Cressi 3000LD sizing?

[Ron S]

I'm thinking about buying my first pair of long blade fins, the gara3000LD's, and am not sure what size to buy. I wear a size 9 (US) shoe, and plan to use a 3mm or even 5mm sock here in chilly NorCAl. The fins are listed in size as 8/9 or 10/11. I'm not sure which to order and unfortunately, no shops near me carry these fins, so I have no way to try them on. Anybody know how these fins are sized, (do they run a bit small or a bit large)?
Thanks,
Ron.

 

[jimdoe2you]

I'm a big Cressi fin fan. Mainly because they are what I consider a warm water fin and I happen to live in south Florida.

The Cressi footpocket is in my opinion made for the bare foot. It fits perfectly and is incredibly comfortable. I have spent many, many hours in them without any foot fatigue. It does run a bit large, as I wear a size 10 to 10.5 shoe but the size 8/9 footpockets fit me perfectly. If you plan on using a 3mm sock and wear a size 9 shoe, I feel the size 8/9 footpocket will work great for you.

Jim

 

[Ron S]

Perfect! That's exactly what I needed to hear because I know that some fins, as well as many shoes, can run large or small for a given size and when you're on the edge, like in this case with a size 9, it can be tough without knowing. Thanks!!
Ron.

 

[surfinsd]

FWIW my Gara 2000HFs ran a little tiny bit big.

 

[Blesum]

I run Cressi Rondi Lights (short blades), size 45 (10/11) and they fit my feet perfectly. Hours and hours of use. I think I spent over 5 hours total in the water yesterday. I tried SurfinSD's Cressi Gara 2000HF's yesterday which are also size 45's and they were loose on me - So loose that I asked to swap them back in less than fifteen minutes because my feet were moving too much in the foot pockets and I was losing power. This was with 3mm socks. I normally wear size 9.5 shoes.

Suggest going with the 8/9 especially if they're the Garas.

-Blesum

 

[Ron S]

Hey thanks guys. I tried a friend's pair of 2000's in the 10-11 with 3 mil socks and they were way too big. I've ordered the 3000LD's in 8-9. Should have them in a couple days.
Ron.

 

[Blesum]

Let us know how you like 'em. I'm very interested in these fins as well.

-Blesum

 

[podge]

I use a pair of Cressi 3000LD fins and I must say there great, I’m a size 10 shoe but I’ve got a wide foot bought the size 10/11 and they fit me fine with no sock but are a touch tight with a 3mm sock.
Happy finning
Paul

 

[Mr. X]

I use a pair of Cressi 3000LD fins and I must say there great, I’m a size 10 shoe but I’ve got a wide foot bought the size 10/11 and they fit me fine with no sock but are a touch tight with a 3mm sock.

Useful info. It seems Brits often have wide feet with stubby toes (several climbing companies ship only wider shoes to the UK, as fit is critical). For folk with narrower feet, length is often the main factor -- but with open-toed fins, width is probably going to be the critical factor.

[My feet consistently measure UK 9.5 length but I always need UK size 10 for width = USA size 11/11.5. However, for La Sportiva boots & Nike shoes, which are particularly narrow, USA 12/12.5.]

I am currently using 3 sets of fins, all with & without socks:

• Old English fins UK 10-11 fit great with socks, slightly loose w/o (they were bought with socks in mind),
• size 45-46 speedo fins perfect foot fit, bit tight for socks,
• BeuchatCompetition fins 46-47 (I think, will check) - great with & without socks.

So for fins, I figure I need to look for around UK 10.5 / Eu 46+ (for climbing slippers, EU 45 - painful in hot weather). i.e. a half size more than regular shoe size. Might be a useful rule of thumb.]

 

[Mr. X]

BTW was surprised out how well my fins work both with & w/o socks. I think water temperature might be the reason, as I find temperature affects the size of my feet. i.e.

warm pool->big feet ->good fit w/o socks
warm sea->big feet ->good fit w/o socks
cold sea->small feet->good fit with socks​

 

[podge]

Thanks Mr.X
I’ll try that warm pool cold sea bit later in the year and let you know if my feet shrink.
Would be nice if they did as didn’t really want to buy a set of fins for the winter as well as the summer.

 

[Ron S]

Well guys my fins should arrive tommorrow and I was planning to try them out in the local lake on Friday, but now they're forecasting snow here on Friday, so we'll see. I'll post my impressions if I make it into the water. Thanks again for all the help.
Ron.

 

[Mr. X]

...they're forecasting snow here on Friday, so we'll see. ...

Snow in September?! Oh man that's tough. It really struck home that Summer is over this week -- it's been a good Summer and a shame to see it end. I justed checked where you are from -- California & Sept. snow and all: L. Tahoe area. A friend has a holiday home there ... for skiing, so he'll have a good time. (Will you spear in the Lake or the Pacific?).

 

[Ron S]

Mr. X, it's illegal to spear in the lakes up here. I only spear in the ocean, but I do a lot of diving in the lakes because they're so clear. I went for an ATV ride into the high country today and it was incredible. It was very warm, but you could feel a change in the air. That's the unique thing about our region. We've actually had snow every month of the year, (not the same year). It can be 85 degrees one day, and 30 degrees and snowing the next.
The fins arrived today. They look very well made and appear to be sized so that they should fit well with a 3mm sock. I'm planning to hit the lake Thursday and see how they do.
Ron.

 

[spriggan]

Hi ron I also ordered the cressi 3000LD's and can't wait to try them out. They should be arriving tomorrow. CaN't wAit!

 

[Ron S]

Well inspite of the incoming storm, I just had to try the fins. I found a dive shop in Auburn, (1.5 hour drive away) that sells neoprene socks, but not long blade fins. I blasted down, bought some 3mm socks, and blasted home. I couldn't get my foot all the way into the pocket with the sock on, so I hit the inside of the pocket with a little "food grade silicone spray", and slipped right on, although just a tad bit snug. It was windy and fairly choppy at the lake, but in I went anyway. As soon as I slipped the fins on and stood on the bottom, they slipped off. Turned out to be just a bit too much silicone. Once it was rinsed out, the fins slipped on easily and stayed on. I'll buy fin keepers for insurance sake.
Now, for the swimmin' part...NICE! The only other long fins I've tried were the new black, stiffer Gara 2000's I borrowed last weekend from a friend. The 3000LD's are noticeably softer, which, (at least for me), means much easier to surface swim with, but still amazing on the drops. Very comfortable, easy to swim with, and, in my opinion, a huge advancement over any scuba fin I've used, and I've used lots.
My only critisism of Cressi fins is this: I'm a solid size nine, and with 3mm socks, (or even 5mm socks), the size 10-11 is too big. With the 3mm sock, the 8-9 is nearly too small. They need to make a size 9-10 for me!!!
Ron.

 

[jimdoe2you]

Wow, for what you spent in gas you could have bought some online and had them overnighted to you. Remember that with depth, the socks compress and the fins become not so snug. The fin keepers come into play for this reason.

 

[ROBERT REYES]

The omer size 40-42, up to 9.5 shoe size its usually the case. The 42-44 is really 10-11, and the 44-46 is
11-12. The 46-48 fits 12-14's.

 

[Ron S]

Yeah, I know, it doesn't make much sense to drive all that way but hey, I wanted to try the fins NOW! In my defense, my little rollerskate car gets 36mpg highway...My concern was that if I had to exchange the fins for a larger size, I wanted to do it sooner, rather than later. I think they'll work out fine though.

 

[BatRay]

I'm looking at a pair of Gara 3000LD fins, but I'm also not sure what size I should order. My present fins are Sporasub H Dessault 38-40's, but they are too small, so the Cressi 40-41 or 42's should do the job. However, I dive in cold California waters and use a thick sock. Which size would probably be best?