The Different Types Of Surfboard Fins

There are three main types of surfboard fins.  These are soft fins, glass on fins and removable fins.

Soft Surfboard Fins

Soft fins are designed with soft edges protecting the surfer from being cut and injured by their own surfboard fins.

These type of fins have become very popular with beginner surfboards for young kids helping to keep parents minds at ease.

These fins however aren’t recommended for advanced and experienced surfers as they reduce the maneuverability and response of your surfboard, hindering high performance progressive surfing.

Glass On Surfboard Fins

Glass on surfboard fins are fins that are “glassed” directly on to the bottom of the tail of the surfboard.

These fins can not be removed from the bottom of the surfboard and therefore can not be changed.

These types of surfboard fins are becoming more and more uncommon due to the immergence of removable fin systems such as FCS and Future fins.

Older professional surfers swear by these fins claiming that they provide them with unmatched feel, response and performance.

However many surfers, including 9 time world champion surfer Kelly Slater, believes that removable fin systems have truly improved surfboard performance with glass on fins limiting the performance of your surfboard.

Removable Surfboard Fins

Removable surfboard fins as the name implies are a type of surfboard fins that can be removed from the surfboard and exchanged for a different fin set.  These surfboard fins are versatile allowing you to tweak and make minor adjustments to the feel and maneuverability of your surfboard.

For example, if you want your surfboard to make tight turns then you would install a more upright fin but if you wanted to make more drawn out turns you could swap your fins for a set of fins with more rake.

The combinations and possibilities are truly endless with removable fins.

Another great thing about removable surfboard fins is that if you hit your fin against the reef or sand these fins will snap without damaging your surfboard.  You can then take the remaining surfboard tabs out of the surfboard fin plag and replace the broken fin with a new removable fin.

With glass on fins, if you break a fin that’s it for your surf session and even if you get the fin repaired your surfboard may never ride the same again.

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