Review: Custom Carter DSMB Float

Introduction

I wanted an auto-inflate DSMB Float (see here for more info) as a security device in case I got a cramp and needed help getting back to the surface. I also thought it could come in handy if I need to pull a big fish out of under a rock or even to mark a spot so that I can go rest a bit at the surface but still find it later.

While researching DSMB floats I came upon this post, it got me thinking that I needed a setup like his because I have a tendency to get cramps at times and this could happen to me too.

I finally narrowed my choice down to:

• Carter Float w/ CO2
• Riffe Utility Float w/ CO2

They both had good reviews but I settled for the Carter Float for the following reasons:

1. It is quality hand made by James Carter; who makes heavy-duty lift bags to bring sunk boats up, for example.
2. It has a 25 lbs (~11 kg) lift (using a 38 gram CO2 cylinder)
3. He could custom make one for me with 2 CO2 inflators

They both have:

1. On way oral/manual inflation valve (useful if you are out of CO2 and have to use the float as a emergency flotation/signalling device)
2. Safety relief valve to vent out excess gas to prevent unsafe internal pressure

General Impressions

I take it with me each time I go spearfishing, it fits snugly on my weight belt on my back and does not bother me at all. It is very well made, the material is tough and of quality; it will not puncture easily and having the safety relief valve will keep it from popping when you go up (due to the change in water pressure).

Here is a picture of the inflated float standard float with one CO2 cylinder; it is not my picture because I didn't want to inflate it on land:

The reason I wanted two CO2 inflators on mine is that since I travel mostly by plane to spearfish I am not able to fly with a CO2 cylinder (due to airline safety regulations) . Since finding a 38 gram cylinder is not easy, I decided to use two 16 gram cylinders instead; these can be purchased in any store that sells bicycle supplies/most sports stores.

Here is what my float looks like:

Since I wanted to put it on my weight belt I needed a holder for it, I got the Riffe Utility Float Holder which works great:

I will add some pictures of my full setup next time I use it.

Safety Device

I suggest trying it out in situations where you may need it so that you understand how it works and its limits.

I have tried inflating it twice, once in a mock emergency situation with my dive buddy and once alone.  In the mock emergency situation with my dive buddy (both of us with our weight belts) it wasn't much help, there was just too much weight. Alone it worked much better and if I had dropped my weight belt (I must unclip the Carter float first) it would have been even better. I tried it as an emergency flotation device and it works well, I recommend dropping your weight belt if needed though. I have not tried flagging a boat with it (for the obvious reasons).

Underwater Marker

I have not tried it as an underwater marker yet, I wanted to be able to partially inflate it with a CO2 cylinder so I devised a setup using the float's oral inflation valve, an adapter (that I still need to work on) and a micro CO2 bicycle tyre inflator with a control value:

I will update this part once I finish it and try it out.

Catch Lifter

I have not yet needed/tried to use it for this, I will update this when I do. 

Conclusion

I am very happy with it, I think it is an important piece of equipment to have with you; I feel safer with it on me. I would recommend getting something like this if you can. If this is too pricey for you you can try buying a simple Surface Marker Buoy (SMB, aka Safety Sausage) and rigging it with an adapter and an on/off bicycle CO2 value, but I wouldn't risk it personally.

Review: SporTube Series 2

Introduction

I used to travel with my gear in regular luggage (and I still do occasionally), but at some point I wanted something dedicated that allowed me to travel with regular spearguns and spearfishing fins, so I decided to look at what was out there (see my Traveling with you gear post) and settled on the SporTube Series 2.

Specifications

• Adjustable height between 122cm to 212cm
• Width: 28cm, depth: 15.2cm, Weight: 5.45kg (without handle & lock)
• Linear size (for airlines) between 165.2cm and 255.2cm, but I have never had an airline ask my to measure it or pay extra (other than the normal extra baggage fee). Mine is usually closer to the lower number.
• Hard resistant plastic shell
• Wheels for airport maneuverability
• Lifetime warranty
• Lockable

Build

The build is rock solid, I have no worries of my stuff getting damaged inside (as long as it cannot move around too much). I always take the spears out of the mechanism so it doesn't break (the mechanism). The wheels are also very though, I don't see them betting broken anytime soon.

Usage

I am able to fit the following (while keeping it close to the minimal length):

• 4 spearguns
• 3 knives
• a 500g anchor
• a big pump (for my Best Hunter Okipa II float), something like this.
• a custom Carter float with it's belt attachment
• a marseillaise belt
• a 50m braided float line with its winder
• 2 pairs of neoprene socks and gloves
• a pair of fiberglass fins
• 2 snorkels
• other small misc. stuff

It is easy to use, tough; I do have some small issues:

• The wheels are not very pronounced, so if the ground is not paved/flat then I usually have to carry it. That is one of the reason the wheels are to tough though. It also probably means that if you are shorter then you have to raise your arms a bit to make it roll, if not then it will just scrape the floor.
  
• Since it travels as special luggage (like baby push-chairs/strollers), then it also has a tendency to be forgotten when there are connections, but this will happen with any special luggage.

Conclusion

I am very happy with mine and the size. As long as you can keep it on the shorter side airline should not bother you (at least not in Europe). If you get the series 3 it is much bigger and can fit much more, however it also looks more imposing and may be viewed as too big to be checked in as extra luggage by some airlines. Most airlines set 158cm as the max linear size so even the series 2 is technically too big but if you keep it short then I have never had issues with it. I think the smallest linear size you could get setup/have with on a series 3 is 180cm... Worst case they charge you are oversized/sports luggage.

Review: Breier 760B 'SG' fiberglass fins

Introduction

As mentioned in my fins post, I used to use "longer" snorkeling fins; they were cheaper, indestructible and fit in my luggage (along with my JBL Travel Magnum Combo Speargun & Pocket Bouy). At some point though, I decided to get "real" spearfishing fins and I settled for Breier 760B 'SG' fiberglass fins. It also coincides with my getting my SporTube series 2 which allowed me to travel with them during longer trips with friends.

About Breier

Breier is a small French company specializing in fiberglass and carbon fins. They make the blades themselves so they are not just re-branding like some manufacturers do. They also custom make footpockets and blades if you have special needs. They have various footpockets to choose from, not sure if you can ask them to use models they don have (I assume you can if you send them to them, maybe you can order them and ship to them directly, but you should ask first).

My footpockets

I outfitted mine with Seac Sub Motus footpockets (which they were kind enough to mail me so I could try one one first for the size; I paid for the S&H) which fit my foot type (thin). I also wanted them not to glue the footpockets to the blades and and with the Seac Sub they don do that.

I also wanted to add patterns to them (they have several to choose from in different colors); this is a paying option. I choose a lighter color on the bottom so it is easier to see me from the top, orange is still visible if you are not too deep (I don't go deeper than 20m) but you should get yellow if this is a worry for you. The red is because it disappears rather quickly and it just looks cool. Here is a picture of my fins:

Here are some pictures of the footpockets:

Why Fiberglass?

Some of you may wonder why I got fiberglass and not carbon fiber or polycarbonate? I have polycarbonate fins already, even thought they are not true spearfishing fins, and I wanted something that would allow me to progress and that is lighter. Carbon fiber is not good for the type of spearfishing I do, it is too fragile. I believe it is good for blue water but for shore, rock and reef spearfishing it is going to be damaged too quickly and I don't see where it would be better in those conditions. Be aware of how you kick off the bottom, if you push with your toes too much you can break your fins. I usually do a flat footed jump movement to get off the ground and then rotate and swill up.

Performance

I find that longer fins do help a lot with spearfishing performance-wise. I cannot really objectively say if fiberglass performs much better than same length polycarbonate fins, but I am quite happy with them. Keep in mind that they are lighter and have a good response (spring back) so it is bound to help. 

Conclusion

Like I said above, I am very happy with my fins, the build quality is very good, they fit well and I enjoy their performance. They are more fragile though, even if less so than carbon fiber so I am always more careful than with my old polycarbonate fins. They were a bit more expensive than off-the-shelf fiberglass fins but their quality and having them personalized makes up for the price IMO. I also am very sad though when I scratch the designs...

Imersion Neoprene protection for apnea fins

Introduction

I needed something thin to protect my fins from scatches and impacts when I travelling. I usually put my fins in my SporTube but even there they can get banged up by other gear. I set out looking for something light, thin and with some padding. I could only find:

• Proper fin bags: too big for my needs but they have padding at least
• Thin plastic fin sleeves: thin but they have no padding
• The Imersion Neoprene Protection bag: seems to have it all, so I got this.

Build

It is build from black, lined, 3mm "ultra-soft" neoprene. It stands up to the description quite well in real life. It is 90cm x 25cm and my Breier 760B SG Fins fin perfectly inside:

The neoprene is very soft and stretchy as advertised. It has a handle build in, this is handy not not essential. What is nice is that it is carved into the sleeve so it does not ad extra bulk:

The back part has Velcro to hold it closed:

 

Conclusion

This is a nice and inexpensive product, it does a good job protecting my fins from dents while inside my SporTube, I recommend it if you have the same needs.

Review: SporaSub Dry Backpack

Introduction

I was looking for a new backpack to put my gear in since my old one broke. I was unable to find one like it (thick netting material, long enough for my fins, that can fold up), the ones currently on the market are not long enough. I need it to fold up because when I shore dive I cannot leave my bag behind so I need to be able to fold it up small and put it on my Best Hunter Okipa II float. I then found that SporaSub makes a dry bag that is a backpack AND long enough for freediving fins (dimensions (h x w x ?) are 109cm x 41cm x 21cm, not sure what the 21cm are though, maybe the top when it is closed?); I figured that I can also fold it up and put on my float, worst case if I need the room for other stuff it can even be tethered to the buoy and float next to it. Salvimar also makes a dry backpack too ("Dry Backpack 60/80"), but the old model was not long enough and the new model virtually has the same name ("Dry Backpack 60" and it shares the exact same model number) so I was afraid that ordering on online websites I would see the old model instead (many had a mix of the old name & new dimensions new name & old dimensions, etc). The Salvimar bag has removable straps that allow you to use it as a duffel bag and it is a bit wider (dimensions (h x w x ?) are 110cm x 44cm x 28cm). I liked the extra width but was afraid the strap attachment area being smaller that it made it more fragile; the SporaSub bag has a much wider attachment area since it is like if you take a padded backpack back and glue it to the dry bag. The Salvimar I think can fold up more since it doesn't have the padding part. I was also not able to find any good reviews on the Salvimar bag and the ones I found were on the old model. For all those reasons I went with the SporaSub bag.

Build

The build is ok, I am not sure how much weight it can take as the bottom looks like it is only glued. I think they should have stitched the seams for strength and then glued it tight:

The fabric is thick however, it is a type of flexible rubbery plastic covered cloth. The straps are ok, the back padding is nice so you don't have anything poking in your back and it also feels better than the plastic material against your bare back as it is made in one of those breathable materials:

The strap and back welding seems good thought, better than on the bottom:

The opening is like all dry bags except it has a male and a female clip on one side and a female clip on the other:

It has chest and  abdomen attachment straps to help secure it so it doesn't sway around and it makes it nicer to carry:

Usage

It works as advertised, I am able to fit my 87cm (total length) freediving fins, my wetsuit, gloves/socks, my float and it's pump, my net, the float line and anchor, my mask and tuba, a sandwich and some water, an insulated bag with an ice pack, a short rock speargun or even a 75cm speargun with the spear (110cm) off of it (the spear sticks out a bit). The straps and back are comfortable, more than expected, I could see myself carrying it a while with no issues, even in the sun.

With all of the stuff described above, including a short cave gun

I had one issue though and I think it is a defect, the abdomen straps have each a male clip:

On the videos I clearly see them having one male and one female clip so you can clip them together. I used it to my advantage though, I added a female clip to one side but kept the male clip:

When I need to fold up the back I just role it up and use the male clips to attach to the female clips on the top to secure it all:

When it is folded up I can still put my t-shirt, swimsuit, water shoes inside (the sandwich I put in another small dry bag) and it is still small (and water tight). I still think the Salvimar bag would have been a bit better to fold up though (and roomier). I am not sure about the build since I have not seen it physically, but if it is stitched and glued then it may have been better than the SporaSub bag, but too late now.

It is ok to carry around as a backpack, not so much as a duffel bag though (my previous bag, like the Salvimar bag also, you could do both). Also I miss having a small pocket in the front and a money pocket inside, but I guess this is not really what a dry-bag is for. I will simply buy a small bag and put it inside.

My previous bag was netted with a bottom drain so the water flows out (so you don't carry it around), it dried quickly (Nylon), while you are walking your gear dries a bit (and the water drips out) but when you had wet things inside, especially a wetsuit, it dripped in the car trunk. This new bag, being a dry bag, it is the opposite, it keeps the trunk dry (but you have to carry around the water so make sure to get as much excess water off your gear), the gear does not dry at all inside and the bag itself needs to be thoroughly dried inside after use.

I no longer carry my weight-belt inside the bag since the bottom looks like it could come undone with the weight, this means that either you need to put it on (I don't like having lead against my skin when I sweat and I always wonder if it can seep inside me) or carry it in your hand (which limits the amount of longer spearguns you can take (you can in reality put them all in the bag, the tips will just poke out), the number of fish you bring back if you carry them outside the backpack, and since you may no longer have any free hands it can limit the type of path you take.

Conclusion

It is not bad a bad product, it does what it was made to do and it is very comfortable to use. I happen to have different needs so I cannot put much blame on the bag. I am disappointed on the glued construction, stitches should be used IMO for a bag especially since glue ages not so well and it usually breaks apart when you are using it... I am not sure if I would recommend this product just yet. I would really like to compare it with the Salvimar Dry Back Pack (60/80, 2015 or 2016 model).

Update

I have used it a couple of times now and it is quite good. The glue has not undone yet, the padded back is nice when you have lots of stuff inside and the shoulder straps are comfortable. I still do not know how well it will age, but only time will tell. I would still like a carry handle on the side to carry it like a duffel bag sometimes.

Review: Elios Sub Custom Wetsuits

Introduction

When buying a spearfishing wetsuit you must decide between getting a store bought (factory made) and custom (tailor made) The store bought variety is the easy way to go, you can try several wetsuits and choose the one that fits you best, looks good, etc. A custom made wetsuit is a more daunting experience as you must measure yourself correctly, order it and wait for it to be made and shipped to you. 

The big difference is the fit of course, a custom made wetsuit will fit your body's real shape. This means that it is a lot warmer than a store bought wetsuit and you can get a thinner wetsuit. It also means you can choose how it looks, you can get different thicknesses in different parts, etc. One thing it does not mean however is that it will cost a lot more. In reality it costs often much less than a high end store bought wetsuit. 

Another thing that scares people is that since it is custom made, it will not allow them to gain or lose weight. I would like to mention that this is the same with a store bought wetsuit, it will often either be tighter than necessary or bigger than necessary when you initially get it. This means in you are limited in the weight gain or loss too. Another thing is that Neoprene is stretchy so you can shift your weight a little. Either way, if you are expecting to gain or lose 10 kg then maybe wait before buying a wetsuit. 

I decided to go down the custom made path and I do not regret it. There are several makers available:

• Elios Sub : Italy
• Polo Sub : Italy
• Oceanos : Greece
• Pesca Sub : Greece
• ...

I chose Elios Sub as they have a very good reputation.

Order process

The order process is a bit difficult IMO. I expected a nice up-to-date webpage where you just choose the options, give your measurements and pay but it was not like that. While they do have a sort of order form, it does not work. I had to email them and they confirmed this is how it should be done (by email). Communication is difficult at times because their English is not the best and neither is my Italian; we ended up exchanging at least 10 emails. You basically describe what you want, how you hunt, the thickness, the options (see below), open cell or lined, etc and they then send you a list of the available types (with pictures if you want camo). Once you have chosen everything you send them the measurements, pay by credit card on their site and you wait about 40 days.

The options

You have the following options/parameters to choose from:

• Neoprene type/brand
• Neoprene thickness
• Open cell or a lining inside. If you want Open Cell do you want a metallic spray-on lining? If you want a fabric lining which type?
• Open cell or camo outside. If you want camo which pattern?
• Hood: Integrated hood, no hood, detachable hood (long neck shirt + short hood)?
• Knee pads?
• Chest pad?
• Pants type: high waist or long johns?
• Do you want a reversible wetsuit or not?

In reality you cannot mix and match everything as it depends on which Neoprenes they have in stock (this is the list they send you).

Measurements

This is the hard part, I actually had myself measured professionally and when I sent Elios the measurements they asked me to double check some of the numbers. I then measured myself using some videos they sent me and and then had a friend double check. It turns out that the professionally done measurements were wrong, a big thank you to Elios, this impressed me quite a bit that they had noticed this. The measurements they need (and the videos links) are the following (in centimeters):

• Overall Height
• Shoulder Breadth
• Arm length
• Chest: man / woman
• Shoulder-blade/Crotch Length
• Waist
• Pelvis
• Thigh
• Calf
• Inside leg
• Head
• Neck
• Neck type: normal or short
• Biceps
• Forearm
• Wrist
• Ankle

Fit & Build

When I got my wetsuit I was impressed by the fit, it was right on. The build is very good, they glue and stitch the seams & they use a special protection on the edges:

I have almost no water coming in and what little does does not flush out (this would make you lose heat).

Remarks

The only issue I have is how good the insulation actually is, I ordered a 5mm with hood and even with the hood off I overheat in temperatures where I did not with a different wetsuit. I ended up ordering a second one but in 3mm with a detachable hood this time. The 3mm keeps me warm in places where I wore a 5mm before, I use it when the surface temperature is about 20°C and above. The 5mm I use when the surface temperature is below 20°C (I have not tried it yet with a surface temperature lower than 15°C). I usually get cold fast as I don't have much body fat, to give an indication. Another remark is that my 5mm is stretchier than the 3mm so it is much easier to take off. This is due to the linings used and probably the Neoprene type itself. See below for more info on my order.

My orders

Elios 3mm Wetsuit

(Not me)

• 3mm Nam Liong Neoprene
• Nylon elastic green inside
• Nylon Camouflage yellow-Green outside ("New Mimic")
• Chest pad
• Knee pads
• Closed jacket with high neck
• Detached hood
• High waist pants
• Reversible

Elios 5mm Wetsuit

(Not me)

• 5mm Sheico Neoprene
• Superelastic lining inside
• Lycra Camouflage Red-Green outside ("Camo Reef")
• Chest pad
• Knee pads
• Closed jacket with incorporated hood
• High waist pants
• Non-Reversible (the inside is bright purple)

Misc Pictures

High neck (3mm)

Detachable hood (3mm)

Knee pads (3mm top, 5mm bottom)

High waist (5mm)

Attached hood (5mm)

Conclusion

Elios custom made wetsuits are of high quality build and material, they are considered by some the Rolls Royce of Freediving/spearfishing wetsuits for a reason. I am very happy with my wetsuits and recommend Elios Sub.

As always, if you have any questions or comments don hesitate to write in the comment box below!

Review: Beuchat 3mm Marlin Gloves & Socks

Introduction

I usually use stretchy nylon and leather gardening gloves to spearfish (Rostaing Contact/1), they are cheap and very durable but do not insulate any from the water. I had no socks until now, I decided to get some Neoprene gloves and socks for this reason. I was looking for comfortable and durable 3mm gloves & socks; I wanted some sort of protection on the palms and soles because I am not very careful in the water; I need to be able to rely on my hands and grip anything without wasting any time to look first (in choppy water for example). For the socks I wanted protected soles since I usually cut up my soles when I take off the fins (when climbing rocks). I looked at several brands but the Beuchat Marlin gloves and socks stood out of the lot.

Gloves

The gloves have the following properties:

• Elaskin Neoprene
• Kevlar palm & fingertips
• Titanium open cell lining

They are easy to put on and take off due to the open cell lining being around the hand part and not the wrist. The insulate is good, but my favorite part is the Kevlar palms and fingertips, it really protects well from rocks and even my knife:

Kevlar doesn't grip like some sort of rubbery coating would, so be aware of that (i.e. it won't help loading the speargun). The colors are nice looking too, a black, grey and brown camo, not that this is why I chose them.

Socks

The socks have the following properties:

• Elaskin Neoprene
• Supratex soles
• Titanium open cell lining
• Anatomical right/left cut

This time the open cell covers the whole inside, unlike the gloves. This means they stick better to your body and isolate you well from the cold but it also means that you can damage them (as I have) when putting them on and taking them off. The fit is good too, I like the fact that you have distinctive right/left socks. The sole protection is quite good, I have nothing negative to say, no cuts so far:

They have the same colors/patterns as the gloves.

Conclusion

I am quite happy with the gloves, they are just what I wanted/expected. The socks I am mostly happy with (4 stars out of 5), I am a bit disappointed they are fragile when putting on/taking off due to the open cell going up to the top but I can live with that now that I know how to manage it; a bit of Neoprene glue will take care of it. I would recommend these products.

As always, if you have any questions or comments don hesitate to write in the comment box below!

Review: Pocket Bouy

Introduction

I was looking for a portable Buoy with a high flag that I could fly with (so it also needs to be light). I found the Pocket Buoy and found the concept alluring:

It has a foldable flag and inflates using regular party balloons, everything is neatly stored in a mesh plastic bag that can be used to put a counter weight:

Flag & Pole

The flag pole is like a small tent pole (fiberglass tubes with an elastic running through the middle, this is a great idea and allows it to fold up nicely as you can see in the above picture. The version I had purchased was their first and there were some defects which I worked around (more on this later):

• The flag pole dismantled when used in windy conditions/choppy waters: I added a string that spanned the length of the pole and titghtened it when in use, this kept the tubes from coming apart.
• The plastic part where the flag pole attached to the buoy cracked on the inside after some use and the pole fell out: I removed the inside of the flag attachement part and used epoxy to fix the pole back on, this held great.

The flag is a nice nylon flag, not one of those cheap plastic flags like Best Hunter uses. I feel it is big enough and that the flag pole is high enough:

The Buoy

The buoy is a nylon sphere with two quarter circle plastic parts inside that come together in the center with a pin. The form a foldable half circle for structure; the ends of each quarter circle have a threaded part to where you can attach the flag pole and on the other side the counter weight pole:

On the center of the nylon sphere is a small slot so you can slip in the uninflated balloon and inflate it, once inflated just tie a knot and you are done. It comes with a couple balloons and you can buy more from them. The balloons are 17" (43cm) outdoor balloons (thicker than the party type), I ended up having to get new balloons quickly so I got regular indoor ones and doubled them up (I had no local source for the outdoor type or the possibility/time to order them), it works just fine and it is cheap. Smaller balloons may work but I wouldn't try as they wouldn't fill up the nylon sphere. I have never had the balloon(s) puncture and I have used the same balloon for two days (on the 2nd day I had a backup with me just in case). After the 2nd day of heat and salt does make the rubber feel a bit weaker so I wouldn't push it. They also sell a more heavy duty inflatable ball that you can use instead of balloons. I read it does not fully fill up the nylon sphere, it makes it a bit more heavy in your luggage and you have to have a pump (which for me defeats the purpose of the original design), but some people may want that:

The counterweight

To attach the counterweight you have a single flag pole segment that attaches like the flag pole, it has a metal plug and a hole so you can attach something to it. You can either directly attach a lead weight as shown in one of the above pictures, buy their a counterweight pouch (also shown being used in an above picture):

but I just use the storage mesh pouch:

and pick up a heavy stone and stick it in the pouch. The original counterweight pole attach point had the same issues as the flag pole.

Support & Build

I ran out of balloons while on a trip and I wasn't sure of the balloon size so I emailed the maker. I got a quick reply and as I thanked them I told them I liked their product and that I had had only some small issues since I worked around them). They told me that the Pocket Buoy has a lifetime warranty and that the first batch had some issues and that they had fixed them, so they sent me (to my home) replacement parts. They had fixed the flag pole coming apart issue like I had done it (but more professionally) and had reinforced the flag and counterweight pole attach points. I have not had any issues with these new parts. I have since used the old flag pole to replace Best Hunter Okipa II flag pole with a new flag (see here for more info).

Conclusion

I am very happy with this buoy, it does what I need in a neat way. I am using the buoy only to signal my presence and not to help me fight/land fish (I have a post about buoy/floats in general here); for this later use case I would not use it. I had some issues with the version I purchased, it was their first version and I worked around the issues myself but as mentioned above the product has a lifetime warranty and they replaced the faulty parts quickly with no hassle. I applaud their great customor service, thank you. Since then I have never had any issues. I would recommend this product for a similar use case as mine.