Power up: 9 reasons to train in fins
Outdoor swimming coach and endurance swimmer, Rowan Clarke, tests Speedo’s new swim fins
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Have you ever swum in fins? You get to feel what seals and dolphins must feel – the water rushing past you as you glide through, powered by your flippers.
Other than giving you super-human speed, swim fins are brilliant for training and exercising. I put on the brand-new Speedo x DMC Super Fins, which are designed for fitness in the pool and outdoors and took them swimming – and here are my top 9 reasons why swim fins are brilliant for training.
1. You can swim faster in swim fins
As I mentioned, swimming at dolphin speed feels amazing. But there are good reasons to swim faster – especially in open water. You can cover more distance more quickly, for starters. That might make you feel more confident, keep up with friends or a pod who swim faster, or complete a route more quickly. For example, I wore my Speedo x DMC Super Fins to swim a set loop at my local quarry more quickly as the water temperature was still in single figures (and giving me brain freeze).
2. They warm up your legs
Before we get into kicking technique, we can use swimming fins to warm up our legs. Your quads (thighs) and glutes (bum) are the biggest muscles in your body, so warming them up is really important – especially in cold water. The extra resistance you get from swim fins helps get these muscles working. Use soft silicone fins like the Speedo x DMC Super Fins to avoid getting cramp.
3. They improve your kick
If you swim front crawl, your kick only accounts for 80-90% of your propulsion. But your kick is still very important. Swim fins help you have a narrower, more efficient kick that comes from your hips – read Simon Griffith’s guide to better kick technique here. The Speedo x DMC fins are unique because they have a V-rail for “correct kick torque”. That means that they help your legs and feet rotate with your body during a kick, generating forward motion and reducing drag.
4. They help improve your body position
Talking of reducing drag, swim fins help you get a better body position. This is because they increase the surface area of your feet, creating more power when you kick, lifting your legs and making you more streamlined in the water.
5. Swim fins power up your workout
I don’t know about you, but I can be super lazy with kicking, especially when I’m swimming a long, leisurely swim. When I swim in the Speedo x DMC Super Fins, I notice a huge difference in my swim fitness. This is because your legs get a real workout in swim fins from the increased resistance and powering those big quad and glute muscles. So, if you’re short on time (and the water is still cold), swim fins will give you a higher intensity workout.
6. They make your ankles more flexible
Your ankles probably aren’t the first body part you think about when swimming, but flexible ankles mean more fluid kicking motion in all swimming strokes. If you’re a breaststroke swimmer where the kick is 80-90% of your propulsion, kicking in front crawl or front paddle wearing flippers will help your breaststroke kick too.
7. Swim fins help you practice skills at speed
When you’re practicing technique and swimming skills, you have to swim much slower than usual. But when you power up with fins, you can master those skills at speed. For example, I was practising breathing in choppy waves in slow motion. So, I popped on my Speedo x DMC Super Fins and moved faster while practising so that when I was swimming for real, I was a dab hand and getting in that breath.
8. Swim fins take the pressure off your shoulders
Like a lot of swimmers, I suffer from shoulder injuries. I love being able to swim front crawl with less pressure on my shoulders. It feels good to concentrate on moving my arms correctly through the water without the full pressure of pulling myself up and down the pool.
9. Swim fins add variety to your training
This is my last point, but it’s one of my favourite reasons for using swim fins. Swimming can get boring, especially in the pool. So, mixing up your training session or outdoor swim by adding a pair of fins is fantastic for your mind as well as your body. Don’t use them all the time – you don’t want them to become a crutch. Instead, add sets of lengths wearing fins or use them outdoors when your motivation needs a boost.
About the fins
Speedo x DMC Fins range has four sets of fins for different types of swimming – all with that patented V-rail that I mentioned earlier. I tested the Super Fins, which are designed for swim fitness for all swimmer levels in the pool or outdoors.
They come with a clip and carabiner so you can easily attach them to the outside of your bag. This makes you look super pro, but it also means they can drip-dry after your swim.
They’re really comfortable to wear with or without neoprene swim socks. What impresses me the most, though, is how soft the blades are compared to other fins. The power they gave my kick was wonderful, but my legs didn’t get fatigued at all. Plus, I’m prone to cramping in my calves, but I was completely cramp-free – even in water that was 7.5˚C.
Speedo x DMC Super Fins in Green/Yellow RRP £50
