Kristin PaterakisTesters divers tested new fins at Alexander Springs in Central Florida, a great spot for beginner divers or those looking to explore a spring system for the first time.
ScubaLab and its team of testers put six new tec-style, open-heel fins to the test. Here's how they stacked up against one another—plus, four more we have our eye on.
Head-to-Head Testing
How We Test
Test dives were conducted at Alexander Springs in Central Florida. Using waterproof test sheets and slates, test divers scored each of the fins in 12 performance categories, with 1 being poor performance and 5 being excellent. Test divers also recorded comments about their experience using each fin and were asked to rank their favorites from each category.
The performance categories were:
Ease of Donning
Both in and out of the water, how easy is the fin to put on?
Adjusting for Fit
If straps and buckles are adjustable without tools, how effective and easy are they to use? Are they intuitive or complicated to operate?
Fit and Comfort
How comfortable and secure is the fin on the foot? Does it slip, slide or pinch during hard kicking?
Stability
Do the fins have a tendency to wobble, slice side-to-side or strike each other while kicking? Do they track straight?
Power Versus Stress
Propulsion produced during the kick cycle relative to the amount of effort being put into the kick.
Flutter Kick
Ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in flutter kick.
Frog Kick
Ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in frog kick.
Alternate Kick Style
Ease, efficiency and stability of the fin in dolphin, scissor or other kicks.
Acceleration
How efficiently do the fins allow you to quickly increase speed?
Maneuverability
How well do the fins allow you to get in and out of tight locations, including spinning, backing up or reversing direction?
Surface Swimming
While on the surface on scuba or snorkel, how efficiently do the fins propel you relative to the effort?
Ease of Doffing
How easily can you remove the fins, in and out of the water? Are the straps or buckles easy to grasp? Is it unusually difficult to slide your boot out of open-heel pockets?
Specs
ScubaLab weighed each fin in size medium and evaluated its buoyancy in fresh water. We also measured total length from the tip of the blade to the back of the foot pocket.
Mares
Power Plana LT
MSRP $217.95
Contact mares.com
Weight 2 lb. 6 oz
Length 21½ in.
Sizes XS, S, R, XL
This fin combines Mares’ XR-Tech fin design with a flexible, lightweight TPV material. The result is an easy-kicking fin that provides efficiency and precision for divers who want the control of a tec-style fin without the weight and drive—it also gives the fin a slight positive buoyancy. The Power Plana LT showed strong all-around functionality, scoring very good for all kicking styles and for maneuverability. The efficient, stable blades produce a smooth, comfortable kick that won’t wear out the legs. “Super light in the water—almost feels like I’m not wearing fins,” one test diver commented.
The fin scored good for power versus stress but “works best in low gear,” as one test diver described it. The fins are easy to don and doff thanks to their silky-smooth finish and scored very good for comfort, despite only two sizes being available for testing. The spring-strap buckle includes a two-position adjustment. An overwhelming favorite of test divers, offering solid overall performance, the Power Plana LT is our Testers Choice for fins.
Cressi
ORIGIN
MSRP $189.95
Contact cressiamerica.com
Weight 3 lb. 7 oz. (HD), 3 lb. (LD)
Length 23 in.
Sizes S-M, M-L, L-XL
The Origin is a reintroduction of Cressi’s Rondine Commando—a fin developed in the 1950s for U.S. underwater demolition teams—made with modern materials to meet the challenges of today’s tec divers. Like its predecessor, it’s practically indestructible and is available in a negatively buoyant high-density model and a slightly positively buoyant low-density model. The fin’s foot pocket is sized for drysuit rock boots. Its short, stable blade is very good for frog kicking and maneuvering. It scored good for flutter, but it can take a lot of effort to keep the beefy blades churning. The fin may be a bit much for the average recreational diver but provides plenty of control and power for divers who need some extra oomph.
Highland
Seeker
MSRP $199.95
Contact xsscuba.com
Weight 2 lb. 6 oz.
Length 19¼ in.
Sizes M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
This negatively buoyant fin showed solid performance across the board, meeting or exceeding the average score in all categories. Made entirely of rubber, the stiffness of the foot pocket and blade are tailored for optimal propulsion and comfort. The fin performed well in all kicking styles, including flutter kicking and surface swimming. It earned very good scores for acceleration, stability and maneuverability. The fin is equipped with a heavy-duty two-position spring strap attached by a custom-made stainless-steel buckle for enhanced strength and durability. The strap was a highlight for multiple testers, who were impressed by its ease of donning and doffing; comfortable, finely tuned tension; and ergonomic heel pad.
Nex
Fin
MSRP $219
Contact nexdive.com
Weight 2 lb. 12 oz.
Length 19¾ in. (in size large)
Sizes L, XL, 2XL
This fin’s hard-wearing construction gives it a long useful life. It showed good and very good performance across the board. The stable blade is highly maneuverable and scored good for all kicking styles. Testers noted that it performed well when taking tight corners and back kicking. Large is the smallest of the three available sizes. This may have affected scores for power versus stress and for comfort, as smaller divers had a workable but less than perfect fit. The fin has a heavy-duty, self-adjusting spring strap that scored very good for donning and excellent for doffing. Test divers loved the fin’s unique color options, which include black, blue camo, and white with cherry blossom appliques. The fin is negatively buoyant.
Sherwood
Forge
MSRP $202
Contact sherwoodscuba.com
Weight 2 lb. 4 oz.
Length 19¼ in.
Sizes M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Testers were impressed by the Forge’s comfort and strong overall performance. It earned very good scores across all our performance categories and took the top score for power versus stress and surface kicking. The vented blade provides efficient, powerful propulsion in all kicking styles—flutter, frog or otherwise. It impressed with its ability to perform tight turns and easy backing. With an enlarged foot pocket and a two-position heavy-duty spring strap, it easily accommodated drysuit boots while simultaneously earning positive remarks from wetsuit-clad divers. The highly durable rubber material ensures a long lifetime of use. A favorite of multiple testers, the Forge is well-suited for recreational or tec diving.
Related Reading: A Look at Sherwood's 70-Year Legacy
Tusa
Hyflex Tri-Force
MSRP $195
Contact tusa.com
Weight 2 lb. 12 oz.
Length 22½ in.
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Part of Tusa’s modular Hyflex fin system, the Tri-Force is made of three interchangeable components: a short and broad tec-style blade, an ergonomic open-heel foot pocket and a sturdy strap. The very stable fin scored good for flutter kick, surface swimming and acceleration. It excels in frog kicking and maneuverability, making it well-suited for navigating narrow passages. The foot pockets—which can be separated from the blades for packing or to swap blade types/pocket sizes—scored very good for comfort. The Tri-Force was the only fin to earn excellent scores for ease of donning and ease of doffing, and its five-position strap can be adjusted without tools. It was a favorite of multiple testers and is our Best Buy.
Checkout Dive
While not fully tested, ScubaLab testers had a chance to try out these new fins for 2026.
Genesis
Icon
MSRP $104
Contact genesisscuba.com
Weight 2 lb.
Length 24¼ in.
Sizes S, M, L
The Icon packs solid utility into a travel-ready design. Divers were especially impressed by its very strong performance in flutter kick and quick acceleration. “Snappy and responsive” and “fast and easy” were some ways divers described it. The speedy fin has a large central vent to reduce drag. The result is smooth, low-effort cruising. Frog kicking and maneuverability are good, but testers felt flutter kick is where this fin really shines. The fin’s generously sized open-heel foot pocket provides a comfortable yet secure fit. It’s equipped with an adjustable fin strap to easily fit a variety of boot styles. Straps include quick-release pinch buckles for effortless doffing. Made of a rugged technical polymer compound material, the Icon is built to last and has a slight positive buoyancy.
Gull
Barracuda
MSRP $400
Contact gull.kinugawa-net.com
Weight 3 lb.
Length 30 in.
Sizes S, M, L, XL
Made of high-quality Kinugawa natural rubber, this negatively buoyant 30-inch full-foot fin boasts powerful propulsion. It comes in two versions: a stiffer professional model that maximizes speed and power, and a softer standard model that offers lighter, easier kicking and smooth handling. We were limited to a single sample of the stiffer model—those who could dive the fin liked it a lot. The long, heavy fin responds well to small, light kicks and has plenty of power for divers strong enough to keep the blades moving. Special side ribs keep the fin stable. It offers powerful, efficient kicking in flutter and great control for frog kicking and maneuvering. The full-foot pocket’s ergonomic shape fits like an athletic shoe for a secure, comfortable fit; increased responsiveness; and efficient power transfer.
Mares
Avanti Quattro 4X
MSRP $297.95
Contact mares.com
Weight 2 lb. 7 oz.
Length 25½ in.
Sizes XS, S, R, XL
This iteration of Mares’ Avanti Quattro fins features a three-material, four-channel blade and a redesigned foot pocket with a softer upper and reinforced lower section. It impressed divers with its kicking performance and comfort. It takes a bit more work overall to keep the blade churning, but the effort is well worth the powerful propulsion it provides while maneuvering and flutter, frog and surface kicking. “Good speed and power,” one diver noted. It is negatively buoyant and very stable, making the fin suitable for a wide variety of diving scenarios. The foot pocket is comfortable and supportive. Some test divers felt the self-adjusting bungee strap was a bit too tight but otherwise appreciated its comfortable anatomical shape and simple donning and doffing. It was a favorite of multiple test divers.
Tusa
Liberator
MSRP $76
Contact tusa.com
Weight 1 lb. 12 oz.
Length 24 in.
Sizes XS-S, M-L
This updated version of the Liberator uses a flexible material near the side ribs. This allows the blade to flex from the base, generating propulsion even with gentle movements. It also has winglets at the blade tip to channel water for improved propulsion. Divers felt it provided good performance across all kicking styles and showed very good maneuverability. “Easy cruising with little effort,” one diver noted. The fin provides good propulsion at low to moderate kick strength, making it suitable for lightweight gear loads and snorkeling. It’s also comfortable. Its lightweight construction, ergonomic foot pocket and anatomical 3D heel strap inspired comments such as “feels natural on my foot” and “made for easy kicking.” The fin is available in two sizes and six bold colors. It is negatively buoyant.
Kristin PaterakisDivers of all levels enjoy the benefits of tec-style diving fins.
Benefits of Tec Diving Fins
Fins with broad, short blades are a popular choice for technical divers due to their propulsive power, high maneuverability and extreme durability. However, use of these fins isn’t limited to technical divers—recreational divers can also take advantage of these heavy-duty kickers. Here are some key benefits “technical” fins can offer:
Power These types of fins often have stiffer-than-average blades. This makes them harder to kick, but it also makes it possible to produce a larger amount of thrust.
It’s a lot like going from low gear to high gear on a bicycle; each kick takes more work, but you’ll get a lot more out of it, especially when kicking hard and fast. This makes tec fins suitable for battling strong currents and for transporting heavy gear loads—like drysuits or larger camera systems—through the water.
Control Fins with short, broad blades are especially maneuverable and lend themselves very well to helicopter turns and back kicking. This makes tec models well-suited for navigating swim-throughs, wreck penetrations and similar narrow passageways.
The fins can be used for flutter kick but excel in frog kick. They can also help a diver keep a stable position on the seafloor with minimal movement, which can be helpful for divers who want to view or photograph skittish marine life.
Buoyancy Most—but not all—technical fins are heavier than a typical paddle fin and have a negative inherent buoyancy. This can help divers with “floaty feet” stay in trim or benefit divers looking to carry less lead weight.
Reliability Tec fins are constructed with extremely durable, rugged materials. Even the fin straps, which are often made using heavy-duty stainless-steel springs, are built for long-term wear and tear and easy replacement.
