Update: I had to return the fins because they did not fit. Pretty disappointed since these are pretty nice. I have very small feet for my height (Small size 8 and I'm 5'10"). The size 8/9 were way too big. I've never trained with fins before and my research came up with so much information that I opted for these instead of the cheaper Zoomers ones. I'm a self-taught swimmer and joined a Master's Club to improve my swimming. I'm also a triathlete, which makes my ankles rather inflexible from 20 years of running, which, in turn, had an impact on my decision to go with a more rigid and somewhat longer flipper. These flippers are very rigid. The shoe is soft rubber, the flipper is hard plastic. The stiffness of the fin allows for greater force to be applied on the ankle providing a gentle stretch. The moderate fin length is also good for fast leg kicks. It's not so long that my rate of kicking is slowed, but it's not so short that my legs don't receive a good strength workout. For me, I can still receive a good amount of resistance with these and get a good workout. It works pretty well in either fast, short kicks, or in slow, larger kicks. Big warning: I tried going too fast and too hard my first time using them and my right calf almost cramped even after I had consumed 250ml of Gatorade. Go slow and easy, beginners. I really appreciate the mesh bag it came with. It is a bit on the small side, but it is enough to fit the fins, a pull buoy, and paddles. It will not accommodate a kick board. I'm not too sure how durable it is and it may need an upgrade sooner than I anticipate, but for now, it does the trick. Sizing: My feet are size 8US or 41. I went with the size 8/9. They fit. They're not very snug, actually, they are rather loose. I'm a little concerned about this since my research has shown that I might be in for some blisters. We'll see. I may need to go a size lower. Like I said, we'll see. Would I recommend this fin? Yes and no. I only say this because everyone is different especially when it comes to swimming. If you have stiff ankles, like I do, this will be pretty good. If you are looking for something to strengthen your legs - maybe, but a longer fin will provide greater resistance. Are you needing a Zoomer, this may be a good middle ground, but there are better Zoomers out there (and more affordable). I give it a three because the sizing, at least for me, is inaccurate.
