Better workout with fins or without?

treehugnmama

So I haven't been able to get my heat rate up as easily lately as I did when I started to swim. Today I put on scuba fins and I was out of breath but I thought that those would make swimming easier.....thoughts better workout with or without?

treehugnmama

They might be called flippers

emmab0902

Fins make swimming easier as it's swimming with assistance. That said, they have their place in training.

aliciamariaq

Fins make you glide and help your body position, allowing you to go faster, at the same time they also work your leg muscles a lot so maybe that is why your heart rate goes up? I am no expert, just speculating.

treehugnmama

So I should get a better leg workout with them? More resistance?

rosebarnalice

Personally, I think I get a better workout without.

treehugnmama

Thanks for the replies. My legs were hurting the next day when I went to swim. They hurt enough that it made me had to cut workout short.

fishgutzy

TYR Burner fins are great for the pool. You will feel the burn in you quads.

Montepulciano

I usually do about 1000 yards with my fins (not the huge ones but like the ones fishgutzy pictured). Using fins could be compared to using hand paddles and a buoy. They do increase resistance and I am a terrible kicker so they make kicking more productive for me and have helped my backstroke kick immensely.

treehugnmama

Ya I continued with the fins and have been loving them.

I will have to invest in a pair like above for the spring... it is getting harder and harder to get into the unheated pool...water temp still 80 but before work air temp is brrrr and after work brrrr as sun not on the pool....I need a wet suit or a heater...I'm gonna miss the pool so much over the fall and winter! Not sure how to replace all the water exercises I do with land ones as I need the boy any the water gives me.

Sandra37405

Water temp of 80 sounds perfect.

fishgutzy

Sandra37405 wrote: »

Water temp of 80 sounds perfect.

The hottest measured temp I have swam in is 88. Still did a 5km swim. But every time I picked my head up out of the water I could feel the heat coming off.
Did a 5KM swim in a hot pool in China a few trips ago. So hot that I had to pause for few minute once because my heart rate got a bit wacky.
80 is much nicer. The YMCA I swim at now keeps it around 79/80 in the lap pool.
But I was loving it one Monday when the heater shut down over night. It was a cool 73 degrees. The senior that swim early didn't like it though.

treehugnmama

I like the 80 water temp it's the fall AIR temp in the am and pm (when I have time to workout) that's killing me.....it's sweatshirt weather

fishgutzy

treehugnmama wrote: »

I like the 80 water temp it's the fall AIR temp in the am and pm (when I have time to workout) that's killing me.....it's sweatshirt weather

Love being in North Carolina. "fall" air doesn't hit until October. But I also swim at an indoor YMCA pool.

treehugnmama

that's nice! I'm in ontario and the aMS and pms are cold. I maybe have a week or two left and will have to switch to hiking till july

fishgutzy

treehugnmama wrote: »

that's nice! I'm in ontario and the aMS and pms are cold. I maybe have a week or two left and will have to switch to hiking till july

Used to live in MA. But even that is almost tropical compared to Canada

treehugnmama

lol we are in thay season where it is sooooo cold in tje am and evening and Florida weather in tje 11_5 time frame

ruthatoy

treehugmama, I am in Markham Ontario. Where are you?

xDesertxRatx

In open water fins may benefit you more but to be honest you are better off without them in the pool unless you intend to use them every time you swim at anytime. They are only good for freestyle so if like me you alternate from freestyle to breaststroke then they are no good. Stick without is my advice.

treehugnmama

unfortunately my swimming days have come to an end till spring...I miss it so much. I replaced it with walking and hiking and haven't lost a pound since I stopped swimming in September.

Skipjack66

treehugnmama wrote: »

unfortunately my swimming days have come to an end till spring...I miss it so much. I replaced it with walking and hiking and haven't lost a pound since I stopped swimming in September.

Why not go to an indoor community centre city pool? I have a membership at mine, 11 bucks a month.

treehugnmama

I won't get there with the kids. I swam all spring summer fall in our pool. so now I walk or hike on my lunch and breaks. the community pool is 4 dollars a swim but the times just don't work for me. 11 bucks a month is a steal!

aliciamariaq

So we have been using fins (and paddles) a lot lately in practice and I was thinking of this thread and then it popped up again.

Here are a couple of links explaining why fins are good for you. I think these points are also valid for non competitive swimmers who just want to improve technique.

Also fins are great for butterfly as well as it really helps with body position and you can really get a good "feel" for the stroke, which is really important.


http://www.yourswimlog.com/training-swim-fins/

http://theswimmingexpert.com/why-use-fins-or-flippers-when-swimming/

Plus, they are fun!

Montepulciano

So much fun!

girlwithcurls2

@aliciamariaq , I LOVE the links! Thank you for that! I have fins, but I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be feeling. Turns out, I've been feeling what I should. I need to use them more though. And now I will.

treehugnmama

I used my fins all summer and got a great workout with them....can't wait to get back to it.

links were super helpful!