The First and Lightest Fin in the PF Series - Swimming, Bodysurfing and Bodyboarding
The PF1 came first. It is the lightest fin in the POD PF Series, moulded from natural Malaysian rubber with a streamlined rail and a symmetrical blade. The blade flexes freely, so the kick stays easy from pool training through to open water and the surf.
The PF2 carries vertical rails out to the blade edge. The PF1 lets its rail flow straight into the blade with no vertical top rails, which gives the blade more natural flex. Its lighter weight means less mass to move on every kick, so the effort stays manageable through a long session.
Fitness swimmers, younger riders, and anyone new to fins find that light, forgiving kick easy to hold and control. Riders were catching serious waves on the PF1 long before the PF2 or PF3 existed, and plenty still choose it today.
POD's variegated colour straps and rails used a colour-placement technique that was a world first, developed with our natural rubber fin factory in Malaysia. The patterns come from ocean life, and no two pairs come out the same.
How the PF1 Moves Water
Your kick pushes the water. The PF1's shape decides where that water goes, and each surface is refined to work with the others as one system.
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Streamlined rail: On top, the rounded rail flows into the blade, so water runs cleanly over the fin and off the blade edge
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Splay Rails®: Along each side, the Splay Rails push water outwards and back along the fin on the thrust of the kick, instead of letting it spill off the sides
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Deep channels: Under the fin, a deep channel runs beside each Splay Rail along the outer sole. On the back kick, the channels catch water like a cupped hand in a swimming stroke, then carry it along the underside and past the blade.
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Flexible blade: The blade bends with your kick and springs back, releasing that water off the edge on every stroke
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Sand and water release: A drain opening at the end of the foot pocket flushes water and sand straight out. Drain holes under the sole tend to trap sand at the toe end, so the PF1 has none.
The same flow holds on the kick down, on the kick back and while you tread water.
Foot Pocket to Blade Length - Finding the Balance
A longer blade moves more water, but it also works as a longer lever. The further a blade reaches past the end of your foot, the more load each kick sends back through your foot and up your leg. Dive fins can carry long blades because they flex like a fish's tail. A fin built for the surf needs a firmer blade, so every extra centimetre of reach adds load your foot has to carry on every kick.
POD sized the PF1 foot pocket against its blade length to balance the drive your kick gets from the blade against the load it sends back to you. That balance, along with the soft natural rubber, is why riders so often mention how comfortable POD fins feel. Every other feature on the fin works within it.
Where the PF1 Works Well
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Pool training and fitness swimming: A light, forgiving fin for building kick technique and holding a steady rhythm through long sets
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Open-water swimming: Low weight and natural flex keep the kick easy to sustain over distance
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Bodysurfing and bodyboarding: Natural flex and an even load across the blade give you a controlled kick in a wide range of waves
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Kneeboarding: Quick bursts of kicking to get into the wave, with the board taking over once you are up and riding
PF1 Size Comparisons
Blade length grows across the sizes, adding surface area as the fin scales up.
POD PF1 Swim Fin Features
- Natural buoyant rubber compounds, manufactured in Malaysia
- The lightest fin in the PF Series
- Streamlined rail flows into the blade without vertical top rails, giving a more forgiving flex through the kick
- Symmetrical blade balances the load evenly on each kick
- Extended foot pocket for comfort and a versatile fit
- Splay Rails® push water outwards and back along the fin on every kick
- Deep channels beside the Splay Rails® catch water on the back kick and carry it out along the underside
- Drain opening at the end of the foot pocket flushes out water and sand
- Variegated colour straps and rails inspired by ocean life, with every pair uniquely patterned
Swim Fin Sizing Versus Shoe Size
Shoe size is not a reliable guide for swim fins. Rubber stretch, foot pocket shape and brand sizing all vary. The PF1's extended foot pocket gives you more room to fit, but an accurate measurement still matters.
See how fit affects movement and control before you choose a size.
PF1 Swim Fin Sizing
For the most accurate fit, use the measurements below or the POD Fit Finder to match your foot and ankle dimensions.
Step 1 - Foot Length and Width
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Small: 6-7 - Length 23 cm, Width 8.5 cm
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Small/Medium: 7-8 - Length 24 cm, Width 9 cm
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Medium: 8-9 - Length 25 cm, Width 9.5 cm
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Medium/Large: 9-10 - Length 26 cm, Width 10 cm
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Large: 10-11 - Length 27 cm, Width 10.5 cm
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Extra Large: 11-12 - Length 28 cm, Width 11 cm
- Measurements are maximum sizes before stretch.
- Natural rubber stretch allowance up to 5 mm for a snug fit
Step 2 - Ankle Strap Width
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Small: 8.2 cm
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Small/Medium: 8.7 cm
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Medium: 9.3 cm
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Medium/Large: 9.5 cm
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Large: 10 cm
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Extra Large: 10.5 cm
- Measurements are before stretch.
- Strap stretch allowance of 10-15 mm for a secure, non-slip fit
Complete Your PF1 Fit and Ocean Setup
The right size is the first step. How the fin feels in the water depends on how securely and comfortably it sits through a full session.
If you plan to take your PF1 fins into the ocean, POD Deluxe Fin Straps keep them tethered to your ankle through shore break and moving water.
If the heel feels slightly loose, or strap pressure builds over a long session, POD Swim Fin Savers and Heel Protectors cover the heel and ease strap pressure.
For feet that sit loose in the foot pocket, or for warmth in colder water, POD 3mm Neoprene Fin Socks fill the extra space and stop your foot from moving inside the pocket. The POD Fit Finder also shows when socks, heel pads or fin savers are worth adding, based on your foot dimensions and how you plan to use the fins.
Natural Rubber - What to Expect on Arrival
POD moulds every PF1 from natural Malaysian rubber. A light white powder or waxy residue on the surface is normal. This is not a defect, and you don't need to remove it before use.
Mould release agents from manufacturing and natural compounds in the rubber cause it, and you will find the same residue on other natural rubber products. It shows up more on darker rubber.
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Note on colour: Shows more clearly on black rubber due to contrast
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If it dries out: A wash in hot water dissolves a powdery surface if one develops over time
Rubber Memory
Natural rubber holds the shape it was moulded into. If a fin bends out of shape from storage or heat, hot water helps it relax back towards its original form.
Care and Use
POD natural rubber swim fins suit swimming, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, kneeboarding and ocean photography.
Walk backwards when wearing fins. It preserves the blade and extends the fins' lifespan.
