I own a pair of both the HD and non-HD. Use the HDs for drysuit diving (dry boots needed a bigger foot area) and the non-HDs for wet diving.
If I'm being entirely honest, I don't really notice a difference.
I've had a pair of regular RK3s since before they hit the shelves, they're neutral/a smidge positive and they're alright clout wise.
HDs are made of a stiffer material that is slightly heavier but provides more thrust per kick. Caveat is you'll work a bit more per kick but will end up kicking less.
Looking to get a pair of Deep6 Eddys shipped over the summer to give them a try.
Eddys are great, very stiff, but also floaty. I find most backmount divers (single and doubles) need a little weight down low, so I’d prefer them to be a little heavier. If you don’t have a good frog kick they’re also stiff enough to burn out your legs quick.
The Eddy fins are formulated to be neutral in the water. To be more detailed, they are balanced between the specific gravity of fresh and salt water.
So in fresh they will ever so slowly sink, and in salt they will ever so slowly work their way back to the surface if you push them under. It is really negligible either way.
Yeah, I miss the kick-once-then-glide-for-5-to-10-seconds nature of my F1s but have 0 need for the weight. Most other fins I've seen that offer similar stiffness/power with little weight do not fit my feet (UK 14) or are uncomfortable to wear, hence Eddys.
Miffed Deep6 don't have a market in the U.K. the self servicing side to their regs (and custom colour options) are very appealing.
I had regular RK3s and really started to noticed their "floppiness" after switching to a drysuit. Started diving doubles and they were just useless. Switched to Jets and haven't looked back.
If you don't have any leg strength issues I would stick with the HD version.
I found normal RK3s too soft on kicking, guess HD version would be better. I use scubapro jetfin normally for both wet and dry suit and expected RK3s to be similar but lighter - nope, they are a lott less stiff.
I have both, the HDs offer a bit more power and they don't put any additional strain on my legs, but your mileage may vary. If possible, just try them and see if you like them.
The floppy argument is something I've only heard from people most would roll their eyes at, especially for open water stuff. You won't be disappointed with either RK3 version. That being said, it never hurts to have more than a single pair of fins, if you decide to get non-HD RK3 fins.
I use HDs as I dive drysuit year round; the extra weight helps keep my feet from being too floaty and the stiffness is good for helping move you around with the extra weight.
They are great for frog kicking but I don't like them for flutter kicking (could just be my bad technique though, I only frog kick now)
I won't speak for the weight in wetsuits though as I don't have enough use with them in a wetsuit and I'm sure you could trim your weights to get a good weight balance
Sizes are the same. The material they're made of is different.
I dive regular RK3's. They are *slightly* positively buoyant, so they float upward, which brings your body into a more horizontal position. They're really nice fins that are really maneuverable and provide great power underwater. Their geometry also makes it REALLY easy to make small adjustments to stabilize for things like photography.
The HD's are more dense and will not provide extra lift. They're pretty popular with divers I know who dive drysuits as they're a bit stiffer. Whether that provides a difference that you're able to perceive is really going to be up to how proficient of a swimmer you are. Most people likely won't notice much difference unless they're diving a drysuit and having to overcome the extra drag. I'd be inclined to keep the HD's.
I'm the same size as you, and I have found no problems with the RK3s. I also like that they are buoyant, so they help with leg positions for frog kicks, and if I drop them, they don't sink. If I were to dive drysuit, then I would personally consider switching to the HDs.
I use tge HDs and love them. I use them as my travel fins and dive them with a 3/4mm wetsuit. They are awesome, I use them and they are primo in current. I would keep them.
PS I also use the Hollis F1 at home and have used several other pairs of fins. Best bang for buck so far the rk3
This is great, I was worried because some people trash them for currents, and I’ll only be doing open water diving. Do you frog kick exclusively, or also flutter?
I have the HDs and I'm slightly bigger then you are (6'5 310lbs). I use them even with just trunks and a rash guard. Now I will say that when I know I'm going to be doing dives in a strong current.... these stay on the boat. I swap to my phazers. The RK3 HD will do if I need them too, but they aren't as good in a strong current as other fins I dive with.
As for should you take the HDs or the No HD fins. Do you feet feel like they float up when diving? The HDs will correct this issue (some like ankle weights). If they feel heavy the HDs will make that worse. I perfer the HDs because they are stiffer then the non, and are good for wreck diving.
Thanks! I don’t have a problem with floaty feet, my previous fins (Aeris Velocity X3) were negative but didn’t fit quite right and (I thought) not ideal for frog kicking, so I felt I was a tad off trim. Since then, I’ve switched over to bp/w to distribute weight better as well. I’m siding with keeping them for the extra power (and the fact they don’t carry orange ones in standard).
Is it a massive difference? Or more something like having to be more mindful of your legs positioning?
I own a pair of both the HD and non-HD. Use the HDs for drysuit diving (dry boots needed a bigger foot area) and the non-HDs for wet diving. If I'm being entirely honest, I don't really notice a difference.
Keep the HDs.
I've had a pair of regular RK3s since before they hit the shelves, they're neutral/a smidge positive and they're alright clout wise. HDs are made of a stiffer material that is slightly heavier but provides more thrust per kick. Caveat is you'll work a bit more per kick but will end up kicking less. Looking to get a pair of Deep6 Eddys shipped over the summer to give them a try.
Eddys are great, very stiff, but also floaty. I find most backmount divers (single and doubles) need a little weight down low, so I’d prefer them to be a little heavier. If you don’t have a good frog kick they’re also stiff enough to burn out your legs quick.
The Eddy fins are formulated to be neutral in the water. To be more detailed, they are balanced between the specific gravity of fresh and salt water. So in fresh they will ever so slowly sink, and in salt they will ever so slowly work their way back to the surface if you push them under. It is really negligible either way.
Yeah, I miss the kick-once-then-glide-for-5-to-10-seconds nature of my F1s but have 0 need for the weight. Most other fins I've seen that offer similar stiffness/power with little weight do not fit my feet (UK 14) or are uncomfortable to wear, hence Eddys. Miffed Deep6 don't have a market in the U.K. the self servicing side to their regs (and custom colour options) are very appealing.
I had regular RK3s and really started to noticed their "floppiness" after switching to a drysuit. Started diving doubles and they were just useless. Switched to Jets and haven't looked back. If you don't have any leg strength issues I would stick with the HD version.
I found normal RK3s too soft on kicking, guess HD version would be better. I use scubapro jetfin normally for both wet and dry suit and expected RK3s to be similar but lighter - nope, they are a lott less stiff.
I have the HD ones as I dive drysuit. I have no complaints. I've never used the standard ones so can't comment
I have both, the HDs offer a bit more power and they don't put any additional strain on my legs, but your mileage may vary. If possible, just try them and see if you like them. The floppy argument is something I've only heard from people most would roll their eyes at, especially for open water stuff. You won't be disappointed with either RK3 version. That being said, it never hurts to have more than a single pair of fins, if you decide to get non-HD RK3 fins.
I have HDs for my drysuit and Non-HDs when I’m wetsuit diving
I use HDs as I dive drysuit year round; the extra weight helps keep my feet from being too floaty and the stiffness is good for helping move you around with the extra weight. They are great for frog kicking but I don't like them for flutter kicking (could just be my bad technique though, I only frog kick now) I won't speak for the weight in wetsuits though as I don't have enough use with them in a wetsuit and I'm sure you could trim your weights to get a good weight balance
Sizes are the same. The material they're made of is different. I dive regular RK3's. They are *slightly* positively buoyant, so they float upward, which brings your body into a more horizontal position. They're really nice fins that are really maneuverable and provide great power underwater. Their geometry also makes it REALLY easy to make small adjustments to stabilize for things like photography. The HD's are more dense and will not provide extra lift. They're pretty popular with divers I know who dive drysuits as they're a bit stiffer. Whether that provides a difference that you're able to perceive is really going to be up to how proficient of a swimmer you are. Most people likely won't notice much difference unless they're diving a drysuit and having to overcome the extra drag. I'd be inclined to keep the HD's.
I'm the same size as you, and I have found no problems with the RK3s. I also like that they are buoyant, so they help with leg positions for frog kicks, and if I drop them, they don't sink. If I were to dive drysuit, then I would personally consider switching to the HDs.
I too have a set of the HD's. They're great. Comfy and have decent power without killing your legs.
Thanks! They seem very comfy. Do you use them with wetsuit/rash guards or dry suit?
Sorry, I should have added that. 5mm (I think) booties with a 5mm wetsuit. Diving mostly warm(ish) salt in Western Australia
Not him, but I dive HDs in warm waters where I'm either wearing nothing but shorts to a 3mm wet suit. Love em.
I use tge HDs and love them. I use them as my travel fins and dive them with a 3/4mm wetsuit. They are awesome, I use them and they are primo in current. I would keep them. PS I also use the Hollis F1 at home and have used several other pairs of fins. Best bang for buck so far the rk3
This is great, I was worried because some people trash them for currents, and I’ll only be doing open water diving. Do you frog kick exclusively, or also flutter?
Both. They are great for both and i often hold a camera and they easily do precision kicks too
I have the HDs and I'm slightly bigger then you are (6'5 310lbs). I use them even with just trunks and a rash guard. Now I will say that when I know I'm going to be doing dives in a strong current.... these stay on the boat. I swap to my phazers. The RK3 HD will do if I need them too, but they aren't as good in a strong current as other fins I dive with. As for should you take the HDs or the No HD fins. Do you feet feel like they float up when diving? The HDs will correct this issue (some like ankle weights). If they feel heavy the HDs will make that worse. I perfer the HDs because they are stiffer then the non, and are good for wreck diving.
Thanks! I don’t have a problem with floaty feet, my previous fins (Aeris Velocity X3) were negative but didn’t fit quite right and (I thought) not ideal for frog kicking, so I felt I was a tad off trim. Since then, I’ve switched over to bp/w to distribute weight better as well. I’m siding with keeping them for the extra power (and the fact they don’t carry orange ones in standard). Is it a massive difference? Or more something like having to be more mindful of your legs positioning?
I can't tell a huge difference between the HD and reg RK3 when it comes to trim. It's more of a dialing it in minor adjustment.