Best Scuba Fins for Travel
If you’re on a quest for the best scuba fins for travel, you’re looking for something lightweight and easy to pack, yet with enough features to cope with depth and currents you may encounter on a scuba dive. You no longer have to choose between the fins you dive well in and the fins that fit in your luggage.
Here at Diversdock, we all travel to dive! So we love putting together these posts that talk about the best gear for travel! On our many nights out, we often find ourselves discussing ‘packing lifehacks‘ around the dinner table! So you are in good hands here – we all know what we’re talking about! We have first-hand experience!
We’ll discuss the best scuba fins on the market suitable for travel and the features you should look out for when choosing your fins. Our top choice, for those in a hurry are the Aqua Lung Proshot fins.
In this post we feature the best fins for SCUBA. If you’re looking for lightweight snorkeling fins, we recommend US Divers Trek Travel Fin.
Are you wondering what is the difference between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? Click here.
Let’s start with a list of our top travelling scuba fins!
Please note that the weight is average- it will depend on the size you need.
BEST SCUBA FINS FOR TRAVEL
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Aqua Lung Hotshot Fins
Open-Heel Weight: 3.28 lbs
Aqua Lung offer a whole travel line and these travel fins are specially designed to be lightweight and yet robust enough for Scuba. These open-heel fins are comfortable and fit easily into carry-on baggage.
Seac F1S Scuba Diving Fins
Open-Heel Weight: 3.2 lbs
Seac F1S fins are a popular choice for the travelling diver. They are lightweight at 3.2 lbs. The dual material channels water to the top of the fin for an efficient up and down kick.
Cressi Pro Light Scuba Diving Fins
Open-Heel Weight 4.2 lbs
If you’re a fan of the Cressi brand, these fins are a great choice for travel. The dual-material blade channels the water to provide an efficient kick. The foot pocket is beneath the blade which also gives more power and efficiency. If you need a travel BCD, check out the Cressi travel BCD here. If you’re looking for a lightweight travel BCD, read our post here.
Scubapro GO Travel Fins
Open-Heel Weight: 3.3 lbs
These fins are lightweight and comfortable. They are made of 100% Monprene. The adjustable heel strap means they can be worn barefoot or with neoprene socks or booties.
Hollis F-2 Techincal Diving Fins
Open-Heel Weight: 3.8 lbs
If you’re used to rubber fins, these are the travel fins for you. Remember, however, that they are designed to be lightweight so they won’t provide as much power as your usual fins. The ‘stiffer’ design of these fins allows for good maneuvering such as helicopter turns or swimming in reverse.
WHY DO WE NEED SCUBA FINS?
Scuba fins give you much more power to swim underwater using leg movements and free up your arms. Fins help divers maneuver quickly or swim against strong currents.
You move faster and with much less effort than if you didn’t have fins. Fins impact on the energy you use and therefore your air consumption.
WHY IS IT GOOD TO OWN MY OWN FINS?
I think of fins like a pair of shoes. You break them in and your feet get used to them. You can walk easily in them and you find them comfortable. Imagine using someone else’s shoes for a long walk…
So it’s good to get your own comfortable fins and get used to them. It’s important that you get used to their power and learn how to kick and move around under the water in them. Fins are affordable compared to other diving gear and they’re usually one of the first bits of diving equipment that a diver will invest in.
Travel fins specifically, are made to be a little more compact and lighter and they’re great for those of you who are traveling to diving resorts regularly. Having your own set of fins, that you’re used to, really makes a difference to your diving experience.
SNORKELING FINS Vs DIVING FINS
Snorkeling fins are shorter and lighter than most Scuba fins but they lack features required for diving deeper depths and stronger currents. Full foot fins are typically used for snorkeling and scuba divers prefer an open heel design worn with a bootie.
OPEN Vs CLOSED HEEL FINS
Fins come either Open or Closed Heel. You’ll also see this labeled as Open or Closed Foot. The closed-heel fin is worn barefoot and you simply slip your foot into the pocket. The open-heel fin has a strap so that you can adjust the size. As we mentioned above, divers usually prefer the open-heel design. However, the closed heel can be worn diving.
Why do divers opt more for the Open Heel?
Open-heel fins are more versatile. They’re worn with a diving bootie or sock although some designs, such as the Scubapro Go Travel fins mentioned above, allow you to go barefoot. They fit better than the closed-heel fins as there’s an adjustable strap. Unlike closed-heel fins that can only be used in warm water, the open-heel design can be used in warm/cold water.
DIVING IN COLD WATER? – You’ll need Booties!
If you are diving in cold water you’ll definitely need open foot fins with a bootie. Just like your wetsuit, you can get neoprene booties in various thicknesses- up to 7mm.
The booties protect not only against the cold but also walking on debris, rocks or any marine life that could possibly sting.
If you are diving in warm water, you may prefer Neoprene socks.
Neoprene booties
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Neoprene socks
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