Why DaFiN Are the Best Swim Fins

The best swim fins didn’t appear out of a marketing brainstorm. They grew from real lifeguard demands.

Australian surfer and former Bondi Beach guard Andy Cochran carved the first DaFiN prototypes from a block of wood in the mid-1990s, then refined them in Hawaiʻi alongside legendary watermen Mark Cunningham and Brian Keaulana. The brief was simple and unforgiving: create a fin powerful enough for rescue work yet comfortable and versatile for long hours in moving water. That collaboration shaped the design DNA that’s still in every pair today.

That pedigree isn’t just lore. DaFiN is standard issue for the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association and, since 2006, the Official Swim Fin of the United States Lifesaving Association. When the people who live in fins for a living choose a model, that’s a signal worth heeding if you’re after the best swim fins, full stop.

Why they feel different on your feet (and legs)

A lot of fins can blast you down the line; far fewer do it without taxing your calves or blistering your heels. DaFiN’s trick is in the materials and geometry:

  • Dual-durometer natural rubber: The foot pocket is soft where your toes and instep need give, while the base plate and blade stay firmer to transmit power. That balance reduces cramping and hot spots, something you will appreciate on hour two in the waves.
  • “Strakes” and elevated pocket: Low-angle side rails (strakes) and a slightly raised V-shaped pocket create a chamber that accelerates water over the blade, increasing thrust on each kick while keeping the fin from “washing out” in turbulence. Translation: more go with less wasted motion, and better control across a steep face.
  • Practical touches that matter: They float, they’re light for travel, and there’s no difference between right or left, a handy feature while charging into shorebreak. These little things add up in real conditions and are part of why so many guards and bodysurfers call them the best swim fins for daily use.

“The best all-around fin on the market”

It’s not just lifeguard agencies giving DaFiN the coat of arms. Stab Magazine’s bodysurfing fin guide ranked DaFiN “Best All-Around,” calling out “tons of power, very little drag” and noting the HLA and USLA endorsements. 

The Inertia likewise highlights DaFiN Pro Classic for comfort and function, as well as the brand’s longtime association with world-champion bodysurfer Mark Cunningham (also, a former North Shore guard), who even has a signature model with a softer pocket. When experienced testers who womp for both fun and work rave about a fin, it’s a useful data point.

Power without punishment

Here’s where DaFiN really earns its spot as the best swim fins for “everything” days. If you’ve run stiff, asymmetrical blades, you know they can be rockets, that is until your ankles and calves tap out.

DaFiN’s wide blade and tuned flex generate plenty of thrust on the down-stroke, but the dual-density rubber and smooth pocket spreads the load evenly, so you’re not limping back up the beach at the end of the day. In ripping conditions or for long swims, that’s the difference between getting one more set or calling it early.

Built for rescue, perfect for play

It’s telling that DaFiN’s original target user wasn’t the casual bodysurfer, it was the ocean lifeguards who needed reliable propulsion in seconds. That functional baseline is why the fins translate so well to other oceanic hobbies like surf photography, bodyboarding, pool training, or snorkeling between reefs. Add in the travel-friendly weight and the “either foot” design and you’ve got a pair you’ll actually bring, and use, every session.

If you’re ready to upgrade your swim, your safety margin, and your sessions, grab a pair of DaFiN and put them to work. Your feet will thank you.