fbpx

Spearfishing Fins 101 — Plastic, Fiberglass, or Carbon

Photo of author
Last Updated:

Before looking for the best brand of spearfishing fins, you must know the fin features you should look for when hunting underwater. 

spearfishing fins
Fins that let you go deeper in your hunt. Source: dan fruhauf

Here is your basic fin information to help you choose the best set of fins. 

Listen to More Spearfishing Tips on the Cast & Spear Podcast

Basic Fin Information 

Material

With fins, there are essentially three kinds of materials to choose from. The first are those made from plastic. They are typically the most common because of their affordability. However, aggressive diving will put these types to shame as they do not perform up to par with the other types.

Fiberglass fins sit between plastics and carbons. Fiberglass will give more pop than plastics but not as much as carbons. They will be a little heavier than carbons and, depending on the manufacturer, will be roughly the same in terms of durability. They will be cheaper than carbons, which puts them in a good spot for those looking to upgrade from plastics but can’t shell out the money for carbons.

Carbons are the higher-end dive fins. Depending on the manufacturer, the responsiveness can vary between the different models. They will have the best energy transfer as well. Their price is the part that hurts more beginner spearos, so stick with plastic or fiberglass until you start diving in heavy ocean currents or know how a bit better what you’re looking for with your gear.

Fin Stiffness

Fins come in a spectrum of stiffnesses from extra soft to hard.

The hardness of your fins influences your performance in the water. The less the fin’s hardness, the easier it is to kick, as there is less resistance. If you’re a heavier person, you’ll need stiffer fins for better energy transfer for thrust. However, if you have too stiff of fins and you don’t need the stiffness, then you’ll just be wasting energy.

Foot Pocket

A foot pocket is a space on the fin where the foot settles. If the blades of your fins have an interchangeable design, chances are, so do its pockets. This feature allows the comfortable performance of your fins without you having to buy a new pair. 

Some pockets allow the fins to reach your heel, which will give you better energy transfer. Some also float, making it easier to stay horizontal while you’re breathing up.

Specialty

Some spearos like to freedive the line as training. There are certain fins that allow for better cross-over between the two activities. If you plan to do freediving, look for a longer blade that will help you conserve your energy while kicking. Check out our list of best freediving fins to help you find the best pair.

What To Look For In Spearfishing Fins 

Length

When spearfishing, you want to use a long blade rather than stubby scuba-style fins to give you more efficiency with each kick, allowing you to save more oxygen and energy for your hunt.

The extra length in the blade will help you dive deeper as it enables you to deliver more returns for each of your kicks. Unlike the fins you use for a scuba dive or snorkel, which are typically much shorter, spearfishing fins require more area to help propel you into the water. 

Foot Pocket

Your fin’s full foot pocket is designed to give you the most efficient way to get that energy from your foot to your fin’s tip.

Ensuring that the foot pocket has a perfect and comfortable fit as a loose one will let you expend more energy into kicking it hard, and a tight one will cramp your feet. Non-removable foot pockets don’t allow you to upgrade the blade without changing the whole fin. 

Stiffness

When purchasing the right fins or gear, it all comes down to your preference at the end of the day while taking into account the basic rule and the type of dive you’re going to be doing.

Essentially, if you weigh around 165 lbs or less, you can use a softer fin for spearfishing. If you weigh 165 to 200 lbs, you want to use a medium stiffness to provide you with a bit more material weight to work with.

If you weigh more, you can use the fins on the stiffer end to give your strong legs the weight to help propel you into the water. When spearfishing in the water where there are many currents, opt for medium stiffness to take you deeper into your dive.

Plastic Fins Vs. Carbon Fins

Plastic fins lean more on the lower price while being super durable and beginner-friendly. With plastic fins being durable, they have the disadvantage of being heavier, tiring your legs more on your dive. 

Carbon fins are lighter and more reactive than plastics, allowing you to conserve more energy and oxygen while still going deeper. These fins tend to be more expensive compared to plastic. 

When in doubt, just remember that a lot of great spearos started with plastic fins and still use them for shore-diving lobster when they don’t want to damage their nicer fins.

Jon Stenstrom
Founder & Angler
Jon Stenstrom is a fishing enthusiast. He has over 25 years of fishing experience, and 6 years of spearfishing experience, and is currently learning how to boat. Jon has his Open Water PADI Certification and FII Freediver Level 1 Certification. Jon has traveled the world to fish and dive, most notably in the Great Barrier Reef, Baja Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. More Articles
× How can we improve it?
× Thanks for your feedback!

We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better fisherman.

While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? Facebook YouTube

Person Drowning Underwater

Shallow Water Blackout (How and Why It Happens)

Shallow water blackout happen when your brain is starved of oxygen. It’s a defense mechanism of the body. Similar to when a person faints on land, this could happen while you’re underwater. Typically due to your mammalian dive reflex, you have a certain amount of time before brain damage can occur. If no one is
How To Spear Lionfish

How to Spear Fish — Understanding the Equipment, Locations, and Safety

Are you ready to learn how to spear fish? If so, you’ve found the right place to wrap your head around the basics. This article will cover the high-level basics of spearfishing to get you started. Each part of this article will be linked to more in-depth guides so you can go deeper on a
Spearfishing Gear

17 Spearfishing Gear Essentials For Catching More Fish

Not having the right spearfishing gear when entering the ocean is dangerous. Too many spearos have become frustrated or worse been put in situations that can lead to disastrous consequences due to bad gear selection. Take for example a bad dive knife. Spearfishing Gear for Beginners You’re in the water and get caught in a
tuna tail

How To Make Fish Taste Better

Are you curious about how to make fish taste better? It’s one thing to know how to catch a fish, yet entirely different to know how to make it taste restaurant quality. In this guide, I share what I’ve figured out after years of trial and error in the kitchen. Having access to wild food
marlin taken for dinner

How To Kill A Big Fish (And Be Mentally Ready For It)

I was 30 when I put a knife through a big fish’s brain. I was 15 hours south of the US border, floating by myself in the Pacific Ocean. I had just finished a seven-minute rodeo with my largest yellowtail trying my best not to get tangled in my reel line. Adrenaline was coursing through

4 Ways To Immortalize Your Catch So You Can Relive The Moment Long After You Stop Diving

Certain fish demand immortalization. Memories are nice, but memories fade. With the uncertainties of life, you never know when you’ll need to hang up your fins. Not to get sentimental, but when you’re older you’ll want to relive parts of your youth. I want to share a few time capsules you can use to document
Peter Yee spearwithx
cast and spear logo small

10 Tips For Improving Your Spearfishing!

FREE 3-Day email series

No thanks, I catch enough!