"Three Conditions, Four Fins" by Denny Parker, NorthEast Region Member 

This month’s review will finally talk about fins. Fins are the shoes of your Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP). Just like the proper shoes will assist you in traversing certain terrain and areas, so too will the proper fin.

Generally, you, as a SUPer will face three conditions on the water:

• flat water
• open - choppy water
• windy - downwind

For each of those conditions, I tested at least one fin, with the exception of open - choppy water.

Note—all fins fit Surf Fin box

1. Flat Water:

Kokua’s Fast In Anything (FIA) Fin

The Kokua FIA Fin has the shallowest depth of around 7.5” which offers almost no resistance in the water, thus no drag. This is essential in flat water as it amplifies the power of your stroke. I experienced an increase in my overall one-mile speed by at least 15 percent (from 15-minute mile to about 13.25-minute mile).

With its shallow depth, the fin acts like a rudder helping you effortlessly turn your board. One can execute a pivot or step back turn with a smoothness and fluidity rivaling that of pro-SUPers with this fin.

• Unfortunately, this fin cannot work well in any other conditions as stability is severely compromised to the point where you feel as though you are paddling without a fin. Such a feeling is unpleasant at best and nerve wracking at worst.

• 1.        Open, Choppy Water:

Bark’s All Condition Fin

The Bark’s All Condition Fin provides decent stability, a slight decrease speed, and allows you to turn your board comfortably.  When using this fin, I felt the board glided well and caught bumps and waves with relative ease.

Its 9” depth kept me stable in those conditions, but I experienced a decrease in my overall one-mile speed time around 10 percent (from 15-minute mile to about 16.30-minute mile).

Future’s SUP Triangle Cutaway Fin

• The Futures SUP Triangle Cutaway Fin with its 9” depth and 44 square inch surface area is by far the most stable fin in all conditions, but especially for open, choppy water. It handles waves, side chop, boat wakes, and swells with ease. I fear none of those conditions with this fin. It keeps the board so straight that I could paddle on one side for at least 2 miles.

  The biggest downsides are you sacrifice speed and agility. I experienced a decrease in my overall one-mile speed time by at least 20 percent (from 15-minute mile to about 18-minute mile).

  Finally, I had to take extra strokes when turning the board because the fin felt like an anchor.

  Note—this fin is no longer in production.

• 1.        Windy, Downwind: Kokua’s Wizard Fin

3. Windy, Downwind: Kokua’s Wizard Fin

Kokua’s Wizard Fin is made for down winding. It is light, agile, and leans into waves like an Indy Racing Car taking the third turn in the Indianapolis 500.

So, turning your board and riding bumps are a pleasure with this fin. Also, I experienced an increase in my overall one-mile speed due to its responsiveness to those conditions as well as flat water of around 12 percent (from 15-minute mile to about 13.45-minute mile).

The downside is that this fin has minimal stability in choppy water, especially side chop. I leaned extra heavy on my paddle for extra stability and keeping the straight in those conditions.