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Fins

The SKWIM fins and the FINIS PDF fins are similar, but not identical. 

The fins are soft and comfortable, but have good propulsion. The fins add 20-to-30-percent to your overall swimming speed, maneuverability and safety in the water. SKWIM Fins are designed for everyone, especially the fin-swimming beginner.</p>
<p>Available in eight (8) sizes. The colors of the blade (blue in this example) vary according to the various sizes. The heel color, yellow, is the same for all the sizes.

<p>These fins float. So, taking them into open water conditions is okay as they won't get lost and drop to the bottom of the river, lake or ocean as other fins do. It is a drag to drop a fin and have it sink and lost forever.

The full foot fins are designed for pool and for calmer open-water use. In surf conditions, Use the adjustable strap <strong>Life Rescue and Surf Rescue Fins</strong> by <a href="http://www.eLifeguard.com">eLifeguard</a>. Fins offer great benefits in navigating open-water surges, beach-break currents and surf rip-streams.

Question: I’m assuming you’ve tried long and short blade ones as well. Any insight on how you reached the conclusion that PDFs are the best for learn to swim programs.

Lots of reasons.

1. Can't do egg-beater kicking with long fins. We want to play games and being able to turn, twist, change directions and use the core in the water is necessary. Long fin use makes bad habits for transitioning to water polo and egg beater kicking. 
2. I love coaching the I.M. I want the swimmers to swim all four strokes. The PDF fins help with breastroke kicking too.
3. Kids are going to walk on the deck with the fins, or step on the block. Short fins are not ideal, but long fins are face-plant in one step.
4. Likewise, kids need to get to vertical and walk on the bottom of the pool. With short fins, it is hard, but possible.
5. Fins need to float. These do.
6. Size by color is necessary for easier grab and go.
7. The fins with the strap are forgiving with different foot sizes. We can always get a pair for the kids to work as we can untie and retie the strap as needed.
8. The gains with short fins in propulsion are significant, but not over-powering.

Paddles

Pads