6 Best Short Snorkel Fins for Travel (2024 Guide)
Short snorkel fins have many advantages from portability and easy storage to comfort. If you travel a lot and also love exploring new destinations through snorkeling, having a pair of fins that’s easy to carry around is a top priority. In this article, we’ll look at the best short snorkel fins for travel suitable for beginners as well as advanced snorkellers.
Owning a snorkeling set will save you the hustle of looking for gear that fits you well when traveling to new places. People with very small, large, or wide feet often experience challenges finding fins that fit them snugly. Similarly, if you have a narrow or wide face or high cheekbones finding a mask that seals onto your face perfectly can be a hustle.
Unlike a full scuba diving gear set which can be quite expensive to own, a full snorkeling set is quite affordable. A good snorkeling set ranges between 40 -150 dollars. Purchasing a good brand will set you up for many years to come. Unlike the many cheap knockoffs that are all over the market and tend to fail after a few uses.
If you enjoy snorkeling and engage in this fun wat sport quite often, investing in your own gear is the way to go. This will save a lot of money spent renting out gear each time you want to snorkel.
Best Short Fins for Snorkeling
Cressi Palau Short Fins
A great fin choice for traveling snorkelers. The small blade size makes the fins easy to pack even in a carry-on bag or any small travel-size suitcase.
This fin is not only perfect for shallow snorkeling but also great if you have to dive in for close observations. The design allows those diving in, to move faster while applying little kick force. Snorkelers can reach the depths they desire much faster to observe the main life.
Cressi Palau Short Fins for snorkeling are very lightweight and perfect for travel. Comes with a small mesh bag to pack your fins after snorkeling and when moving from one point to the next.
The open-heal style leaves enough room for those wishing to wear diving booties or socks. The foot pocket is wide enough and very comfortable even for people with wide feet.
Easy to put on and take off thanks to the adjustable heel strap. The strap accommodates up to 4 sizes meaning family members or friends can comfortably share the fins.
More options from the Cressi brand (fins with an almost perfect rating – 4.5* and above)
- Cressi Adult Short Adjustable Fins – Available in XS-XL sizes, lightweight fins for travel
- Cressi Light Weight Premium Travel Snorkel Set for All Family – Best budget snorkel set ideal for the whole family. A great set for beginners and it’s very lightweight as the name suggests.
- Cressi Adult Snorkeling Set (Mask, Dry Snorkel, Adjustable Fins) Ideal for Travel – Another inexpensive snorkel set, ideal for beginners and travelers. The dry snorkel makes snorkeling more comfortable and enjoyable for beginners. Too much water in the snorkel can be a source of discomfort or panic for a beginner making the dry snorkel the best to start with.
Cressi is a very well-established and trusted brand in water sports. Making quality gear for scuba diving, free diving, and snorkeling among other water sports. There are many great options to choose from whether you want a full snorkel set or only the fins, you are sure to find it under the brand store.
Read More: Best Scuba Diving Fins for Travel
US Divers Adult Trek Travel Fins
These unisex snorkeling fins are designed for travelers. Featuring a simple yet stylish design to cater to all travelers without compromising on their efficiency. The lightweight fins are perfect for shallow and underwater snorkeling.
The vents on the sides of each blade promote speed while conserving energy. Featuring an open-heel design with rubber straps for size adjustment and a snug fit.
Whether you are a backpack traveler or travel very light, the compact-size fins will fit perfectly in your bag without taking up too much space.
An added advantage is the compact size makes it very easy to walk in the fins. In case the beach is rocky you can comfortably walk in the fins without looking funny or feeling awkward.
Tilos Getaway Snorkeling Fins, Extra Wide Foot Pocket
Regular snorkel fins don’t fit? These fins are a great option for people with wide feet. The wide foot pocket ensures a snug fit with no pressure points that can be very uncomfortable or leave you with blisters all over your feet.
Picking a good size fin also ensures that you don’t get a foot or leg cramps after using them. Tight or loose fins are likely to be very uncomfortable and worse give you a leg cramp from the forceful kicking.
The heel strap accommodates up to 4 size adjustments, meaning adults with an almost similar foot size can share the fins. This is also ideal for those wearing diving booties or socks for insulation when in cold waters.
Are short fins good for snorkeling?
Yes, short fins are good for snorkeling, especially for beginners.
This is because short snorkeling fins are very easy to kick in while snorkeling for the first time. As a beginner in snorkeling or new to swimming, these lightweight fins almost feel like you are not using any fins at all. A beginner can simply kick very naturally without applying a lot of force due to the fin weight or blade size and shape.
Longer blades which tend to be stiffer require leg stamina to kick and move around. Short fins don’t really require that much energy or force. Since the blade is very short and light, little energy is used whenever the fin comes out of the water while kicking.
Another advantage of short snorkeling fins is that they are very comfortable to wear no matter your level of snorkeling. The short lightweight blade makes the fins very easy on the legs.
As a beginner snorkeling mostly happens on the water’s surface. Snorkelers don’t need to kick a lot at this level or even move fast, this makes short fins the perfect fin size for snorkeling.
Short fins are ideal for shallow snorkeling. Since there are little or no currents in shallow waters, no forceful recovery kicks or fast movement is required.
Read More: Best Snorkel Vest for Non Swimmers
Are short fins faster than long fins?
No, short fins have the lowest propulsion making them the slowest. However, this is not a bad thing in snorkeling because you want to fully enjoy the views underwater.
Fins with great propulsion will push you forward very quickly and you don’t really take in the beautiful views when snorkeling.
As you advance your skills in snorkeling, you will learn how to dive in for closer observation of marine life. In this case, standard-size fins a the best option for snorkeling underwater. The blades on these fins are longer than those on short snorkeling fins but light compared to scuba diving and free diving fins.
These classic or standard snorkeling fins will boost your propulsion and reduce as you dive underwater.
Benefits of short snorkel fins
- Great for snorkeling shallow waters
- Ideal for beginners and new swimmers
- Easy to pack when traveling
- Are lightweight and compact
- They are easy to walk in
- Easy on the legs and foot muscles
- Very comfortable with or without diving socks/booties
- Short fins are the best when snorkeling around corals. The short blade barely touches or damages the corals.
Parting words
We’ve looked into some of the best short snorkeling fins for travel and their advantages. When shopping for travel fins, size does matter since you want to minimize the amount of space your gear takes up. However, if packing space isn’t an issue, standard fins are also great and can double as scuba diving fins.
Regardless of your travel style, always pick fins that are comfortable to wear and use. The list provided above will guide you in picking the best lightweight and compact-size fins for your next trip.
Side Note: These fins are also ideal for everyday snorkeling even when not traveling far from home.
