Atomic Aquatics Blade Fin

Open-heel fins have an adjustable heel strap and are worn with dive boots, which protect your feet on shore entries and add warmth. Full-foot fins slip on like a shoe against bare skin or a thin sock, and are typically lighter and easier to pack. Most scuba divers choose open-heel fins with boots, while full-foot fins suit warm water, snorkeling, and pool use.

Open-heel fins should be sized around the boots you will actually wear, snug with the strap set so your heel stays seated and your foot does not slide forward in the pocket. Full-foot fins should fit like a firm shoe, with no heel lift, no pinched toes, and no gap that lets water pump in and out. Too loose causes heel blisters and lost fins in current, and too tight causes foot cramps.

Choose your boots first and size open-heel fins around them, because sole thickness changes the foot-pocket size you need. A thin warm-water boot and a thick cold-water boot with a rugged sole can easily be a fin size apart. If you already own fins, bring them along when you buy boots so you can check the combination.

Spring straps replace the adjustable rubber strap with a stainless spring that stretches on and off, so there is nothing to buckle with cold or gloved hands and no rubber strap to perish and snap mid-dive. They hold constant tension, which many divers find more comfortable and consistent. They are sized rather than adjustable, so match the length to your foot pocket and the boots you dive.

For travel, length and weight matter most, so shorter blades and travel-specific open-heel or full-foot models pack more easily and save baggage allowance. Some fins have removable blades or compact foot pockets designed for luggage. Pack fins along the outside walls of your bag, where they also act as protection for softer gear.

Paddle fins use a solid blade that transfers power directly, which many divers prefer for precision, control in current, and non-flutter kicks such as the frog kick. Split fins have a slit down the blade that lets water pass through, which generally makes flutter kicking easier on the legs but gives up some control and works less well with other kick styles. Neither is inherently better, so let your kick style, leg strength, and conditions decide, and try both if you get the chance.

Rinse them in fresh water after each dive day, paying attention to buckles, springs, and strap channels where salt collects, and dry them out of direct sunlight. Store them flat or hanging from the foot pocket rather than standing on the blade tips, which can take a permanent bend. Check straps, buckles, and any screws before every trip, since a failed buckle is the most common fin problem.

Atomic publishes four sizes: Small fits US 5 1/2 (EU 37-38), Medium fits US 6 to 8 1/2 (EU 39-41), Large fits US 9 to 11 (EU 42-43) and X-Large fits US 11 1/2 to 13 (EU 44-46). Because the BladeFin is an open-heel fin worn with boots, size around the boot you dive, since a thick cold-water sole can push you up a size. Call 888-701-4017 if you want help.

Yes. Atomic's rust-resistant stainless steel spring heel straps, which come fitted on the BladeFin, are also offered as a universal retrofit for most other fin brands. On the BladeFin they work with the patented EZ-LOK buckle system, which rotates 180 degrees and uses a pinch-to-release quick disconnect.

The BladeFin uses a moderately firm paddle blade rather than a very soft or very rigid one. Stiffness is managed by the Power-Loop Monocoque structure and Power Rail frame rails, which deliver maximum power transfer from every kick, and the foot pocket Power Plate keeps the connection between your foot and the blade solid.

Atomic lists eight colors: Aqua, Blue, Fuchsia, Pink, Purple, Red, Silver and Yellow; available sizes vary by color, so check the option menus on this page for the combination you want. The fin is covered by a one year warranty against manufacturing defects.