We found the best Single Fins for your Logs and Retro Boards!
So, what’s the deal with single fins?
Whether you’re a seasoned surfer, or a beginner the world of single-fin surfboards is worth exploring. Single fins are inherently classic – they offer a flow incomparable to a thruster (3 fin) surfboard. Single-fin surfing is often considered the dance of the surfing world. The loose turns and maneuvering of a single fin board has a completely different experience and feel than the stability and control of having 3 fins to stabilize you. Now, of course, not all boards are compatible with a single fin setup. You’ll most commonly find fin housing fit for a single fin in log style (9ft or more) longboards as well as with some more retro and classic style mid-length, mini-mal, and Malibu boards.
Personally, we love the freedom and flow we feel on a single fin board, it’s easy to turn quickly no matter how many feet and inches you’re riding on and allows for stability during footwork such as nose riding and cross stepping. It is important to note that surf conditions matter. Single fins tend to truly shine on slow closing wide faced waves, but of course, with the right technique riding with a single fin can be enjoyable on a variety of waves.
I often think of a single fin as a fulcrum of sorts that allows for quick pivots with the right technique and weight distribution. They also create a good amount of speed which is great for maintaining positioning on longer rides and connecting different parts of the wave to keep the ride going even longer.
It’s a little slice of history
Many single-fin surfers feel that riding single-fins and retro styles are a nod to the origins of surfing and the styles of boards we would often see when the sport first began to capture the attention of people all around the world. It’s old school, traditional, and a beautiful way to pay respect to surfers of the past who carved the path for us to be riding the waves we are today.
Setting you up for success
We have found a wide variety of single fin’s that we are showcasing here because not every fin serves the same purpose! Some offer a looser ride, while others offer stability for bigger more powerful waves. We also found a few budget-friendly waves, for those of you with a fin box setup that is compatible with both 3 fins and single fin. That way if you’ve been riding thruster-style fin setups but wanna dip your toes into the single-fin world you can do so without breaking the bank.
We love having a variety of single fins in our quiver, switching them out depending on the conditions or what we want to feel out on the water during a session. Small things like shape, thickness, material, length, and even the positioning of the fin inside its housing can make a massive difference in the feeling, stability, and maneuverability of a ride.
Each fin listed here has a short description of its specs, and what conditions we feel it is best for. That way you can make an informed decision based on what kind of conditions you most frequently see at your home break and what kind of ride you’re looking for when you’re out there in the water.
Here is the Line Up
Santa Barbara Butterfly LongBoard Fin
Available in 6”-10” lengths
If you’re new to the world of single fin surf Santa Barbara surfing makes a variety of super classic single fins that are 100% fiberglass and made to last for a very reasonable price. The 10” models can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not used to the loose feeling and quick turns, so we suggest starting in the mid-range and moving up over time to a fin that has as many inches as your board does feet, give or take. We love this butterfly-style fin for its taper and somewhat flexible tip. It makes for a very smooth and free-flowing ride. This fin has a moderate rake – which is a fancy way of talking about the angle the fin leans back toward the end of the board. The moderate rake of this fin allows for greater stability, without affecting turns and pivots. Overall we think this is a great choice if you want to invest in a quality piece of equipment that will last rather than getting a plastic fin, but aren’t ready for a more expensive model.
Santa Barbara Surfing is also a small family-owned company, which is something that will always sway us in the direction of making a purchase.
Ho Stevie LongBoard/Sup Center fin
Available in 6.5”-10”
You may remember Ho Stevie from our surf poncho review last week! We adore this small California based brand and their budget-friendly surf equipment. If you’re new to the surf world, and looking for an inexpensive fin that you won’t worry about snapping or scraping along the reef then this is a wonderful pick for you. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, this fin is made of FRP (fiberglass reinforced polymer) meaning it’s stronger than your average budget/plastic nylon fin with less flex and more stability. However this is very much a beginner’s fin, we wouldn’t say it’s a great choice for those of you working on your nose riding and footwork skills, however, you may find it a bit slower than fiberglass counterparts on turns.
Kona Surf Co. Classic Single Fin
Available in 8-10”
The name of this fin says it all – Classic! This fin is considered a super classic-shaped fin. It’s amazing for stability when it comes to spending time up on the nose of the board. It has a medium rake which adds to its stability. It may not turn quite as quickly as the butterfly fin from Santa Barbara for example, but it’s a really classic shape that is still somewhat easy to maneuver. This fin is made out of fiberglass, aka it’s built to last. Also, this fin gets major style points for a variety of colors and patterns, as well as local artists points for being made by an epic team of people in New Jersey for the last 50 years. Kona Surf Co. was actually founded by Mike Sciarra, who was an integral part of the surfboard boom, over on the North Shore of Hawaii in the late 60’s. And if you’re not new to Team Quiver, then you already know we love a good backstory.
After trying out the Classic single fin by Kona Surf Co. and absolutely loving it, we decided to grab one of their pivot fits and we were not disappointed. It’s an epic piece of equipment with a nod to old-school classic style that has an unreal hold when we’re making our way to the nose. Overall an amazing brand that we will turn to in the future for equipment needs.
True Ames Dewey Weber Hatchet Fin
This fin is an old classic design, reimagined from the original longboard D fin to offer that same hold down the line but due to the longer shape they give better stability when walking to the nose. However this 10” model is a whopping 8 inches shorter than the original! The main complaint with D fins is that they’re sort of a 1 trick pony. They offer a lot of stability when trimming but not when stepping. Hatchet fins give both options while also turning ever so slightly faster than a D fin so you can have all the style perks of a classic ride with a little more maneuverability.
Captain Fin Co. x Seea Raked Single Fin
This collaboration by two of our fave surf brands is a match made in heaven. Captain Fin Co. is a southern California based brand and it shows through its attention to detail and fun modern styles. Seea is a women’s surf brand known for its amazing quality and functional yet stylish designs. This collection by Captain Fin Co. was actually created to match the suits from their 2022 line. So ladies, you can score a surf suit that matches your longboard fin – they still have a few left in their clearance section like this epic 2mm surf jacket. This fin is considered more advanced, due to its exaggerated rake. It’s fast down the line, and super reactive, great for quick maneuvers and cross-stepping. However, we wouldn’t recommend using this fin on any super long classic logs. It’s great for an everyday longboard, 9’ max, and also a wonderful fit for mid-length boards 7 feet and up.