Chest pads

[Panthalassia]

Hi guys,

I just recently signed up on this forum but have enjoyed reading many of the threads throughout the last couple of years. I was hoping someone might have some advice. I'm looking to buy a couple neoprene chest loading pads to glue to wet suits for protection. I have a rabitech railgun that takes its toll on the chest...:crutch
Does anyone have any idea where I can buy this in the United States? I know Ron's Corner has them but they don't ship to the U.S.

I'd like to buy them so that they are nice and clean with tapered edges, otherwise I would glue pieces of neoprene on there myself...

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[ILDiver]

Quick search:
Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine Shop - The Breath of Freedivers Everywhere

 

[deep thinker]

What rabi you got, if its the apex just glue a piece of old flip flop to the butt of the gun. Or you could use a mousepad...

 

[Panthalassia]

Thanks to both of you for the replies. Deep thinker I have the 120cm stealth alum. Not to say that I prefer looks over functionality, but I'd like if possible to avoid gluing stuff to the gun (would much rather "ruin" a wetsuit :head).
IL Diver, looks like that might do the trick. Much obliged. You guys rock. Thanks again for the speed of response and the help. Love this forum :inlove!

A

 

[Pastor]

The other alternative is to just harden up, just keep doing it and within a week or so the pain will go and never come back. I haven't used a pad for years and never have any discomfort. Trust me

 

[Spaniard]

If you start loading procedure with butt against buckle of weight belt then move it up to chest area to load on 2nd notch that also helps. How do busty girls do it?

 

[Panthalassia]

Pastor,

I'm pretty skinny so there's very little meat in that region. It ends up being plastic on skin and bone. I'm working on my PhD currently, so I'm afraid I don't get to go out often enough to condition my sternum like that. That said, maybe I'll try to tough it out a little longer and see if it goes away, or maybe I'll try hitting myself in the chest with a baseball bat every night until I'm conditioned enough...:martial

Thanks Spaniard, maybe I'll try the two-step loading process on the belt to see if that helps at all (at least until Pastor's conditioning is realized).

Cheers guys

 

[armandozx]

Pastor,

I'm pretty skinny so there's very little meat in that region. It ends up being plastic on skin and bone. I'm working on my PhD currently, so I'm afraid I don't get to go out often enough to condition my sternum like that. That said, maybe I'll try to tough it out a little longer and see if it goes away, or maybe I'll try hitting myself in the chest with a baseball bat every night until


Hey dude I have RA 900 2X20 Bands ( yeah I know ) and I'm pretty skinny my self. I made a loading pad much like the rob allen that sells for about $20 USD i bought some things and had a friend sow it for me I wish i can post a pick but i cant @ 1st it came up because it's made out of a thick foam like material but I pass the straps through my weight belt and it stays in my chest. by the way it's very comfortable !

 

[tuffstuff]

flfreedivers.com call them they supply a rob allen chest loading pad for like 20$ and they are located in fl. you have to call them tho b/c its not on the site.I have a apex 110cm and I used my friends apex120 theyre very easy to load using the sandbag weightbelt as protection.

 

[The Killer's me]

just get a mouse pad and glue it on the wet suit. or u can glue it on the base of your gun. if still not satisfied, glue a sponge on the gun or slip it inside your wetsuit.
i hope this will help.

cheerz

 

[Panthalassia]

Killer suggestions guys. Much appreciated. Now I gotta decide whether to go with a cheaper McGuyver version, or a cleaner more expensive version. Not that $20 will break the bank, but as we all know there are plenty of things to spend money on...

Maybe I should get rid of the girlfriend. That would open up some spending cash rofl

 

[armandozx]

Dude I really wish I can show you mine's but how IDK how to post picks it really cost me like 5 bucks max of course It was home made but it's better than anything out there seriously. I bought some bimini straps and just made it from there and I know a taylor so he sowed it for me & the foam material i have was from a boat seat! like i said i have 2x20mm bands and yeah man I dont feel a thing ! Dont get rid of the girl after the day is done with lol you gona need some 1 to shake your sH*t.

 

[Panthalassia]

2x20mm bands? You shootin' whale sharks?
Why can't you attach pics? No camera? Well, it all sounds interesting, I'd like to see the setup. My main concern is having straps etc. that are not quick release (i.e. bimini straps). 99% of the time that won't be a problem, but it's that 1% that bothers me...you know, Murphy's law and all...perhaps I'm not understanding the set up.

Well, I actually might be driving to the Keys right after xmas (by way of Miami) for some fish killing, so if I haven't done anything about it by then perhaps we can meet up and you can show me in person. Good looking out man. Thanks.

 

[Pastor]

Pastor,

I'm pretty skinny so there's very little meat in that region. It ends up being plastic on skin and bone. I'm working on my PhD currently, so I'm afraid I don't get to go out often enough to condition my sternum like that. That said, maybe I'll try to tough it out a little longer and see if it goes away, or maybe I'll try hitting myself in the chest with a baseball bat every night until I'm conditioned enough...:martial

Thanks Spaniard, maybe I'll try the two-step loading process on the belt to see if that helps at all (at least until Pastor's conditioning is realized).

Cheers guys

Hey you part timer rofl I fished all the way through my PhD, wild horses wouldn't have dragged me away. Seriously though, keep at it whenever you go out, it might take a bit longer but it will stop and you'll be hard for life.

 

[armandozx]

"2x20mm bands? You shootin' whale sharks?

"
ahahah NO ! but I like the set up because I can choose what Band/lenth i want to use like my 2nd band is kinda long so when ever i'm fishing a shallow place/rocky i usually load that 1 then i have my 24cm/20mm band witch it's the killer man ! I only use that when I dive a lil deeper and I load 2 w/e I feel there might be something big down there! about the CHEST PAD ! yeah I do HAVE A CAM I just dnt know How to post a pick here it wont really let me! if you e-mail me something i can reply with a picture that i took last night.

 

[seguyette]

I made a pad that stays attached to the gun. It sounds like a dumb idea, but this way it can go with me even if I don't wear a suit, and it will not fall off of the back of those small Omer loading sites like I think the hotglue idea might.
Basically I made a small loop of cord that has a piece of mouse pad (about 3x2 inches) folded over the cord and sewn into one double thick piece with dental floss. I also made the cord the right length from the clip in point on the bottom of the handle so that the pad aligns with the butt of the gun easily.
I'll have to post pictures because the way I am explaining it doesn't do it justice. It actually looks and works really nice. The only down side is that you have to line it up before you load (which might be an issue with longer guns, but I use a 90cm cayman so I can align it and then reach for the bands). It is really quick to do since it lines up perfectly with my gun. I have also never had it get in the way while I am diving, etc.
I'll try to post pictures later

 

[Panthalassia]

Hey you part timer rofl I fished all the way through my PhD, wild horses wouldn't have dragged me away. Seriously though, keep at it whenever you go out, it might take a bit longer but it will stop and you'll be hard for life.

"Hard for life", and no viagra needed...? Sounds good to me
Nah, I hear what you're saying. I'm actually trying to gear up properly to facilitate more successful excursions. I'm a little ways away from any water at the moment, so I need to be ready for "any" problems that get thrown my way (in other words, extra sets of EVERYTHING).

They keep me so busy here at the vet school that I'm just now learning how to manage my time a little more efficiently. Point taken though. Toughening up a little is a good thing. I used to practice full contact mixed martial arts, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with pain. :ko

 

[Panthalassia]

Hey Armand
I'm probably being a space cadet, but I don't see your email anywhere? Let me know where to send an email. I'd love to see the setup.

 

[armandozx]

sorry dude I forgot to post it's lol armandozx@yahoo.com. I'll get more then 1 pick if you send me an email the sowing on it it's done by a pro, it;s like a little chield ^_^!

 

[kmo]

I just stick a bit of busted flip flop down the front of my wetsuit. No cost and no-one can see it. A tiny bit of extra flushing on the chest though so if its really cold where you are diving it might not work too well.
As for hardening up, it doesn't seem to be getting any easier for me if I forget my flip flop once in a while. Especially now that I'm using a 1.4m railgun with single 20mm band and only a single notch. Also, I think my body tries to stop me hurting myself and I have a really hard time loading without some chest protection - I just can't pull hard enough.