Spearfishing Wetsuit vs Loading Pad

[glownd]

Was wondering if people had thoughts/experience on using a special spearfishing wetsuit vs using a seperate loading pad, like the Rob Allen Chest Loading Pad. Pros / Cons? Just as good as each other?

I do scuba and got into spearfishing recently. I'm currently using my scuba wetsuit, but it's pretty rough for me to load my spear without the extra padding.

 

[CuzzA]

Most scuba shooters/guns load from the hip, not the chest.

 

[glownd]

Ah, I probably should have made this clearer, I'm freediving when spearfishing.

 

[uncfnp]

@MAKO Spearguns

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

Other than buying a dedicated freediving suit with a pad, you can pretty easily glue a neoprene pad on the suit yourself with some neoprene glue. I have head of people using computer mouse pads, for example. You could also buy our spearfishing shirt with a chest pad that you could wear under or over the wetsuit.

Short Sleeve Rashguard with Chest Loading Pad

The MAKO Spearguns Short Sleeve Rashguard can be used by itself with board shorts or worn over wetsuits that do not have chest loading pads.

makospearguns.com

 

[Johnoly]

Alot of spearo's also use a very cheap foam foot sandal (aka flip-flop) and cut 1/3 off plus the straps and glue it to the inside of your wetsuit. Works very well.

 

[Dapper Dan]

I load from the chest with a 56".

I bought a small delrin cutting board at the tackle shop for seven bucks for cutting bait that measures about 8x10 inches and about 1/4 inch thick (came with a free chinese filet knife). I drilled a hole in each corner, heated it with the heat gun to bend it to chest-shape, and put a cord on it to hang it around my neck like a necklace under my wetsuit at the right spot.

No more bruised chest from struggling to load 5/8 bands on a magnum gun.

 

[MrChen]

I load from the chest with a 56".

I bought a small delrin cutting board at the tackle shop for seven bucks for cutting bait that measures about 8x10 inches and about 1/4 inch thick (came with a free chinese filet knife). I drilled a hole in each corner, heated it with the heat gun to bend it to chest-shape, and put a cord on it to hang it around my neck like a necklace under my wetsuit at the right spot.

No more bruised chest from struggling to load 5/8 bands on a magnum gun.

I'm going to try this. Do you have any pics of the board?

 

[Belzelbub]

I load from the chest with a 56".

I bought a small delrin cutting board at the tackle shop for seven bucks for cutting bait that measures about 8x10 inches and about 1/4 inch thick (came with a free chinese filet knife). I drilled a hole in each corner, heated it with the heat gun to bend it to chest-shape, and put a cord on it to hang it around my neck like a necklace under my wetsuit at the right spot.

That's a good idea.

But, I'm curious about something. With the spearguns in the picture, why don't you hip-load? With spearguns with butt extensions, I've found hip loading to be a lot easier. I used to initially get a bruise on my right upper thigh, but haven't for a while. Not sure if I adjusted position slightly, missed less (fewer reloads), my body got used to it, or some combination of all three.

 

[Dapper Dan]

That's a good idea.

But, I'm curious about something. With the spearguns in the picture, why don't you hip-load? With spearguns with butt extensions, I've found hip loading to be a lot easier. I used to initially get a bruise on my right upper thigh, but haven't for a while. Not sure if I adjusted position slightly, missed less (fewer reloads), my body got used to it, or some combination of all three.

I'm probably using the wrong technique. But I've never been able to loag a 61" from the hip. I can't get the bands all the way back.