Apeks RK3 Diving Features
I love channel fins, and I love other Apeks equipment, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on the RK3 fins. Most of the other channel fins on the market are negative and heavy, so trying a neutrally buoyant channel fin was a new experience.
During my pool testing, I found that the RK3 fins performed exceptionally well. They are some of the most comfortable fins, channel or otherwise, that I have ever used. They’re great at both frog and flutter kicking and built with a wider design, so I could see myself using them wreck diving in warmer water while wearing a wetsuit.
I haven’t tried them in a drysuit yet, so I can’t comment how the neutral buoyancy would affect my diving in colder conditions where I would be wearing a more buoyant exposure suit. However, my testing up to date doesn’t show that I would have any issues.
Speaking of drysuit diving, I personally love that the foot pocket is a little wider, meaning I won’t need to switch fins while wearing rock boots. It does take some getting used to in simple neoprene boots, but once I got used to it, the fins felt great.
Apeks RK3 Straps
The Apeks RK3 fins have a stainless steel heel strap with a rubber notch to make donning and doffing easier. The straps are rugged and will last a long time, but the straps are easily replaceable with a push pin design, meaning you won’t need a bunch of extra tools. The buckle, or the piece that attaches to the fin, is designed to place the strap in the most optimal position.
The straps can accommodate both neoprene boots as well as drysuit rock boots.
Apeks RK3 Blade
The blades on the Apeks RK3 fins are neutrally buoyant and lightweight,* meaning they are a great fin for divers who want a channel fin but primarily dive in warm waters where exposure suits are less buoyant. This means you wouldn’t need—or miss—the extra fin weight to offset the extra buoyancy in a drysuit.
Being a channel fin, the RK3s are shorter** than the typical paddle-style fin, but they are wider, giving them as much surface area as other types of fins. This wide design is perfect for divers who prefer to frog kick and for those who find themselves diving in and around wrecks or into swim-throughs, where they need to generate power with smaller kicks.
*Weight: S: not specified by manufacturer; M: 2.2 lbs. (1 kg); L: 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kg); Super: 2.8 lbs. (1.3 kg); all weights per fin
**Length: S: not specified by manufacturer, M: 19.3 in. (49 cm), L: 21.46 in. (55 cm), Super: 22.4 in. (57 cm)
Apeks RK3 Colors & Accessories
The Apeks RK3 fins come in four colors: black, pink, yellow, white, and dark gray. There are other colors, but those are offered in the RK3 HD version.
Apeks is leading the way in environmentally friendly equipment. The company has even figured out a way to make an environmentally responsible regulator, which we found quite innovative. The Apeks Ocea is one of our highest rated regulators and one of our top regulator picks overall.
Apeks also manufactures great masks, and one of the highest-rated on the market is the VX1.
Apeks RK3 Price/Quality Ratio
As far as channel fins go, the RK3s are relatively inexpensive. They fall right in the middle on the overall price scale for fins. You definitely get what you pay for —and then some—with the RK3 fins. One of the great financial benefits of owning a pair of RK3s is that, thanks to the wide food pocket, you can wear them with both wetsuit boots and drysuit rock boots, meaning you don’t need separate fins.
Do we recommend the Apeks RK3 fins?
We do recommend the Apeks RK3 fins. They are some of the best channel fins on the market. They support both flutter and frog kicks and, with the wide foot pocket, they can be used with both neoprene boots and drysuit rock boots. They are neutrally buoyant, meaning they are perfect for divers that want a fin that can be used with any exposure suit, from skins all the way to drysuits.
These fins have made a huge impression since hitting the market. Many divers who used to choose other channel fins have made the switch due to the RK3 fins’ versatility.
No matter what you’re looking for, check out our comprehensive fin guide and our rigorous fin test on YouTube, where we put all manner of channel, paddle, and split fins through their paces.
Specs & Features
| Fin type | open heel |
|---|---|
| Blade style | channel |
| Material | thermoplastic Rubber |
| Weight | 2.6 pounds per fin (1.2 kg) size large |
| Length | 21.46 inches (55 cm) size large |
| Sizes | small, medium, large, super |
| Strap style | spring strap |
| Number of colors | five |
