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Getting your first pair of carbon fins is usually a big step in your freediving journey. I remember, in my case, it really felt like the moment my commitment finally took shape. I was already in love with the sport and was waiting to reach 60m with plastic fins before treating myself with carbon ones. It was not obviously the smartest choice but more of a personal challenge. If I had to do it again, I would invest sooner. Carbon fins are not only a question of performance but also of comfort and enjoyment in your freediving. In addition, most plastic fins are really stiff. Not only the finning technique is not really the same with plastic fins, but this extra stiffness will probably slow down your progression and can even lead to ankle injuries if you have fragile ankles.
My advice would be to invest in premium carbon fins as soon as you are sure you want to keep going with freediving. I would also recommend going straight to the good ones if you can afford it. It is definitely an investment, but one that will last. A good carbon fins brand will give you a warranty for several years (5 years for Alchemy) and in the end, if you compare this investment with equipment for other sports, it is not incredibly expensive. In any sport, as soon as you start getting into it and really use your equipment, you feel the value of having good equipment. Besides the performance, it just makes your training or fun sessions way more enjoyable.
I would start with nice and soft blades. Since bifins became an official discipline, athletes and freedivers, in general, have been putting way more thoughts into the finning technique. It is now commonly agreed that softer fins will allow you to have a smaller amplitude and higher frequency, therefore creating less drag in the water and minimizing your effort. Only a few years ago, when I started freediving, it was commonly said that the deeper you wanted to go, the stiffer your blades should be. That time is over. I used medium stiffness blades for years and even went to 110m with them. Despite years of running (ultra trails, triathlon) and squats, my legs were killing me on the way up. Since I switched to softer fins, these deep dives are so much easier.
The size of the blade will also depend on your use. Some brands, including Alchemy which was the pioneer in it, have also a short version of their carbon fins. Ideal for fun dives, photography, and safety diving. The shorter blade makes it more reactive and you can get great accelerations. It is also easier to maneuver in places with limited space (in the middle of corals, for example, be mindful with your fins so that you don’t destroy them) or in a wreck.
The quality of the blades varies as well between brands. Alchemy puts up to 15 layers of carbon in its blades and has the tups of the blades slightly thicker than the middle of the blades to get more power back after the kick. Also, any brand that is advertising the good quality of carbon blades should feel confident about giving you a warranty for the blades.
The foot pockets are also important. What is the point of having great blades if you are not comfy and if the power is not well transmitted to the blade?
I would recommend actually trying them before buying them. There are many different footpockets and you will find one that fits you. Don’t compromise, there are enough for you to find.
Finally, I would lie if I would say that the design and beauty of the fins don’t matter to me. What I like particularly about my Alchemy fins is that they are beautiful !!! As simple as that. They are beautiful objects, shiny, with nice color and a very simple and pure design. So if I had to summarize what I am looking for in a pair of carbon fins, I would say soft and durable blades, comfy and efficient foot pockets, and beauty in general.