Chronicles of a Gear Whore; the first step is admitting you have a problem...

Quote from oto

this is one disturbing thread, wow. I thought I had a problem with gear, I have 4 spearguns <img src= " class="smiley" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x" height="23" width="23" loading="eager" data-tooltip="biggrin" aria-label="biggrin">

I gotta agree with Dan's way of thinking, I try a lot but once I find what works I stick to it pretty well. been using the same RA gun for 4 years

To reference what I wrote earlier - "I've found what I like, but still enjoy testing new stuff."

Like you, I have my go-to spearguns that I enjoy using and feel comfortable with. The testing new stuff is just that - playing with new spearguns to see what each manufacturer brings to the table. I'm intrigued by the physics of speargun design and how it correlates to the balance between form & function. So it's basically just a hobby of mine.

I've thought about it from many angles and I can't see myself going under 12 guns. If I dove in primarily one place, THEN I could see perhaps limiting it to 3 or 4.

I spend most of my diving time in norcal, socal, baja, and hawaii... all 4 of those have very different conditions. They require different thickness suits from rashguards to 7mm. Different terrains, average depths, and conditions. Different fish species, sizes, strengths, & fighting styles. A few competitions a year, some new locations, & the odd freshwater dive... and I quickly fill out the 12 speargun roster. That's with meticulous planning and spacing of gun sizes with no real compromises.

There are a lot of multi-tasker guns that could take the place of two others. Or I could just have larger gaps between different sizes. However, I've always felt if I can afford it, I should get what makes me feel 100% comfortable wth my gear. I'm not the deep-diving globe-trottng machine that G.R. is... I'm just a humble mediocre diver who spends a lot of time preparing my gear to make the best of my limitted diving abilities.

Quote from red tide

Unlike many speros I can and do shoot mid handle, rear handle, euro, wood, free shaft and line shaft guns depending on where I am diving and who I am diving with.

I've been thinking about this quote as I found it very interesting.

When I first started accumulating spearguns, switching between rear & mid-handles was awkward. Aiming between several different gun styles, models, & configurations seemed so foreign & pool testing proved it with inconsistent results. After time, the opposite became true - as you said, I got used to using any speargun. The learning curve was very quick and I could pick up a gun I've never shot before and instantly know how it should shoot. It's a cool side-effect of being a gear whore.

I will openly admit that I've never freeshafted a speargun in my life... well, at least not on purpose. <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">

Quote from monster slayer

Harold, could you please write a detailed review of each one for us .. <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">

I actually have kept some notes, even of guns I've already sold. Figured one of these days, I would consolidate them into a comprehensive review. Who knows when I'll actually finish it.

Quote from attan

for what type of fish do you use the big blue gun in the middle?

Sea Sniper custom - with the carbon side tubes & 11/32" shaft, it's almost perfectly neutral in the water. I've shot a bunch of stuff with it from YFT to small Huachinangos (Mexican red snapper). Designed for tuna, it was definitely meant for punching through bigger game. I used it for lighter bluewater like Wahoo and it was way overkill,... but being overgunned is better than undergunned.

Not a gun that will get used very much, but pretty to look at.

Quote from Marco

No matter how many expalnations you have. There are TOO many guns on those pictures...

No arguments - you're absolutely right. I've been beyond a justifiable amount for years. <img src= " class="smiley" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x" height="23" width="23" loading="eager" data-tooltip="biggrin" aria-label="biggrin">

Quote from ladvr

Harold,
Do you have a weight on your floatine? Just curious.

Nope, the front 10' of the floatline is an integrated bungee which is slightly negative, so most of the time while on the surface, there's a small loop hanging about 3-4ft down. From the angle in the pic, looks like I had just come up from a dive so the loop is exaggerated as the floatline slowly pulls the other end of the bungee up.

Great eye - I never would've noticed that.

Quote from John Hanson

Like G.R. I have now have a wetsuit problem... I think I have more wetsuits than guns. By the way great pics of the new Spetton. I love mine! Now if I could just get in the water on a regular basis to use it...:(

I was wondering where you were! Surprised it took you this long to participate in this thread... welcome home fellow gear whore.

Dude... when the new Spettons came out last year, I decided to get 3 - the 8oz lycra, 1.5mm, 2.5mm. That way I can mix different thicknesses when traveling & still be coordinated.

I got the suits in... and found out I wasn't a size Large. Since I ordered them special, I felt obligated to keep them, but went ahead and ordered the set in Medium as well. Nevermind the fact that I never even needed any of the suits to begin with. <img src= " class="smiley" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x" height="23" width="23" loading="eager" data-tooltip="biggrin" aria-label="biggrin">

Anyone need a szL 1.5mm Spetton suit? <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">