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Cressi Gara 3000 Ld sizing question

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C

Civilizeddog

Active Member
Mar 16, 2011
6
0
36
Hi there,
I'm new to this site/forum and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for sizing fins on a 9.5-10 foot? I am going to be free diving in Jamaica in a month and have decided on a pair or Cressi Gara 3000 LD as my dive fins (after reading countless rave reviews). I am most comfortable in a 9.5 street shoe but can manage a 10 with a little extra room in the toes. This will be my first pair of long fins and I need a little guidance on the sizing aspect for proper fit. I am 32, athletic and run marathons so I am not too worried about my legs tiring out early but one never knows and I've read that these fins are a little more forgiving than most stiff blades. Unfortunatly, no stores in my area carry these for me to try on so I am going to roll the dice and buy a pair online. I'm hoping some of you out there have experience with these fins and can help guide me in the right direction. Thanks!!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Great choice for your first freediving fins. My Gara 3000LD's have been dragged all over the place, subject to all sorts of abuse - and are still going strong. I love them.

I take a UK shoe size 8 (which is approximately US size 8.5 to 9), so bought the fins in size 42/43. First time I wore them was with bare feet, and they seemed just a little bit too big. So I bought a pair of 2mm neoprene socks and the fins fitted perfectly - with the added bonus my feet stay nice and warm.

Since your shoe size is a bit bigger than mine, I reckon you might find the size 42/43 rather too snug. I'd go for the 44/45 plus possibly a pair of thin neoprene socks.

Enjoy Jamaica!
 
I think the 44-45 will be way too large for you. I wear a US size 9.5 street shoe and I use the size 40-41 (7-8) without socks. Even with socks, I can't imagine you'd need larger than a 42-43.
 
This is all great feedback. One other question I have is, should there be any room in the toebox or should the fins be tight all around? My first guess is that they should be tight to prevent slipping, also assuming that longer fins create greater thrust and thus a need for a more secure hold on the foot. Thanks again!

-Sean
 
Welcome to the Forum

I use the cressi gara's. Great fins but the foot pockets are narrow
( compared to seatec,omer) worth taking into consideration when buying a pair. Will you be wearing socks with the fins?
 
Narrow foot pockets may be a bit of a blessing as I have somewhat narrow feet. I had planned on diving without socks but if I do need to buy a pair to make up for a little extra space then so be it, thanks for the response!
 
I think NYSPEAR has the right size(7-8) for 9.5 foot, thats what I will get if I ever get another pair
 
scottwilson said:
Welcome to the Forum

I use the cressi gara's. Great fins but the foot pockets are narrow
( compared to seatec,omer) worth taking into consideration when buying a pair. Will you be wearing socks with the fins?
Click to expand...

I have wide feet and bought the 3000ld's 2 sizes too big for me so I could use them with socks.... they only barely fit me barefoot... Like scott says veryyyy narrow. But lovely fin. I wear them in the summer, then move to the mares razor with socks during winter.
 
Thanks for all of the good tips and advice. Since I'd prefer to swim sockless I'm going with the 7-8, even found them online for $80.00! I appreciate everyones input, thanks again!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Got my fins today, 7-8, and they fit great so far. Very snug yet comfortable dry and I hope they feel the same in the water. There was an "ask the pro" link on the sight where I bought my fins, the pro recommended 8-9 but I'm glad I went with 7-8 like suggested here cause they feel just right. Can't wait to get them in the ocean!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Following on from the OP.....

I recently brought some 3000LDs. I am on the left foot a UK 10.5 (US11/EU45) and right foot UK 10 (US10.5/EU44.5). I tried on the EU46/47 and this would slip off my heal easily with bare feet and with a reasonable amount of force with 3mm socks.

The shop assistant recommended going with the EU44/45 which were slightly tight. I have above average width feet, not excessive but slightly noticeable in the past with ski boots and snowboard boots.

I duly paid for them. I sat at home watching television with them on, just to see how they felt and after about 30 minutes my feet became quite sore where my feet are at their widest (sides of the ball of the foot).

My question is, is there anything that can be done to stretch the foot pocket so that they are more comfortable? I'm loothed to have to lose money selling them on when they've not even been used and equally there is no way of knowing whether the next set of fins will equally be fine in the shop but then give problems with normal usage.

P.S. The shop where I brought them from will not accept exchanges or returns.

I look forward to your advise with interest.

Kind regards
 
fins in the water will feel very different to how they feel watching TV! They will feel far more comfortable in the water.
 
The foot pockets will also flex in the water and will give a little the more you wear them.
 
Thanks guys.

I really hope so, I tried a pair of Cressi Professional LDs (same size) in the sea and they cut the circulation off around the entrance of the foot pocket. Left a great big mark across my foot where on one side of my foot it was bright red and on the inside of the pocket it white.

Changed them for the 3000LDs which is why I can't change again. SHop said that these had a much softer foot pocket rather than the thick rubber band around the entrance of the foot pocket on the Pros.

Will try them in the pool next week and hope that they stretch a bit. At the moment after 30 mins its pretty uncomfortable where the rail meets the foot pocket. Has anyone heard of gently heating the foot pockets and shaping them with something?
 

Thing about the cressi ld's you have is that while the rubber may be softer there is no escaping the fact that Cressi are just a narrow fit.

I'm a size 11 and I have pro ld in size 13... too long for me but is a good fit widthwise and the soft rubber is very comfy! I wear these in summer.

For normal use I have a mares razor pro in a size 11 and I wear this with 4mm socks and it fits nice and is comfy. The rubber is thin and hard and therefore has not got as good power distribution as the cressi.... but we live with that!

Size up if you can... otherwize... ebay them and buy a mares or Ormer (wide pocket)
 
Thanks BobDonny.

Just spent 3 hours in the pool with the 3000LDs. With 3mm socks on they were stsrting to impede circulation after about 45 minutes. I took the socks off and they seemed to fit pretty well. Circulation was restored but still as BobDonny says a pretty narrow width.

Definitely more comfortable than the comparable sized Gara Profession LDs, which felt fine in the sho but were a killer after 30mins use.

Anyway hopefully with some use and me getting used to them they shoudl be a reasonable fit. Hope this is of use to someone when considering the Professional or the 3000 LDs.
 
Cressi gara 3000 LD or pro LD? performance wise, especially which ones do you need to put the least effort into and reduce the risk of getting muscle pains
 
Thanks to this thread I have just ordered and received the right size of gara 3000 LD for me. Cheers lads.
 
Hi all,
can anyone give a comparison between the Gara 3000 LD's and the green Gara Modular LD's?
Apart from being able to change the blade, is the FP sizing different?
Are they comparable as far as flexibility goes?
Looking forward to some answers as I have them both on my shortlist.
Cheers
 
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