Dive Equipment Review: Hollis F1 LT Fins

Dive Equipment Review: Hollis F1 LT Fins: Key Specifications

• Vented, hydrodynamic blade
• Multiple strap mounting positions
• Spring heel straps
• Easy-grip heel tab for easier donning and doffing
• Lightweight SEBS construction
• Three sizes available (Regular, XL, and XXL)
• Large foot pockets
• Two high-vis, cave-diving friendly colors available
• Weight: From 3.5 pounds (regular size)
• Best for: Technical divers and/or demanding recreational divers
• Fin Style: Open heel
• Buoyancy: Negative

High-vis Color Options

All too often tech fins come in one color option: jet black. While these might look sleek and fit into the overall tech-diver aesthetic (not that techies care about these things, of course), black fins are hard to spot in a dark, enclosed environment.

To shake things up a bit, and make it far easier to spot your mates underwater, Hollis has released the F1 LT fins in two high-vis color options: white and a glaring sunshine yellow. The third option is a more muted grey that, although not as bright, still offers decent visibility in low-light or silty diving situations.

As an added bonus, you’ll have no trouble spotting your yellow F1 LT fins at the back of the dive boat. In fact, your fellow divers might have to put on their sunglasses.

Lighter Than F1s

Hollis’ F1 fins proved popular and divers across the world were singing their new fins’ praises. But one common complaint was the weight. We’ll preface this by saying that tech fins are often heavy, that’s a standard feature and it allows divers to compensate for increased buoyancy when diving in a drysuit. But the F1s were heavier than many other comparable options.

To solve this admittedly minor dilemma, Hollis introduced the F1 LTs in 2018 or thereabouts. Crafted from a “lightweight” SEBS material (or styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene for compound experts) the lighter version of the F1 fins dropped some of the weight, making the F1 LTs more travel friendly.

Comfort and Donning and Doffing

If you’re wearing a heavy rig, you really don’t want to struggle to get your fins on. The F1 LTs are quite easy to get on and off thanks to the generously sized foot pocket and the tab on the spring strap.

In the water, that same roomy foot pocket means the fins are comfortable and happily accommodate both wetsuit boots and drysuit boots.

Hollis’ After Sales and Servicing Support

Hollis has an excellent reputation for after-sales support. If you need help, or in the extremely unlikely event something goes wrong with your F1 LT fins, get in touch with the company via their website or drop them a line on social media, they are generally quite responsive.

In terms of ongoing maintenance, after each dive rinse your fins in fresh water and store them in the shade. The spring straps have a shorter lifespan than the blades themselves, so you may need replacement straps in a few years depending on how rough and tough you’ve been.

Buy These Fins If:

You love your Hollis F1 fins but you want to ditch a little weight, or you’re looking for a comfortable pair of tech fins that also suit demanding recreational diving.

Do you dive Hollis or have experience with the company’s fins? Let us know your thoughts on the F1 LT Fins in the comment section below.

See the complete list of the best Scuba Fins here!