Swim fins are one of the most important pieces of swim equipment for every swimmer, regardless of the skill level or reason for swimming. Even swimmers who swim for recreation could benefit from using swim fins. Fins help swimmers perfect their kick, encourage proper swimming position and strengthen your ankles as you swim. There are a large variety of fins to choose from; how do you know which pair is the right fit for you and your needs? Below is a list of the top swim fins for 2012.

Swim Stuff Rubber Fins

The Swim Stuff rubber fins are the perfect all-around fin for any swimmer. Inexpensive, durable and powerful, these fins make the perfect starter set. The long blade on these fins makes it possible for even short thrusts to turn into long, beautiful kicks. The full foot pockets make them comfortable to wear, especially for long workout sessions.

Swim Stuff Short Fins

The Swim Stuff short fins are a good fit for swim teams or people who swim for fitness. Their short blade allows swimmers to practice their flutter kick without resistance. They offer the perfect balance between your power and tempo to give you the most fluid kick. These fins offer a closed foot pocket to provide you with comfortable wear for many hours.

TYR Crossblade Training Fin

The TYR Crossblade training fin is a multi-purpose fin, which makes it the perfect choice for training. The length of this fin contains the best attributes of both the short and long fin to give swimmers exactly what they need with different training techniques. Swimmers are able to work on their speed and tempo, in addition to creating a stronger leg with the resistance of a longer fin. Made with a soft foot pocket, these fins are comfortable to wear for long swim sessions.

Speedo Short Blade Training Fin

To build a fast flutter kick, you need the short, soft silicone blade of the Speedo short blade training fin. The silicone offers extreme comfort, while the foot pocket makes them easy to wear. These fins are the ideal choice for master swimmers who need to increase their kicking speed.

Razor Short Training Fins

If you need to perfect your kick and spend hours in the pool working on it, you need the soft comfort of the Razor short training fins. They are short enough to help you work on your kick without making your legs too tired from too much resistance. These fins are the perfect choice to increase your racing speed.