{"id":263,"date":"2026-01-13T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/airfins.labo-web.fr\/?p=263"},"modified":"2026-10-23T18:18:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T16:18:25","slug":"choosing-the-right-stiffness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/2026\/01\/13\/choosing-the-right-stiffness\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose the right stiffness for your practice"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:clamp(2.5rem, 5vw, 4.6875rem);padding-bottom:clamp(2.5rem, 5vw, 4.6875rem)\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here are the main criteria to consider when choosing the right stiffness<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-cb0a7ccb wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins.avif\" alt=\"Freediver finning above underwater rocks.\" class=\"wp-image-99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins.avif 500w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-300x300.avif 300w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-150x150.avif 150w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-100x100.avif 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Your fitness level<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The strength of your legs plays a key role in choosing the right stiffness level.<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Soft<\/strong>: ideal for lighter people, beginners or those who prioritise comfort and long sessions without tiring.<\/li><li><strong>Medium<\/strong>: the best compromise for most people. It offers a good balance between power and comfort. <\/li><li><strong>Hard<\/strong>: recommended for very fit or powerful swimmers, capable of a vigorous kicking action<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If the stiffness is too high in relation to your strength, you risk tiring quickly and losing efficiency<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-cb0a7ccb wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Your weight<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your weight directly affects your ability to flex the fin and generate propulsion<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Under 65 kg<\/strong>: a flexible fin is generally recommended<\/li><li>65 to 85 kg: medium stiffness<\/li><li><strong>Over 85 kg<\/strong>: medium to hard, depending on your strength<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These guidelines are only a rough guide, as technique and physical fitness can also play an important role<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-duo-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins.avif\" alt=\"Two freedivers equipped with Air-Fins freediving fins.\" class=\"wp-image-100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-duo-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins.avif 500w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-duo-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-300x300.avif 300w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-duo-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-150x150.avif 150w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chausson-duo-palmes-voilures-quality-air-fins-100x100.avif 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-cb0a7ccb wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"746\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-fins-plonge-competition-746x1024.avif\" alt=\"Freediver ascending along a dive line above a shipwreck.\" class=\"wp-image-101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-fins-plonge-competition-746x1024.avif 746w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-fins-plonge-competition-219x300.avif 219w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-fins-plonge-competition-768x1054.avif 768w, https:\/\/air-fins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/air-fins-plonge-competition.avif 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Your type of activity<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The stiffness can also vary depending on your use.<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Long sessions \/ exploration<\/strong>: opt for a Soft or Medium stiffness to minimise fatigue.<\/li><li><strong>Deep freediving \/ spearfishing with significant descents<\/strong>: a Medium to Hard stiffness can provide greater power<\/li><li><strong>Intensive or competitive activity<\/strong>: a Hard model can improve responsiveness and propulsion<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Your personal feeling<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the technical criteria, choosing the stiffness is also a matter of feel. Some divers prefer a very soft fin for comfort, while others look for a firmer, more dynamic response. <\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim is to find the best balance between comfort, performance and enjoyment.<\/p><p class=\"is-style-surtitre is-style-surtitre--1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our advice<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re unsure between two different stiffness levels, it\u2019s generally best to choose the more flexible one, as it will be more accommodating and less tiring over time. A well-fitting fin will allow you to enjoy your dives to the full, while optimising your efficiency in the water. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:clamp(2.5rem, 5vw, 4.6875rem);padding-bottom:clamp(2.5rem, 5vw, 4.6875rem)\"><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-c0bc9f7e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-brume\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/news\/\">All our news<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are the main criteria to consider when choosing the right stiffness 1. Your fitness level The strength of your legs plays a key role in choosing the right stiffness level. If the stiffness is too high in relation to your strength, you risk tiring quickly and losing efficiency 2. Your weight Your weight directly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"airfins_sous_titre":"Choosing the right stiffness is essential for getting the best feel and performance in the water. The right stiffness optimises your propulsion, reduces fatigue and improves comfort on every dive.","airfins_entete_couleur":"encre","airfins_entete_bouton":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-equipment-advice"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":342,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions\/342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/air-fins.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}