How to Choose Between Molchanovs Freediving Bifins: Training Fins for Professionals

By Kristina Zvaritch and Asya Kleshchevnikova

Okay - so you’ve decided that you want to pursue freediving beyond the recreational and become a competitor!

This is a whole new world within freediving, with a whole different list of equipment to choose from to get the best results out of your performances. We created a complete guide to Molchanovs freediving bifins, but in this post, we’re going to get a little more specific - training bifins for professionals. Now let’s talk features and fins!

Features to Look For in Professional Training Bifins

Not all fancy bifins are created equally - check out the following three features to look for in training bifins for professional freedivers.

Efficient

Efficiency is a combination of things - namely, blade size and stiffness and how those two aspects match up to your height, weight, and strength. The right blade will be soft enough to allow you to do drills in the pool (without murdering your legs and ruining your technique after the first few laps) but will still be stiff enough to put sufficient load on your muscles and propel you through the water.

Comfortable

Comfort (or at least a little bit) is key! So here, we’re not looking for ‘comfortable’ as in, “Wow, I can wear these foot pockets for hours!” But you still need to be somewhat comfortable for your performances. If your foot pockets are too tight and pinch or rub in the wrong places, they’ll definitely affect your relaxation and focus.

Competition-ready

Your training bifins should also be the ones you use for competitions - at least part of the time, anyway! After all, you need to get used to the feel of them and how to adjust your technique and amplitude to maximize their potential so there’s no surprises on competition day.

Molchanovs Training Bifins for Professional Freedivers

We have not one, but two top picks for training bifins for competitive freedivers!

PRO Bifins 3

The PRO Bifins 3 are available in fiberglass and carbon and are the go-to fins for competitors looking for lightweight fins. Unlike the PRO Hyper Bifins (more on them later), the PRO Bifins 3 foot pockets are lighter due to a smaller amount of rubber for the foot pocket.

And get this - the foot pockets, blade size, and blade stiffness are also up for customization!

One thing to note is that the blade angle is fixed at 28° (although open heel foot pockets allow your foot to flex even more during a kick) - this creates a fragile point in the blade, so extra care must be taken! That means no pushing off of the pool wall or jumping in the water with your blades on.

But the upside is that a blade with a fixed angle doesn’t need extra rubber in the foot pocket construction to create the angle (because it already has one!). This detail results in an ultralight foot pocket, allowing the PRO Bifins 3 Carbon to weigh in at only 1.5kg (3.3lb), while the PRO Hyper Bifins Carbon weigh 2.2kg (4.9lb) due to the extra rubber in the foot pocket.

Photo credit: @alexeymolchanov @tones.of.blue

PRO Bifins 3 Specs

Take a quick look at what the PRO Bifins 3 Fiberglass/Carbon has to offer.

Molchanovs Hand-Built Foot Pockets:

• Heavy-duty, wear-resistant, and UV-resistant
• Custom open-heel foot pockets for flexibility
• Comfort Lining interior with soft micropore for maximized comfort
• Increased toe space for added relief
• Engraved Molchanovs logo on the front
• Choose between standard EU sizes or custom sizes

Blade:

• Available in 100% carbon fiber or premium 100% UHC fiberglass
• Updated blade-layering pattern for more propulsion with less effort
• Size-graded blades ensure that your blade’s total surface area works best for your height
• A 28° blade angle emphasizes your back kick and creates a more seamless front kick

PRO Hyper Bifins

For freedivers who want a fully customizable bifin with a monofin-style foot pocket, the PRO Hyper Bifins in fiberglass and carbon are it! With extra rubber around the foot pocket, you get more of a spring-like effect with every kick, giving you that extra bit of help you didn’t know you needed.

Photo credit: @alexeymolchanov @tones.of.blue

Plus, since the blade on the PRO Hyper Bifins is a flat blade, the blade itself becomes more durable than a blade with a fixed angle. So now that it’s the foot pocket’s job to create the angle with extra rubber construction, you have the option to customize the foot pocket angle to your ankle flexibility - larger angles for stiffer ankles and smaller angles for hyperflexible ballerina feet. However, it’s important to remember that the foot pocket naturally becomes heavier due to the extra rubber construction.

Of course, just like with the PRO Bifins 3, the foot pocket itself, blade size, and blade stiffness are all customizable!

 

Choosing the right foot pocket angle

When choosing the foot pocket angle, you want to have a friend take a photo of you stretching your leg out in front of you and pointing your toe as much as you can. If you can draw a straight line over your leg down to the tips of your toes - grab a 30° foot pocket angle! If your ankle is angled upward a bit, stick with 35°. If you are hyperflexible and the line is sloping downward, go with a 25° angle.

PRO Hyper Bifins Specs

Discover the power of the PRO Hyper Bifins Fiberglass/Carbon!

Molchanovs Hand-Built Foot Pockets:

• Heavy-duty, wear-resistant, and UV-resistant
• Custom open-heel foot pockets for flexibility
• Comfort Lining interior with soft micropore for maximized comfort
• Increased toe space for added relief
• Same foot pockets as the Molchanovs monofins to allow more load to be placed on the hips
• Customizable foot pocket angle: 25°, 30°, 35°
• Engraved Molchanovs logo on the front
• Choose between standard EU sizes or custom sizes

Blade:

• Available in 100% carbon fiber or premium 100% UHC fiberglass
• Handcrafted from start to finish
• Hand-layered blades for superb response and feel
• Customizable blade size and stiffness to suit your body type and level of strength
• Ideal for freedivers who use a quad-driven technique with a strong front kick and less focus on the back kick, allowing you to put more load on your hip muscles

Foot pocket sizing

Keep in mind that no matter whether you’re choosing the PRO Bifins 3 or the PRO Hyper Bifins, you must double-check those foot measurements - even if you think you know your standard EU size. This means grabbing a tape measure and a friend, watching this video to learn how to take the measurements properly, and comparing them to the size chart on the product page. If your numbers don't quite match up with a size on the chart, go ahead and measure those arches too. Then, get yourself some custom foot pockets to make sure you're getting the most performance out of your foot pockets possible!

Fiberglass or carbon fiber?

Easy question! It’s simply a matter of personal preference! Some people like fiberglass (which is also a little more durable), while others prefer carbon fiber for a lightweight feel underwater.

But if you’re planning on participating in big competitions and going for national/continental/world records, we suggest choosing carbon fiber blades - the slight difference in performance is only really noticeable in dives to longer distances and deeper depths!

Honorable Mentions

We would feel silly not mentionioning the following pairs of bifins for training and other purposes!

CORE Silicone Bifins

A fan-favorite of beginners, the CORE Silicone Bifins are still very much useful for competitors. The soft silicone fins are ideal for perfecting foundational bifin technique and doing drills in the pool and at depth. Plus, you can use them to start training the monofin dolphin kick if you plan on picking up a monofin in the future!

CORE Silicone Bifins Specs

Check out the CORE Silicone Bifins specs:

• Hypoallergenic and UV-resistant silicone
• Designed for all water temperatures
• Can withstand -30°C (-22°F) temperatures without deforming
• Arch support maintains the correct position of your foot during the kick stroke for maximum efficiency
• Open-heel foot pockets provide the optimal foot position for finning
• The anatomical shape of the back strap is designed for a better fit over the Achilles tendon and offers maximum support
• Eight blade rails with specific curvature profiles and stiffness distribution make the fins efficient and stable with the least amount of effort

PRO Short Bifins 3

Are you looking for conveniently short blades - yet dreaming of the same famous hand-built foot pocket of the PRO series with a snappier carbon blade? Let us introduce you to the PRO Short Bifins 3!

Photo credit: @alisa_in_wonderland_and_sea @akivis

PRO Short Bifins 3 Specs

Explore the PRO Short Bifins 3 at a glance.

Molchanovs Hand-Built Foot Pockets:

• Heavy-duty, wear-resistant, and UV-resistant
• Custom open-heel foot pockets for full ankle flexibility
• Built-in arch support to decrease fatigue and keep the foot in the optimal position to maximize small-muscle use and minimize drag
• Comfort Lining interior with soft micropore for maximized comfort, removing the need for socks
• Increased toe space for added relief
• Engraved Molchanovs logo on the front

Blades:

• 100% carbon fiber
• Handcrafted from start to finish
• Layered by hand for unparalleled responsiveness
• Short, lightweight carbon blade makes traveling with them convenient
• Bottleneck shape for an efficient transition in water, giving you more power
• Soft- and medium-stiffness blades available

SPORT Bifins 3

The SPORT Bifins 3 in both fiberglass and carbon are truly all-around bifins. They’re not only excellent bifins for instructors, safety divers, and spearfishers, but they’re also a great alternative to use in the pool if you want to save your PRO bifins from scratches. However, be warned - even though they’re more affordable than PRO bifins, they’re not quite efficient enough for top-level competitions!

SPORT Bifins 3 Specs

Take a quick glance at the SPORT Bifins 3 in carbon and fiberglass.

SPORT Silicone Foot Pockets:

• Hypoallergenic and UV-resistant silicone
• Open-heel design for maximum ankle flexibility
• Anatomical shape of the heel strap for maximum support and a comfortable fit
• Arch support for optimal foot positioning
• Unique attachment system for additional support and better energy transfer from foot to blade
• Rigid stabilizers for full control over each kick and movement

SPORT Bifin Blades:

• Available in 100% carbon fiber or premium 100% UHC fiberglass
• Improved blade-layering system for more propulsion with less effort
• Smooth and gradual blade angle for added durability
• Size-graded blade stiffness ensures that the blade’s length matches its resistance
• Soft: Reduced blade length for effortless maneuverability
• Medium: Extended blade length for balanced propulsion

Quick Summary

Let’s put all that information into a more digestible format before you go diving!

Professional freedivers who are choosing bifins to train in for competitions should look for fins that are:

• Efficient
• Comfortable
• Competition-ready

We suggest the PRO Bifins 3 Fiberglass/Carbon for athletes who favor lightweight fins, while the PRO Hyper Bifins Fiberglass/Carbon is geared toward freedivers who prefer monofin-style foot pockets. Check out this video to watch Alexey Molchanov comparing both bifins!

Always double-check your foot measurements before choosing PRO Bifins 3 or PRO Hyper Bifins, even if you're selecting a standard EU size. If your measurements don't match the size chart exactly, consider ordering custom foot pockets to ensure the best performance.

Choosing fiberglass or carbon fiber blades is a matter of personal preference - but if your aim is to participate in high-level competitions and set national/continental/world records, stick with carbon!

We also can’t forget our honorable mentions for training bifins:

• CORE Silicone Bifins for perfecting foundational bifin technique and training the monofin dolphin kick
• PRO Short Bifins 3 for short bifins with hand-built foot pockets and a snappy carbon blade
• SPORT Bifins 3 in carbon and fiberglass for all-around bifins that can replace PRO Bifins in your pool training and make great companions for instructors, safety divers, and spearfishers

Check out the handy chart below to compare all of the bifins discussed in this post.

	PRO Bifins 3 Fiberglass	PRO Bifins 3 Carbon	PRO Hyper Bifins Fiberglass	PRO Hyper Bifins Carbon	SPORT Bifins 3 Fiberglass	SPORT Bifins 3 Carbon	CORE Silicone Bifins	PRO Short Bifins 3 Carbon
Standard EU / custom foot pocket sizes	Both available	Both available	Both available	Both available	Standard EU only	Standard EU only	Standard EU only	Both available
Durable blades	Yes	Needs extra care	Yes	Needs extra care	Yes	Needs extra care	Yes	Needs extra care
Foot pocket/blade angle	28°	28°	Customizable: 25°, 30°, 35°	Customizable: 25°, 30°, 35°	28°	28°	No	27°
Different blade sizes available	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Weight	Size 42 EU: 1.7kg (3.7lb)	Size 42 EU: 1.5kg (3.3lb)	Size 42 EU: 2.3kg (5.1lb)	Size 42 EU: 2.2kg (4.9lb)	1.7 - 2kg (3.7 - 4.4lb)	1.6 - 1.9kg (3.5 - 4.2lb)	1.6 - 1.8kg (3.5 - 4lb)	1 - 1.8kg (2.2 - 6.2lb)
Suitable for long sessions	'Comfortable' or 'Normal' fit only (if custom foot pocket)	'Comfortable' or 'Normal' fit only (if custom foot pocket)	'Comfortable' or 'Normal' fit only (if custom foot pocket)	'Comfortable' or 'Normal' fit only (if custom foot pocket)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Suitable for fun diving	✓	✓			✓	✓	Only in waters with little to no current	✓
Suitable for training	✓	✓			✓	✓	✓
Suitable for competition	✓	✓	✓	✓
Suitable for spearfishing	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓
Suitable for scuba diving							✓	✓

That’s all we have for you today, athletes! Just don’t forget to check out the Molchanovs Wave 4 - Competitive Freediver course to get competition-ready and further your freediving training with Base Training and Base Training + programs.

And most importantly - never freedive alone, only with a trained and certified buddy!