Chest pads

[Panthalassia]

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.

Yeah, I thought about something like that but figured it might move around with enough activity. Water is pretty warm here so flushing is not too big a problem, but loose things moving around ARE a problem. I think I'll probably try gluing a thin chest pad for a little protection, and then allow myself to toughen up as per Pastor's suggestion. Don't want to disappoint the reverend :t
Will see what Armand's setup is like first though.

 

[armandozx]

Dude I tried posting the pictures here but it does not let me. Send me an email so I can reply with the pictures odd cuz I posted picks of a spetton wetsuit.

 

[tuffstuff]

dang I wanted to see that..I need something better than just a padded weightbelt.

 

[armandozx]

Ok i think I know why I could not post the pics, ( because of photo measurements ) :head so here they are the 1st pick is what I made the pad from I found it walking by bayside(mia,fl) after school. I shaved it off a little bit so it would not be so thick. The 2nd picture it's the pad it self from the back you can see all the sowing the material is marine material so Don't think it's regular material. Like I said before the guy that did this for me Knows his a close friend of the family and lives behind me O_O. The Third pic is actually the pad from the front. I understand It might look kind of big but it sits comfortable in my chest/stomach area. Reminder at 1st the pad came ^ due to the fact that it's made out of foam & would hit my chin ! however this can easily be fixed by passing 1 of the straps to your weight belt and adjusting from the top! & finally the final picture is of my gun so you guys can see what I can load with the pad I really would not try to load my short band with out the pad :crutchseriously !

 

[tuffstuff]

this looks exactly like the 17$ flfreedivers pad

 

[armandozx]

Yeah cept is home made,thicker and didnt cost $17 !

 

[tuffstuff]

well after you buy the straps and get it sewn plus the foam?

 

[armandozx]

all free for me max i spend was 5 ! if you read what i wrote you wouldn't be asking this. How ever you put it, it's still less than $17 and more cushion

 

[tuffstuff]

yea but you had a neighbor sew it and find the straps.I'm talking about what it would cost to get the material from a store and put it together.AND that one doesn't float.I'm not knocking your pad but was just explaining that it would cost $$ to duplicate.

 

[armandozx]

DUDE those are bimini straps there like .17 the foot max 1.25 sh*t I got like an extra 2ft for the regular price you can find those around the house to and the end's as well now the sowing thats just different, however you can cut out a piece of pad and stuff it under a wetsuit but it will slide & it can be bothersome @ time putting the pad back in the middle.

 

[Panthalassia]

DUDE those are bimini straps there like .17 the foot max 1.25 sh*t I got like an extra 2ft for the regular price you can find those around the house to and the end's as well now the sowing thats just different, however you can cut out a piece of pad and stuff it under a wetsuit but it will slide & it can be bothersome @ time putting the pad back in the middle.

Armand,

Thanks for posting those pics, they rock. Sorry I didn't email you sooner, got a little sidetracked. That's a very nice clean job you've done. Gotta admit, I was picturing some crappy homemade sponge on a rope...rofl
I do agree that the sewing part might be a little bit of a pain (I don't have a tailor neighbor who can do it for me), but the extra padding/thickness may prove useful. I'll have to decide what's more expensive, buying one or spending the time to make one. It's always good to have your own customized equipment though...

 

[seguyette]

Here is the loading pad I said I'd post about months ago. A thread on spearboard reminded me of this old thread. I made the chest pad out of a chunk of mousepad folded over the line and sewed it with dental floss. I cut the cord so that all I have to do is grab the pad and it lines up with the butt of the gun like in the picture. It also makes clipping a float line in easy. It looks a little big, but it has never got in the way, and you could actually make it about 1/2 of the size as I did. Hope this helps.
PS. Bring on the pu*$y pad comments, but remember every spearfishing wetsuit has this built in as a standard feature. Some of us just don't use wetsuits.

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.

 

[tuffstuff]

great idea! I barechest load my gun often and I can barely breathe the next day lol.The pads help alot and that is an excellent idea!

 

[seguyette]

great idea! I barechest load my gun often and I can barely breathe the next day lol.The pads help alot and that is an excellent idea!

I felt the same way and still have scars 9 months later to prove it. One more tip, if you are going to tie one of these on, loop it through a long line clip before you tie it off. This will come in handy later

 

[Panthalassia]

Hey thanks for those pics! I appreciate you remembering. Great idea indeed! If you say it doesn't get in the way, I think I'll have to try it.

 

[seguyette]

Works like a charm and I have 2 friends who have copied it. Let me know how it works for ya.

 

[Mr. X]

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.

Yes - what he said. I had a similar experience* & use the same technique (I think originally suggested to me by Jermey at RA) -- works a treat. Mouse pads are too wimpy & very thick ones too soft (as is the loading pad on my wetsuit). I use some thin 1" tape/webbing (the excess ends of my cheap but good roof racks straps -- used to hold my kayak).
[*I speared almost everyday on holiday and ended with bruises all over my upper abs & sternum. It hurt after a few days.]

ArmandozX, I would be interested in seeing images of your loading pad (were they removed?) - as it would be good to rig the pad more professionally now that I've been using it a while. I also know somebody with tailoring experience - although they are reluctant to sew neoprene.

My brother looked at the loading butt of my new Omer & said "Looks like you are supposed to stick a pad in there"! He might have a point as it has a raised rim all round that would hold a pad in place. (I wonder if the rubber cover off an accelerator pedal might fit over it?!). However, my main concern is the 20mm equipped RA &, anyway, the Omer instructions suggest loading against your belt/lower abs - which would not require a pad.