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The right bodyboard fins are short, fairly stiff, comfortable and snug enough to stay on your feet, and they are worth wearing as soon as you paddle out past waist-deep water. Beginners should pick a softer blade in a size that matches their shoe size, add a fin tether, and keep their kick low and under the surface. Below you will find how to choose between open and closed heels, how to size fins, and how to wear them safely.

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TL;DR

  • Young kids in shallow water can skip fins. Anyone catching waves where they can’t touch bottom should wear them.
  • Bodyboard fins are shorter and stiffer than regular swim fins. Beginners do best with a softer blade that won’t tire the legs.
  • Size to your shoe size, then check the brand’s own chart. If you are between sizes, go up and fine-tune the fit with a fin sock.
  • Clip on a fin tether. Waves pull fins off quickly, and a snug fit alone is not enough.
  • Kick with your fins underwater, not splashing at the surface.

Table of Contents

Do you need fins for bodyboarding?

You don’t need fins on day one, but you will want them very quickly. According to Morey Bodyboards, fins are not required to start, yet become something you certainly want as you progress. A retailer guide from 662 Bodyboard Shop puts a practical line on it: young kids staying in shallow water or riding already-broken waves can go without. Riders older than about 7 to 8, depending on swimming ability and ocean confidence, and anyone catching waves where they can’t touch the seafloor, should wear fins.

What changes without fins

A bodyboard planes much less than a surfboard, so you have to start kicking earlier than you would expect. SurferToday notes that beginners often prefer to ride without fins, but that it isn’t wise: you need extra arm and leg power to get into even small waves.

In practice, fins give you three things:

  • Propulsion. You reach the wave’s pace sooner, so you catch more of them.
  • Control. Your legs steer and stabilize the board once you are riding.
  • Safety. In current or deeper water, fins are what get you back to where you want to be.

In Hawaii the local guidance is blunt. SafeToSwimHawaii describes fins as non-negotiable for bodyboarding there, since waves can rip them off fast and the water is often over your head quickly.

How bodyboard fins differ from regular swim fins

Fins made for bodyboarding or bodysurfing are usually fairly short with a stiff blade. As described in the Swimfin overview, they are built to deliver a short burst of power to help you catch a wave, rather than the long, steady stroke of a lap swimmer or diver. Many have an integral strap but an open heel, so sand washes out more easily.

Swim fins meant for snorkeling or diving are longer, which gives efficient cruising but is awkward for the quick, repeated kicks you need to line up with a wave. Fins built for the surf also tend to sit lower in the water and are less likely to snag on your board or rail.

Open heel vs. closed heel fins

This is the choice most beginners get stuck on, so here is the difference in plain terms.

Closed heel (full foot) Open heel (strap)
Fit Like a shoe, worn on bare feet or thin socks Open heel with a strap or spring, usually adjustable
Size range Fixed sizes Fits a limited range of sizes
Power transfer Greater, and less likely to come off Slightly less direct
Taking on and off Snugger, takes more effort Usually easier, even in the water when tired
Sand Can trap it Washes out more easily
Works with boots Only if you size up Yes

The fit descriptions come from the Swimfin article. The performance notes come from the British Sub-Aqua Club, which says complete foot pockets transfer more power and are much less likely to fall off. It adds that open-heel fins with a back strap can be worn with boots and are usually easier to put on and take off, which matters when you are trying to do it in a swell or when you are tired.

Which one should you pick?

  • Warm Hawaiian water, bare feet: a closed-heel pocket gives a snug, direct feel. An open-heel design with a good strap and a tether is also a sound pick if you want easier on and off.
  • Cold water or wearing booties: open heel, because it adapts to the extra thickness.
  • Kids who are still growing: an adjustable open-heel fin gives you a little more room to grow, since open-heel fins fit a range of sizes.

Blade stiffness: why softer is a smart start

Stiffness changes how the fin feels more than almost anything else. SurferToday explains that stiffer blades accelerate you faster, which helps in powerful surf or when you want a quick wave entry, but they need more leg strength and tire you sooner. Softer blades bend more easily, so you can kick longer with less effort, which suits beginners and long sessions.

The British Sub-Aqua Club makes the same point: a stiffer blade transfers more power from each kick, but demands more strength and can quickly drain your legs.

So for your first pair, choose comfort over maximum thrust. A retailer guide from 662 Bodyboard Shop suggests new bodyboarders look at softer fins in roughly the $60 to $100 range, which can last for years with proper care. Stiffer fins make more sense once your legs and technique have developed.

Blade stiffness: why softer is a smart start

Bodyboard fin sizing

A fin that’s wrong by half a size can ruin a session with cramps or blisters. Use this routine.

  1. Start with your shoe size. Beachgoer says your fin size will most likely line up with your shoe size, though each brand measures a little differently.
  2. Check the brand’s chart. Sizes aren’t consistent across manufacturers. SurferToday recommends measuring heel to toe and checking the chart for each model you consider.
  3. Look beyond length. Foot width and arch height matter as much. The pocket should hold your foot firmly without pinching your toes or cutting into your ankles.
  4. Allow for socks. If you plan to wear 2 to 4 mm fin socks or booties, Beachgoer suggests adding at least one shoe size. With thick socks of 5 mm or more, it suggests adding around 3 to 4 sizes.

If you are between sizes

Go up. eBodyboarding’s buyer’s guide advises sizing up, because a fin that is too tight can cause cramping. A slightly roomy fit can be adjusted with a fin sock, heel pad or cinch. 662 Bodyboard Shop adds that poor-fitting fins can cause foot pain, ankle pain and blisters, especially when new, and that fin socks can add half a size or one to two shoe sizes depending on the type.

Surfer fitting a fin over a fin sock

A snug, ergonomic fit also pays off in performance. Per SurferToday, it means more efficient power transfer from your legs, fewer hot spots and more comfort across a long session.

Sizing for kids

Kids’ feet change quickly, so an adjustable open-heel style is usually the more practical buy. Goggles matter too, since children are often more comfortable in the surf when they can see clearly. Parents sorting out a kit list can look at kids’ swim goggles alongside fins. For more on gear and what suits young riders, see our guide to surfboard types for kids.

Features worth looking for

  • Drainage holes. According to 662 Bodyboard Shop, holes let water, sand, shell pieces and debris flow through instead of getting trapped, which reduces weight and drag and helps foot comfort.
  • An integral strap or heel strap. It keeps the fin centered on the foot and helps you take it on and off.
  • A fin tether attachment. More on this below, but check that the fin has a spot to clip one.
  • A short, stiff-enough blade. It should be built for bursts of power, as bodyboard fins are, rather than long cruising strokes.

How to put on bodyboard fins

The steps below follow the sequence from SurferToday’s fins guide.

  1. Check that each fin is the right way up and on the correct foot. The longer outer edge of the blade usually sits on the outside of your foot.
  2. Slide your foot all the way into the pocket.
  3. Pull the heel strap around the back of your ankle.
  4. Attach the fin saver or fin string.
  5. Repeat with the other foot.

Put them on at the water’s edge, not up the beach, and once you are in the water, walk backward until you can float, so you don’t trip over your own blades.

Use a tether

Even snug fins can come off in rough water. 662 Bodyboard Shop recommends tethers or ankle straps that tie or Velcro around your ankles. In Hawaii, SafeToSwimHawaii says to wear fin savers because waves rip fins off fast.

How to kick with fins

Beginners often slap the surface with their fins, which wastes energy and doesn’t drive them forward, according to Saltwater Dreaming. Keep your fins underwater. Think of a low, compact flutter kick from the hips, with your feet just beneath the surface, and keep your legs fairly straight rather than pedaling like on a bicycle.

Strong paddling and kicking work together. If you want to improve the arm side of the equation, our surf paddling technique guide breaks down the stroke into its phases.

Fins and ocean safety in Hawaii

Fins are safety equipment as much as performance equipment on Oahu.

  • Rip currents. SafeToSwimHawaii advises swimming parallel to shore rather than against the current, using your fins to exit sideways.
  • Sea urchins. Wearing fins helps protect your feet, and you should avoid shallow reef areas.
  • Fatigue. If you are tiring, a softer blade and a good fit help you keep control rather than burning out your legs.

For families, our guide to safety checks before a bodyboard lesson on Oahu covers what to look at before you go in, and supervising children at the surf beach explains how parents can stay in the right position. For general preparation, read how to prevent surfing injuries.

Perspective: why we start people with the basics

Over the years we have watched thousands of first-timers walk into the water, and the pattern is simple. People who feel comfortable in their gear relax faster, and people who relax learn faster.

That’s why we pay attention to details like fit and fin security as much as technique. A fin that pinches or slips pulls your attention away from the wave. Our instructors are experienced local and professional surfers, and our approach is built around safety, individual attention and getting beginners riding waves in their first lesson.

Our advice for fins is the same as for everything else in the ocean: keep it simple, keep it comfortable, and get coaching early. A few minutes of guidance on how to kick, how to position yourself and how to read the water saves you hours of trial and error.

Johann

Try it with a coach in Waikiki

If you want to try bodyboarding with guidance rather than guessing at gear on your own, we run bodyboard lessons in Waikiki from $90. Our positioning is that all equipment is included and that lessons are led by experienced instructors, so you can arrive without buying anything first.

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If you would rather ride a surfboard, our surf lessons are $100 per person for a group lesson, $150 semi-private and $180 private. You can also rent a board in Waikiki for $60 per day through our surfboard rentals page.

FAQ

Do you need fins for bodyboarding?

Not to start in very shallow water, and young children can skip them. Once you catch waves where you can’t stand, fins give you the speed, control and safety you need. Riders over about 7 to 8, depending on swimming ability, should wear them.

Are open heel or closed heel fins better for bodyboarding?

Closed-heel fins transfer power more directly and are less likely to come off. Open-heel fins are easier to put on and take off and work with booties. Either works well with a tether, so choose the fit that feels most comfortable on your foot.

What size bodyboard fins should I buy?

Start with your shoe size, then check the brand’s own size chart, as sizing varies between manufacturers. If you are between sizes, go up and adjust with a fin sock or heel pad. Add at least one size if you plan to wear 2 to 4 mm socks.

Should beginners use stiff or soft fins?

Soft or medium-flex blades are the easier choice. They let you kick for longer with less effort and less leg fatigue. Stiffer fins give more thrust but need stronger legs, so they suit more advanced riders.

How do I stop my fins coming off?

Choose a snug fit, pull the heel strap tight and attach a fin tether before you enter the water. Waves can pull off even well-fitted fins, which is why Hawaii safety guidance recommends fin savers.

Sources

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