Quad fin sets: traditional layout vs the reversed big-wave style

Updated 2026-09-19

A traditional quad has a bigger front fin and a smaller rear fin, in two pairs. A newer style, popularized by big-wave surfers Kai Lenny and John John Florence, reverses that: a smaller front fin for speed and a larger rear fin for control, more like a twinzer. Quads are 13 of 150 boards in the log.

The traditional quad

The traditional layout puts more area up front, less at the rear. This is the setup most quad boards ship with, and it gives a looser, faster feel than a thruster with a similar amount of total fin area. A regular Firewire quad set, used as the baseline for comparison against newer keel-style options, is described as surfing "fine" with more control in juicier waves because the area is spread into four corners rather than concentrated in a between-fin keel setup.

The reversed, small-front quad

Maui Fin Company's Kai Lenny XXL R2 quads and Futures' John John Florence big-wave quads both flip the traditional layout: a smaller front fin for speed, a larger rear fin for control and hold. As at February and March 2024, the Kai fins cost about USD 225 and the JJF fins about USD 250 (AUD 399.95), making the JJF set the most expensive Futures fin in its range at the time. Compared directly, the Kai quads ran about 7% bigger overall than the JJF quads, with the Kai's front fin more raked back and the JJF's front fin more upright; on the rear fin it reversed, with the Kai more upright and the JJF more raked. A set of NVS Apex Peregrine quads, one of the reviewer's regular favorites, measured about 22% bigger in surface area than the JJF big-wave quads, and a favorite set of thruster fins measured about 13% bigger again.

Where each style earned its keep

Testing across four boards found the reversed-quad style did not suit every board equally:

• A 7'6 semi-gun: the Kai quads felt smooth and fast on a six-foot wave held for more than 100 meters, with enough hold for a rider around 95 kilograms despite the smaller front fin.
• An 8'2 triple-stringer gun: both the Kai and JJF sets were expected to loosen up a board that felt stiff with regular-sized quads, without losing the hold needed in bigger waves.
• A 7'6 step-up (an SJS custom quad fish): the JJF fins felt uncomfortable on the first surf with the rear fins fitted the wrong way around, then came alive on the second and third surfs, producing the fastest wave recorded on that board.
• A wide, short volcanic groveler board (built as a quad, not a twin): both reversed-quad sets were judged too small for the board's width, since that shape wants a bigger front keel and a small rear rather than the flipped, smaller-front layout.

Fitting and orientation matter

Both ranges needed care on installation. The Kai fins needed light sanding to fit a tight single-tab box on first use. Because the Futures cant is built into the fin rather than the box, and the rear fin uses a symmetrical foil on both ranges, it is possible to fit the rear fins the wrong way around without immediately noticing, which changes how the board feels until it is corrected.

Questions people ask

Which is better, a traditional quad or the reversed small-front style?

Neither wins outright. The reversed style suited a semi-gun and a step-up board especially well, giving speed with enough hold for a rider near 95 kilograms. A wide, short groveler board did better with a traditional, bigger-front quad, or even a full keel twin conversion.

Do reversed quad fins work on small boards?

They were judged too small for a very wide, short board built as a groveler. They suited narrower-tailed, bigger boards, semi-guns and step-ups better, where the smaller front fin adds speed without losing control.

How much more expensive are the big-wave quad sets?

At the prices recorded, the John John Florence Futures set (about USD 250) and the Kai Lenny Maui Fin Company set (about USD 225) both cost roughly double a typical mid-range twin fin hybrid keel.

Can I turn a quad board into a twin?

Yes, with the right hybrid keel set back far enough in the box. See do fins make a difference for the measurements behind that conversion.

The two reviews behind this page are Kai Lenny or John John Florence: Which are the Better Quad Fins? and Will Kai Lenny's Fins Change Your Surfing Forever?. For single fins and twin fins, see single fins and twin fin fins. For rider weight guidance across fin types, see fin size and rider weight.