Photo: Futures Fins R6 Blackstix product page

Futures

Futures · Medium rake thruster fin set

Futures R6 Blackstix Review

8.9/ 10 Estimated score

8.9

Estimated from 1 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$160Range $160–$160 across 1 retailersSee sources

The R6 Blackstix is Futures' medium rake-template thruster, built with a carbon and fibreglass matrix and specialised epoxy resin, and fitted with the V2 inside foil that Futures says generates and maintains speed through turns.

View on Futures Fins

Quick specs

Configuration: Thruster set
Size: Medium (125–175 lbs)
Template category: Rake — drawn out, drive
Construction: Blackstix carbon and fibreglass matrix
Foil: V2 (side fins), SYMM centre fin
Ride number: Speed generating — 8.9

Futures classifies the R6 in its Rake template category, described as drawn out with drive. Rake pushes the fin's tip back relative to the base, so the turning arc lengthens and the fin holds through the middle of a carve.

The Blackstix construction is a precision carbon and fibreglass matrix combined with a specialised epoxy resin, which Futures says produces a very lightweight fin with strong response and a livelier board feel.

Measured dimensions are published: 15.10 square inches of area, 4.56 inch height and base, 6.5 degrees of angle on the sides, and a V2 inside foil with a symmetric centre fin. Futures rates the ride number as speed generating, 8.9 on its own scale.

Pros & cons

V2 inside foil is designed to generate and hold speed rather than just provide hold
Rake template draws long, drivey turns — well matched to open-face and point-break waves
Carbon and fibreglass matrix keeps the set light and lively underfoot
Futures publishes full measured dimensions (area, height, base, angle) for the set

USD 160.00 places it at the premium end of the thruster market
Medium size only covers 125–175 lbs, so lighter and heavier surfers need the R4 or R8
A drawn-out rake template feels less pivotal than a shorter-base fin in tight, hollow pockets
Only one published customer review on the official listing, so independent numeric scores are thin

How it surfs

The V2 foil is the reason this set behaves differently from a flat-foiled fin. A concave inside face accelerates water over the fin, which is why Futures frames the R6 around speed generation rather than raw hold.

Wave type matters here. Futures suggests open face and point-break conditions, and that lines up with the template: long walls reward a rake fin that keeps driving between turns, while a short, punchy beach break usually suits a pivot template better.

One customer review on the official listing reports switching from the Blackstix EA to this family and rating them highly, but a single review is not a substitute for a scored independent test — which is why the aggregate below is estimated from published specification and ride data rather than a set of numeric verdicts.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
R4 Blackstix	Rake template	Smaller riders	Sibling size below the R6
R6 Blackstix	Rake template	125–175 lbs	The set covered here
R8 Blackstix	Rake template	Large	Heavier surfers, listed at USD 160

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Futures P6 Alpha	Tight pivot turns	Medium thruster	8.8
Futures AM2 Techflex	All-round drive	Everyday shortboard	8.9
Futures F8 Legacy	Neutral large template	Thruster and quad	8.8

Recommended fin setups

R6 Blackstix thruster — Medium rake set, V2 side foil with a symmetric centre fin
R-series siblings — Futures lists the R4 and R8 in the same rake family for lighter and heavier surfers

Verdict

A premium, speed-focused rake thruster. Futures' own ride data puts the R6 at the speed-generating end of its scale, and the drawn-out template suits point-breaks and open faces more than tight beach-break pockets.

Estimated score: 8.9 / 10

Estimated from 1 independent sources — see full list below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

8.9/ 10

8.9

1 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Futures Fins official product page	No numeric score	"Blackstix fins feature a V2 inside foil that generates and maintains speed throughout turns; precision carbon and fibreglass matrix with specialised epoxy resin provides a very lightweight fin with incredible response. Rake template, medium (125–175 lbs), ride number 8.9."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

$160

$160–$160 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Futures Fins	$160	—	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What is the Futures R6 Blackstix?+

It is a medium thruster fin set in the Futures rake template category, built in Blackstix carbon and fibreglass construction with a V2 inside foil.

What rider weight is the R6 for?+

Futures lists the medium size for surfers between 125 and 175 lbs.

How much does the R6 Blackstix cost?+

The Futures Fins store lists the set at USD 160.00.

What are the R6 Blackstix dimensions?+

Futures publishes 15.10 square inches of area, 4.56 inch height, 4.56 inch base and a 6.5 degree angle on the side fins, with a symmetric centre fin.

What waves suit the R6?+

Futures suggests open face and point-break waves, which suit the drawn-out, drive-focused rake template.

R6 Blackstix or P6 Alpha?+

The R6 is a rake template for long, drivey turns on open faces. The P6 Alpha is a pivot template built for tighter, quicker turns and costs less at USD 65.00.