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£150.00 GBP
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£150.00 GBP
Regular price
£162.00
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Apeks
Apeks RK3 HD Fins
Apeks RK3 HD fins
The HD is the RK3 with the softness taken out. Same shape, same oversized foot pocket, same spring straps, but moulded in a stiffer polymer so each kick moves more water. If you have dived the standard RK3 and wished it pushed harder, this is the answer.
Stiffer is not automatically better. More power per kick means more load on your legs, and divers who are not used to it feel it in the first twenty minutes. The trade is real: you go further with fewer, shorter strokes, at the cost of more effort in each one.
It was developed with public service and commercial dive teams, which shows in the build. Solid moulded rubber, no hinges, nothing that fails at depth, and one of the toughest options in our scuba fins range.
On this page
- Stiffer polymer for increased power per kick
- Solid moulded rubber, no hinges or weak points
- Compact vented blade design
- Oversized foot pocket for drysuit boots
- Spring straps fitted as standard
- Two large hanging loops for storage
- Developed with public service and commercial dive teams
Stiffer fins ask more of your legs
If you are coming from soft plastic fins, the HD will feel like hard work for the first few dives. That settles. But if you have any history of cramp or knee trouble, the standard RK3 is the kinder choice and we will say so.
Why divers choose the RK3 HD
More thrust when you actually need it
Punching into a current, towing a casualty, or moving a heavy twinset rig. These are the situations where a soft fin runs out of authority and a stiff one does not. That is precisely the brief the HD was built to.
Shorter strokes cover more ground
More water moved per kick means fewer kicks for the same distance, which saves gas as well as time. Over a long dive that efficiency compounds even though each individual kick costs more.
Nothing on them can fail
Solid rubber with no hinges, no plastic buckles, no moving parts. It is why these are standard issue for military, coast guard and public safety divers worldwide, who do not get to abort because a fin strap broke.
The hanging loops are a small mercy
Two large loops mean they hang on pegs to dry and store flat rather than sprawling across a garage floor. A trivial feature that you use every single time.
Features that matter underwater
Stronger polymer construction
The material is the entire difference between HD and standard. Stiffer blade, more propulsion, more load on the diver. Everything else about the fin is shared.
Compact vented blade
Vents reduce resistance on the upstroke and the short blade keeps you manoeuvrable in confined spaces. Back-finning and helicopter turns work as well here as on the standard RK3.
Oversized foot pocket
Fits drysuit boots properly, including bulky technical boots. This is the reason both RK3 variants dominate UK cold water diving.
Spring straps as standard
Fixed tension, nothing to adjust or break, and fast to get on and off in thick gloves.
Heavy, and not a travel fin
Solid rubber plus a stiffer compound makes these among the heavier fins available. They pack small but they will eat a chunk of your baggage allowance. For flying, take something lighter.
HD or standard RK3
The standard RK3 is softer, easier on the legs, and the better choice for most recreational divers and for anyone doing long, relaxed dives. The HD is for divers who need more power and have the leg strength to use it.
In practice we sell the HD to technical divers, instructors working in current, and anyone moving a lot of kit. We sell the standard RK3 to everyone else, including plenty of very experienced divers who simply prefer the lower effort.
Who the RK3 HD is for
- Technical divers moving twinsets, stages and heavy rigs
- Divers working in current or on drift dives
- Instructors and professionals who need reserve power
- Strong finners who find standard fins lacking authority
- Anyone who wants the most durable fin available
Who it may not be for: divers prone to cramp, anyone with knee or hip issues, and travelling divers. In all three cases the standard RK3 or a lighter plastic fin is the better call, and there is no prize for diving a stiffer fin than you need.
Specifications
| Product | Apeks RK3 HD fins |
|---|---|
| Material | Solid moulded rubber, stiffer polymer than the standard RK3 |
| Blade | Compact, vented |
| Foot pocket | Oversized, sized for drysuit boots |
| Straps | Spring straps, fitted as standard |
| Storage | Two large hanging loops |
| Buoyancy | Negative |
| Options | Colour and size |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Apeks RK3 and the RK3 HD?
The HD uses a stiffer polymer, so each kick moves more water and delivers more propulsion. The shape, foot pocket and spring straps are the same. The HD asks more of your legs in exchange for more power.
Are the RK3 HD fins too stiff for recreational diving?
For many divers, yes. If you are doing relaxed recreational dives, the standard RK3 is less tiring and just as capable. Buy the HD if you dive in current, move heavy kit, or want reserve power.
Do RK3 HD fins fit over drysuit boots?
Yes. The oversized foot pocket is designed for drysuit boots, including bulkier technical boots.
What size RK3 HD should I buy?
Sizing follows your boot rather than your shoe size, in Medium, Large and Super. Try them with the boots you actually dive, because a chart will not get this right.
Are the RK3 HD fins suitable for travel?
They pack small but they are heavy, so they are a poor use of a flight baggage allowance. For travel, take a lighter plastic fin.
Comparing fins? See the full Apeks range to weigh the RK3 HD against the standard RK3.