Surfboard Fins Explained: Finding the Perfect Setup

Cover shot by 10 Over Surf Shop's Queenie Matthews

Surfboard fins can feel overwhelming at first. There's different combinations, size, rake, fins suited for longboards, shortboards and everything in between. 

At 10 Over Surf Shop, we regularly stock one-of-a-kind, stunning longboard fins and in the old store, our fin wall was the biggest in Europe (we think...) But what fins are best suited for you? And how do you go about making that decision. Let's dig in. 

Why Surfboard Fins Matter

Despite the obvious ruddering of your board, fins impact a lot of elements of your surfing. Certain fins can hold you tighter to the face of the wave, while others are built for speed to gun you around crumbling sections. Some other fins allow for control in big turns and others give undeniable pivot off the tail, especially on a longer board.

Fins can feel like a technical minefield at times, with all sorts of shapes promising all sorts of things. The main thing – and we cannot stress this enough – is to experiment. Only you will know what feels right, because that's the joy of surfing, it's about how it feels versus how you're told it should feel.

Single, Twin, Thruster or Quad?

Single Fin: Perfect for down-the-line speed and superior glide. A single fin excels at long, drawn-out turns versus aggressive front foot surfing. Usually paired with a longboard for added stability.

Twin Fin: Fast, loose and feels a bit like skating, twin fins have rocketed in popularity recently, likely due to the fact that going fast is fun. The twins flush water out the tail, creating speed but not as much stability as a single fin. Great for weaker waves. But be warned, a twin fin will show up your surfing. 

Thruster: The revolution that defined performance surfing. The thruster, or two side fins and a centre one, is a work horse. The centre fin offers superior control and hold on a wave and is generally more forgiving than a twin fin. The go-to choice for steeper waves.

Quad: For steep, walled-up waves. A quad is usually faster than a twin fin because the fins create drive and hug you to the wave. They're a great option for big wave surfing. But can also excel in small, well-shaped waves to help generate speed.

Futures VS FCS?

This is all down to personal choice. FCS' fin system comes with a click in, click out approach to snap your fins into place without the need for screws. Though we'd highly recommend screwing them in. Futures, on the other hand, is one, long fin box, where you pop the edge of the fin in, then lower the opposite end down and screw it into place. There's pros and cons to both, but look at how you want to surf first, what fins you need and then work backwards from there.

What's Your Weight?

Fins come in a variety of different sizes, XS, S, M, L, XL – and all have their own weight limits so check on the packaging for which one suits you. However, Joel Parkinson once said that his surfing progressed so fast because as a grom, he ignored all that, and only surfed large fins. He said it gave him more control in the water. Again, your own experience may be better than listening to the marketing talk. 

Understanding Template

The fin template is essentially the shape of the fin. Different templates dictate how the board reacts in the water. The template outline is called rake – or how far the fin curves backwards. The base width also make up the template, with  wider base offering more drive and speed. Fin heigh is how big the fin is. The larger the fin, the more control you will have, especially for longboards. 

Best Fins for Small Waves?

Want to get to grips with a twin fin? We'd highly recommend these FCS II Channel Islands Keel fins in Performance Glass.Why? They excel in small waves on a tiny pocket rock twin, or twin pin if you're surfing a pointbreak. Also great for down the line speed, so dig in, here.

Best Longboard Fins?

Any of the Rainbow Fins will suit the purpose. Take for example, this El Gato – aka Miki Dora's go-to fin for surfing Malibu. One of the most Iconic nose rider styles the El Gato has a beautiful bulbus shape that will give hold and control whilst riding the nose. It has less pivot and more rake that a lot of nose riders giving it great drive and flow. The base is still quite wide to give speed but the large scoop at the bottom rear of the fin means it maintains a good amount of manoeuvrability for a big fin. Get it, here.