These Are My New Favorite Bodysurfing Fins

With late-winter storms currently lashing U.S. coasts, picking up a new pair of bodysurfing fins may not be top of mind. And while summer feels like it's forever away, it’s really the perfect time to gear up for the warmer days ahead. 

As an open and out-of-the-closet fin nerd, I love me a fresh pair of flippers. And the good people at Yucca Fins in Newport Beach just spoiled me. Last month, they sent me their newly released Scraps short blade fin, as well as their more traditional long blade fin, to test. Pulling them out of the box, my fin fetish was realized. I could tell just by holding them and the way the rubber felt, I had to get in the water with them.

It was probably somewhere around 1985 that I got my first pair of Churchills. A Northern California grommet with no idea what I was doing, I remember seeing the pros in Bodyboarding Magazine cut down their fins and customize them. So I took my mom’s sewing scissors and cut away. A decade later, I found myself working as a lifeguard on the beach in Southern California. Most guards wore either Duckfeet or Vipers. I went with the Vipers, but they were too clunky, so once again I took a blade to them, this time paramedic shears, and cut them down. I’ve tried countless fins over the last 30 years; some are too stiff, some not stiff enough. Some leave my ankles and heels blistered, which quickly turn into craters. The struggle is real.

But the Yucca Fins are built different. The materials are top shelf, as is the design. I have a size 12 foot and the XL fins fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper. They’re not too tight or too loose, they’re just right. The soft, supple rubber of the foot pocket is comfortable and snuggly fits my foot, so there’s no blister-causing wiggle room. 

It was love at first sight with the Scraps short blade fins. As the name suggests, they're made from production scraps. "Instead of being thrown away, leftover rubber scraps from the manufacturing process are reintegrated directly back into our fins, reducing waste and extending the life of our materials,” reads the product description.

And that’s not just some upcycling marketing jargon, the fins are killer. With their cream color, they have a bit of a James Bond retro look, while the shorter blade gives them quick propulsion and responsiveness in the water. Whether you’re bodysurfing, riding a surf mat (more on Yucca’s foray into the world of mat riding to come), or just snorkeling or swimming laps, these are perfect do-anything, go-anywhere fins. 

That’s not to discount the long blade fins. The blade is stiff and offers plenty of power, while the foot pocket is soft and wearable. Dialing in that balance is harder than it sounds, and the team at Yucca nailed it.  Vibrantly colored, the fins also look really cool.

As far as facts worth knowing, the Yucca Fins are made of premium Malaysian rubber. They have a symmetrical design, so there’s no confusion about left or right. And they float, which is nice. I can’t tell you how many fins I’ve lost over the years because they sink. Drainage holes, angled side rails, and an anatomical foot pocket are other bells and whistles. 

Because they're really good at what they do, what's also helpful is that Yucca offers different flex options—standard, soft, super, and ultra soft. There isn’t necessarily one fin to rule them all, and this lets you dial in your fin quiver for whatever the conditions or activity demand. 

So, while you’re waiting for the rain and snow to stop, might I suggest a little retail therapy? If you have the means, I highly recommend picking up a new pair of Yucca Fins; they're so choice.