands that produce high-quality snorkeling fins. Some models aren’t worth it though, so we made this list of those of which we approve.
The best snorkeling fins are easy to find as long as you know what you want. Read these reviews and you’ll easily figure out how to choose the best snorkeling fins.
The Top 5 Snorkel Fins in 2023
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1
Best Overall: Oceanic Viper 2 Open -
2
Great for Efficiency: Cressi Reaction Pro -
3
Best for Advanced Snorkelers: Mares Avanti Superchannel -
4
Best for Travel: Oceanic Accel -
5
Soft Foot Pockets: ScubaPro Go Travel
All the Snorkel Fins We've tested
Excellent for both divers and snorkelers, the Oceanic Viper 2 Open Heel fins are lightweight and flexible. These fins are great for travellers too, their shorter length and flexibility mean they can fit in smaller bags.
Divers and snorkelers looking for a relaxed and elegant stroking experience will be interested in these fins.
The Oceanic Viper 2s come in both an open heel and a full foot design. The blade is vented, allowing good movement in the water as well as a good grip. These fins are designed to be energy efficient, ideal for beginners or those who want to spend longer in the water.
The unique shape paired with durable materials gives the Oceanic Viper 2 open heel fins excellent propulsion under the water, making swimming easier and faster.
Specs & Features
- Material: Thermal plastic rubber (TPR) and polypropylene
- Open heel of Full foot: Open heel
- Blade type: Vented
- Maximum length: 21 inches
- Sizes: XS- XL (US: 4.5-13) (EU: 35-47)
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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This is a great pair of fins for beginners. -
It comes in both full-footed and open-footed depending on your preferences.
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Great for traveling scuba divers.
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Efficient and extremely lightweight.
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Easy to get on and keep on
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Fits wide range of sized boots
Things we don't like:
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Still looking, so far nothing we don't like
Where to buy:
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Ultra visible, brightly coloured fins.
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Super lightweight, so easy to pack in a suitcase.
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Worth their price.
Things we don't like:
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Can come up quite small
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Not great if you are swimming in smaller spaces.
Mares Avanti Superchannel Snorkeling Fins are the ultimate fins for any advanced snorkeler. Their combination of performance, comfort, and style make them a great choice for snorkelers looking to get the most out of their time underwater.
The Mares Avanti Superchannel snorkeling fins are the best choice for advanced snorkelers. They provide maximum mobility and control when snorkeling. The fins have a narrow strap design with 2 buckles for the most comfortable fit possible.
Mares Avanti Superchannel snorkel fins feature an all-leather foot pocket for secure and quiet walking on coral or rock formations, with an adjustable nylon strap. These high-quality fins have been designed to meet the needs of experienced snorkelers, providing excellent performance and efficiency.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Efficiency, Power, Advanced
- Material: Thermoplastic rubber-Tecralene®
- Style: Full Foot
- Blade Type: Not vented
- Sizes: S-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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High quality
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Comfortable
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Efficient energy consumption
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Provides full underwater maneuverability
Things we don't like:
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Heavy
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Not suitable for travelling
Lightweight and comfortable, the Oceanic Accel Open Heel Fins (dive boots needed) are a simplified take on scuba fins for recreational divers. Additionally, these are also ideal for snorkelers, beachgoers and travelers due to their portability.
Weighing less than 3lbs and with a maximum length of 21 inches, these fins can fit into backpacks and smaller bags. Although they are lightweight, the Oceanic Accel Open Heel Fins are designed to provide quite a bit of thrust, and their large, soft silicone straps are supposed to offer comfort and ease of use.
We had the neon yellow and aqua blue fins to test out.
Specs & Features
- Material: Monoprene synthetic rubber with Silicon strap
- Open heel
- Blade type: Vented
- Maximum length: 21 inches
- Sizes: XS- XXL (US: 5-12+) (EU: 36-46+)
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Lightweight yet rigid
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Many color options
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Comfortable, flexible and durable
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Easy to put on and take off with soft silicon strap
Things we don't like:
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Shorter length
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Silicon straps can be lost easily when taking them off.
Where to buy:
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Compact and lightweight, perfect for travel.
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They are tough and durable made of 100% Monoprene®
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They have a hook and hole at the tip for easy storage, great to tie up on the back of your backpack when going on a beach trip.
Things we don't like:
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Due to their tough nature, they can sometimes be a little hard on the foot when swimming. Meaning that they may require a shoe or boot underneath to prevent rubbing on your skin.
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Their range of sizes usually runs quite small, if you’re planning on wearing a shoe or boot underneath, you may wish to buy a couple of sizes larger than you are.
Where to buy:
The Cressi Pluma fins are an efficient pair of fins that work great for snorkeling as they are short and closed heeled, providing ease of use without the need of booties.
These fins are designed using a molding technology that combines thermoplastics in a way that makes them flexible and lightweight. These are a great all round fin option for snorkeling as they provide a high level of performance while also being relatively efficient in energy consumption.
Additionally, the Cressi Pluma are great for shallow snorkeling especially around rocky reefs as they feature an expansive foot pocket that provides protection from scratches and scrapes.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Travel, Efficiency
- Material: 100% Thermoplastics
- Style: Closed Heel
- Blade Type: Not vented
- Sizes: XS-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Lightweight and compact
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Provides easy, fluid finning
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Protection from rocks in shallows
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Many different color options
Things we don't like:
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Sizes run large
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Not the most durable fins
The Tusa Solla Fins use an angled blade design and durable, yet soft monprene material to make these both efficient and comfortable.
What the angled blade design does, is it makes scissor kicking push water more efficiently in line with your body’s direction. Instead of wasting propulsion up and down, kicking is less tiring. It works pretty well actually.
Thanks to the EZ strap, the open heel design is quite comfortable. The buckle makes it easy to adjust too.
With reinforced side rails and vents this pair of fins is a fine option for snorkelers in Caribbean waters where there can be stronger currents.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Travel, Power
- Material: Monprene ForcElast Technology
- Style: Open Heel
- Blade Type: Vented
- Sizes: XS-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Angled blade for more power
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Easy to use
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Innovative design
Things we don't like:
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Heavier than some other fins
The Cressi Palau fins offer an affordable pair of fins with a solid level of performance, making them great for snorkelers on a budget.
The Cressi Palau fins provide snorkelers with a high level of tracking through full length side rails and a peculiarly shaped blade that efficiently displaces water.
These fins are quite responsive but take some getting used to with their unconventional design. They are generally comfortable and easy to use but might not be the best choice for travel as they are heavier than a lot of the other fins on this list.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Recreational, Affordable
- Material: Monoprene and Thermoplastics
- Style: Open Heel
- Blade Type: Not vented
- Sizes: XS-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Lightweight
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Responsive blades
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Lots of color options
Things we don't like:
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Not as high performance as some other fins
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Fin shape can take some getting used to
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Lower quality
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Heavy
The SEAC Fuga fins are one of the most comfortable fins on the market thanks to their ergonomic design and soft rubber foot. These Italian made snorkeling fins are good for scuba diving in warmer waters.
Designed specifically for snorkeling, the SEAC Fuga fins are ideal for snorkelers looking for the most comfortable experience when exploring the underwater world. These fins feature a double technopolymer blade designed to propel you through the water with more force.
They are suitable for recreational snorkeling and are easy to put on and take off. We recommend these fins for snorkelers who are looking for a pair of fins that will provide fluid and relaxed experience when snorkeling.
Fugas also can be used by scuba divers in warmer waters. In this capacity, they’re good for easy-going propulsion.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Beginner, Recreational, Comfortable,
- Material: Rubber foot, TPE blade
- Style: Closed Heel
- Blade Type: Not vented
- Sizes: XS-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Comfortable
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Lightweight
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Powerful and robust blades
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Affordable
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Durable and long lasting if properly maintained
Things we don't like:
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Long blade not suitable for travel
The Head Volo One fins are a great choice for beginners to snorkeling as they provide a suitable level of control and performance at a competitive price point.
The Volo One fins are the snorkeling version of the Mares Volo Power fins that are popular with scuba divers. They are comfortable and provide a solid fit in order to stay in place given the increased hydrostatic pressure when finning.
These fins feature a channel thrust system that offers a good level of performance with a minimal amount of effort.
Specs & Features
- Best Suited For: Beginner, Efficient, Comfortable,
- Material: Thermoplastic rubber material
- Style: Open Heel
- Blade Type: Vented
- Sizes: XS-XL
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Comfortable
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Beginner friendly
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Lightweight
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Easy to use
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Fit well on most snorkelers
Things we don't like:
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Not the most durable fins
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Can provide too much flexibility and not enough power
Related Reviews
Snorkeling Fins Buyers Guide
Open Heel or Closed Heel
Depending on the type of snorkeling and location, you will want to choose either an open heel or closed heel fin.
Open heel fins are ideal for colder waters as you can wear booties with them. They are normally more powerful than closed heel fins but can be difficult to travel with.
Closed heel fins are more like a pair of shoes with flippers and you will not need booties for this style of fin. They are more suited for travelling and are easy to pick up and go.
Materials
Snorkeling fins are made using many different types of material. The majority are made using Monprene, Thermoplastics and almost all of them have some section made of rubber.
Fins like the the Viper 2s and Fugas have rubber foot chambers for example, which are soft and flexible.
Oceanreef Accels also have silicone straps, which is more durable than rubber, but equally as soft.
This material allows the fin to bend when finning while also maintaining its shape and rigidity to provide the necessary amount of power for propulsion.
Weight
Depending on their construction and the material used, fins can be heavier or lighter. Lightweight fins are more ideal for travel and for this reason we recommend lighter fins for snorkeling.
Blades
Another factor to consider when choosing a pair of snorkeling fins is the length and style of the blade.
Longer length blades will provide a more efficient use of energy as they have more surface area for propulsion. On the other hand shorter blades will be easier to transport and are more suitable for travel.
The style of blade is also important to consider. Curved, angled or rounder blades offer less energy consumption and are easier to use. Flatter blades with a more rectangular shape provide more propulsion but consume more energy.
The Tusa Solla fins are angled to make the kicking strokes more focus for more efficient propulsion.
Vented or not vented blade
The final thing to consider when choosing snorkeling fins is whether the blade is vented or not vented.
Vented fins have vents that help water pass through in order to help reduce the effort required while finning and reducing energy consumption over time. This makes them more efficient but can reduce power.
Non vented fins are generally more powerful but require more energy to use and for this reason can make you more tired in the water.
Frequently asked questions
There are many good snorkeling fins but to be the best they need to meet certain criteria.
See our top 10 snorkeling fins:
- Aqua Lung Express Full Foot Fins
- Cressi Reaction Pro Full Foot Fins
- Oceanic Viper 2 Open Heel Fins
- ScubaPro Go Travel Fins
- Oceanic Accel Open Heel Fins
- Cressi Pluma Full Foot Fins
- Tusa Solla Full Foot Fins
- Cressi Palau Open Heel Fins
- Mares Avanti SuperChannel Full Foot Fins
- SEAC Fuga Full Foot Fins
Read our review to see the best snorkeling fins.
A good pair of snorkeling fins should fit snug on your heel and surround your foot without too much compression. It is important that the fins are the right size as if they are too loose you will not be able to finn adequately for snorkeling. If you’re stuck with a pair of fins that are just a bit large for your feet, you can remedy this by wearing neoprene socks with them–these will also help prevent chafing. Snorkeling seems easy and it can be too. Read more about it here.
There are a number of different factors to take into account when choosing the right snorkeling fins. The type of materials, the weight, the length and the blade style are all things to consider. Check out our snorkel fins buyer’s guide for more information.
Generally, snorkeling is more recreational than scuba diving and for this reason we recommend shorter fins that are more portable and easy to use than the traditional long fins. Check out our article on the best snorkeling fins to find the perfect pair of fins. Check out the different types of swimming fins to see alternative models.
Snorkeling fins are a useful and necessary accessory for snorkeling. The best way to use snorkeling fins is by placing them over your booties or feet (depending on whether they are open or closed heeled) and adjusting them to fit your foot size.
Using fins while snorkeling allows you to conserve more energy and stay longer in the water. They also help propel you forward and provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience when snorkeling.
Comments
Another element that should be compared is if the fins will float to the top of the water if they come off or dropped while putting on.