As you go about planning a snorkeling trip, you would be better off having your very own equipment. If you have ever been snorkeling, you’re going to know just how awesome snorkeling can be. It’s like a window into another world.
By having and owning gear, you can go out and snorkel whenever you want to. Plus, if you need specialized equipment for whatever reason, such as having larger feet, you’ll want to have your own anyway.
With that in mind, you’ll want to get the best snorkeling fins you can for you to enjoy your time in the water. Having the right ones for your needs will keep your legs from getting tired too soon as well.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the best snorkeling fins along with what to look for as you search for them.
Table of Contents
A List of the 7 Best Snorkeling Fins in Larger Sizes
It’s tough for people with larger feet to find a size that will fit comfortably. Remember, if your feet are wide, go up a size. If your feet are smaller and long, wear swim shoes to ensure they fit
ScubaPro Go Travel Fin
[amazon box=”B07TRKQ2CC” ]
ScubaPro’s Go Fin is one of the best snorkeling fins available that goes up into larger sizes. The design combines the open heel comfort with a full-foot fin. It’s also a lightweight fin that performs well in the water. The bungee heel strap adjusts and makes it easy to get the fin on and off. These are also comfortable enough to wear barefoot or with swim shoes. You can find them at ScubaPro or on Amazon, and they fit up to a men’s size 15 as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very comfortable for big feet | Booty is hard to fit in some customers |
Sporty Floating Swim Fins
[amazon box=”B07GVDY9TQ” ]
These are fins that are definitely for the budget minded as they quite affordable. They come in a variety of sizes, too, and go all the way up to a men’s 15.
The Sporty Floating Swim Fins do come in a two-tone design and are close heel fins. These fins also come as small as toddler sized, so you can get a whole set for the family.
Do keep in mind that these are better for the occasional snorkeler as opposed to someone who does snorkeling on a regular basis.
| Pros | Cons |
| Closed ankle provides extra support | Exclamation TriangleToddler size is too big |
Mako Freediving Fins
[amazon box=”B07R2BVR6X” ]
Mako has a variety of fins available, and they’re all of excellent quality. They’re made of carbon and fiberglass. They have open heel and closed heel options in many different sizes.
They also have so many adult sizes that will make your head spin. These particular fins are better meant as part of underwater hunting gear, but for those of you in need of larger sizes, these are fantastic.
You’ll find them as large as men’s size 15 in the open heel, close heel, and in multiple materials.
| Pros | Cons |
| Made of carbon fiberglass | Fins are easy to damage |
Tilos Snorkeling Fins
[amazon box=”B07Q4GXLD7″ ]
These fins from Tilos are made specifically for snorkeling. Tilos is designed for people with wider feet, but these only go up to a men’s 13.
Unfortunately, if you’re larger, you’re out of luck with these, but they were worth including because people that have a multiple width E size will find fins that fit.
Although if you do have a more narrow foot, these also give you ample room to wear water socks comfortably. The open-heel design makes them easily adjustable and comfortable enough to wear even barefoot.
| Pros | Cons |
| Has an open heel design | Not really for big feet sizes |
Deep Blue Gear Aquanaut II Fins
[amazon box=”B01N5KACLA” ]
These are also available for up to a men’s size 15. Full foot fins are designed to be comfortable and worn with or without swim socks. The material is soft rubber and has a medium blade.
| Pros | Cons |
| Material is soft | Some say they are still too small |
H2O Flipper Rubber Full Foot Snorkel Fins
[amazon box=”B07K865H2Y” ]
H2O fins are a bargain deal of a fin, and they are specifically designed for use in the pool or for snorkeling. These are not made for scuba diving, so you will be limited to where you can use them.
They are available up to a men’s size 15, so that’s a definite plus. Perfect for warm water, they will also float if you happen to have one slip-off. It is a full foot pocket, so you’ll have complete coverage.
| Pros | Cons |
| Provide smooth and strong thrust with an effortless kick. | The sizing may run too small for some foot sizes |
TUSA Solla Fins
[amazon box=”B07YLKZ77J” ]
TUSA has developed a fin that is meant to help you move quickly through the water. The blade is set at an optimal angle to cut through the water efficiently, too.
These tend to be the kinds of fins that an advanced snorkeler or scuba diver will use when they want to get to the next level in the water. Solla fins are also lightweight and can be worn with or without water socks.
Available up to a size men’s 14, you can find them on sale from time to time at sites like Leisure Pro and Amazon. There are multiple models available from TUSA that are both the open heel and closed heel designs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Superior propulsion, speed and maneuverability. | Even if they had fit the foot size, there was still WAY too much room |
Knowing the Differences in Large and Wide Feet
There is a difference between having wide feet or having big feet. You can have both broad and big feet, or just wide feet, or just big feet.
If your shoe size has a D width, your foot is considered standard width. You can be a size 15 with a D width, and you’ll still have better luck finding snorkeling fins that fit you compared to someone with an E width.
When you have wide feet, your shoe size probably has an E after it, or multiple E’s depending on how wide your feet are. If you do have wide feet, you’re going to have a harder time finding shoes and even more so trying to find fins that will fit you properly.
Wide and large feet issues are not a male-only issue, either. Women have the same issues from time to time, but because snorkeling fins are usually made with men’s size designations, it’s good for people to be aware of the equivalency.
Understand the Different Fins
There are two different designs when it comes to fins – close heel and open heel. Some are heavier and longer because they were originally geared for scuba diving. Others are what are called barefoot style, which are generally made for snorkeling.
Traditional scuba fins or close heel fins, like some of the Oceanic Viper fins, can fit feet that are as wide as an EEE provided you have footwear like swim shoes as well. It is also flexible enough that you might be able to wear it without, but you would have to try it to find out. These fins from Oceanic Viper are just over two feet long.
Barefoot fins, or open heel fins, are made for the snorkeler to wear without additional footwear, hence the name “barefoot” in style. You’ll also want to look for fins with an open heel strap because those are better at accommodating larger feet.
Barefoot fins are shorter than scuba fins and generally have a length of 18-20 inches. The fit is generally more comfortable as well because the material that snorkel fins are made of is softer than the material for scuba fins.
Closed vs. Open Heeled Fins
The foot pocket design lets you know what kind of fin it is when it comes to deciding if you want a closed heel or open heel fin.
A closed heel fin looks more like shoes. They have a foot pocket that encloses your entire foot. You can wear them with bare feet, although it might not be as comfortable as it would be if you were to wear swim shoes with them. With shoes, they’ll be truer to size, and without shoes, they’ll be a size larger.
Open heel fins only cover the front half of your foot with a strap that goes around your heel. The straps make the fin adjustable up to a multitude of different sizes. The material for these is also softer than the closed heel more often than not.
The Bigger Issues
You could say that the biggest issue is finding the right snorkeling size. In most cases, it is going to be more of a trial and error kind of thing. Because they don’t fit the same way that shoes do, you have to test the waters so to speak.
The vast majority of fins for both snorkeling and scuba diving are in US shoe sizes, so you’ll have to know the conversions if you go and buy them. For a wider foot, buy a size up. For a narrow foot, you should be okay to buy the size as is and remember to wear swim shoes to make up for the size adjustment.
To help you get started and figure out what you’re looking for, we’re going to get you started with a few suggestions that have sizes available up to at least a size 15 in men’s sizes.
A Few Final Words on the Best Snorkeling Fins
Finding the best fins are going to be relative to your situation. Do you want fins that you can use in both snorkeling as well as scuba diving? Do you intend to use them regularly or are they just for vacation?
You’ll also need to know if you prefer having a close heel or an open heel. This is where it becomes the trial and error part of the decision. Your best bet is going to be to try a less expensive open heel and close heel version if you can so you can decide if you prefer one feel over the other.
Once you’ve got it figured out, you can move forward in getting the best snorkeling fins for your personal needs.
