Speardiver weight vest

    I'm considering adding this weight vest to the Speardiver line. A weight vest is for cold water divers who use thick wetsuits and require more weight and better weight distribution than what only a weight belt can afford. Better weight distribution may also be required when diving very shallow. It is not meant to replace the weight belt but rather be used in conjunction with it. About two thirds of the weight should go on the belt so that in the event you drop the belt there will be sufficient increase in buoyancy to allow an easy ascent and positive buoyancy at a predetermined safe depth.


    The neoprene vest contains 6 compartments that can hold up to 2lb of lead each, for a total of 12lb, in standard weight belt weights or lead shot pouches. The compartments have a velcro closure on the inside of the vest. The green camo jersey matches the Pursuit green camo wetsuits. The vest has a quick release plastic buckle in the front with an adjustable strap. It has a D ring in the lower back to connect the vest to the belt if necessary to stop it from riding down when inverting for a dive.


    EDIT - The Speardiver weight vests are now available $60. They can also be purchased here diving weight vest


    Black vest.






    Green camo vest.





    i like it a lot Dan, I would love to test it for you, even doing pool testing...I say that because I have been doing laps lately in a 10lb weighted vest meant for jogging and I'd love to compare it to something meant for diving.


    btw surface swimming in a vest adds strain to your lower back but also strengthens it, hence my laps.

    i like to spear fish

    Straining your lower back is not going to strengthen it. Proper stretching and correct range of motion will. I have a terrible lower back from years of moto and a skateboarding accident that fractured a vertebrae.


    Lower back is what keeps ya upright,take care of it!!:thumbsup1:

    that is fine Dan, I was more suggesting it as a last resort.



    Mariner, I completely agree... I was very poor in my communication and you zeroed right in on it ;)


    I meant it focuses the workout on your lower back...I have found myself allowing my gut to sag and straining
    (correct use) my lower back a lot...so now I'm doing a lot of core work and this is the best lower back work out I have found yet.


    thanks and sorry for the poor communication

    i like to spear fish

    I like this.


    I am in the constant struggle of my belt sliding up toward my chest when diving. Also diving a full day up and down with 12 lbs and a 3mm suit will cause your spine to hurt alot.


    A solution would be to tighten the belt to the next notch but then when its too tight at affects my breathing and diaphragm. Good thing summer is around the corner and I can go back to using 7lbs. I just need to find my rashguard now;)

    Dan,
    I've been diving with the Spetton vest for the last year. Once you get the trim figured out , the vest is indispensable. IMO. I just order two more from Spain. Not Spetton. The ones I order have pockets on the front of the shoulder straps as well as the back. I like this feature if I need to dump weight in the water. I don't have to remove the vest. If you want me to do a product comparison for you I will be more then glad to take some pics of the three different models and do a test drive.


    Mike

    Alan, what would solve your problem of the belt riding up is a good rubber belt, not the RA as it has hardly any stretch. If that wasn't enough for those of us using uncoated pinch weights, putting a strip of Herculiner or rubber on the side of the weights that goes against the body will seal the deal.

    Dan, I would like to use the vest, and report feedback here along with mike. This vest could be just what I need when while hunting with my fart gun, as it is very light in the water.


    After the test I would gladly purchase it from you, I looked at a Mares vest last week but like the shape
    of yours better.
    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

    looking forward to the reviews...I have a lot of faith that vests, done right, are superior...I hate that feeling of ache from having your belt on your lower back all day.

    i like to spear fish

    Received the wt vest from Dan yesterday for testing and evaluation. :thumbsup2:
    I've been around quality custom wetsuits over thirty years, and I don't blow in people's ears when it comes to telling the truth about gear I use and evaluate.
    I'll be using the the wt vest on my next dive in a week, but if Dan's Pursuit wet suits are built to the same
    precision as his wt vest, I'm going o buy one next year, even though I have a new Omer 5 mil.mimic.
    My kid's baseball season ends his week, and is time start diving again and using the new Pursuit carbon fins.
    Stay tuned....
    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    looking forward to the reviews...I have a lot of faith that vests, done right, are superior...I hate that feeling of ache from having your belt on your lower back all day.



    Nice vest. Uses the standard two lb weights. My other vest required making ingots to fit the pocket. If it quits blowing I will get it wet some time this week.


    Mike

    Here are two images of the Pursuit wt vest, showing the nylon anti ride up ball I attached to Dan's vest it tucks under my wt belt, also the knife pocket and whistle I added. The knife is my SS spring assisted back up for line cuts.
    Cheers Don

    I like that vest Dan, I was going to say that most I have seen don't have a long enough weight belt fastener in the back, this is the part that Don has made with the ball that goes under the weight belt, most vests I have seen in person have a short strap that if used would need the weight belt to be up high on a persons waist instead of the hips and this is bad for breath up because it is on the diaphragm, so I am glad to see how Don has made this piece of it. Don please let us know how the vest affects you being horizontal during breath up's ex: does it make you sink a little in the chest area when breathing up? how does it feel for being horizontal when "straightening out" after your descent? this looks like it might also be good for Aspetto type diving were you wait on the bottom for prey, look forward to the review.

    Quote from black1

    I like that vest Dan, I was going to say that most I have seen don't have a long enough weight belt fastener in the back, this is the part that Don has made with the ball that goes under the weight belt, most vests I have seen in person have a short strap that if used would need the weight belt to be up high on a persons waist instead of the hips and this is bad for breath up because it is on the diaphragm, so I am glad to see how Don has made this piece of it. Don please let us know how the vest affects you being horizontal during breath up's ex: does it make you sink a little in the chest area when breathing up? how does it feel for being horizontal when "straightening out" after your descent? this looks like it might also be good for Aspetto type diving were you wait on the bottom for prey, look forward to the review.


    More comment tonight after work, thanks.
    Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Quote from black1

    I like that vest Dan, I was going to say that most I have seen don't have a long enough weight belt fastener in the back, this is the part that Don has made with the ball that goes under the weight belt, most vests I have seen in person have a short strap that if used would need the weight belt to be up high on a persons waist instead of the hips and this is bad for breath up because it is on the diaphragm, so I am glad to see how Don has made this piece of it. Don please let us know how the vest affects you being horizontal during breath up's ex: does it make you sink a little in the chest area when breathing up? how does it feel for being horizontal when "straightening out" after your descent? this looks like it might also be good for Aspetto type diving were you wait on the bottom for prey, look forward to the review.


    Hi black one, I am very slow to change parts of my dive kit that affect my body position or balance that I have become used to. That said I have been slowly lowering the wt in my custom made shot belt I've used for 30 years. Each time I dive I transfer more wt to the vest, but at this point I have only dove with a max of 7lbs in the vest.


    Laying Horizontal on the surface and during breath up the vest seems invisible to me, except that I feel slightly less strain on my lower back after many hrs in the water.


    On the ''straightening out'' after descent ...this is the area I feel and notice more. I don't find my legs dropping faster then my torso head area. I sometimes like a laid out position for approaching school
    fish like yellowtail and tuna as I present a smaller profile to the fish and the vest helps me gain this profile easier.
    As I transfer my wt to my vest I will keep you guys updated. Their is nothing I dislike about the vest at this point.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

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