PTERYX XT DIVING PRO ANDREA ZUCCARI CARBON FINS
PTERYX ANDREA ZUCCARI XT DIVING PRO CARBON FINS
There are no best fins in absolute terms but fins that better meet user’s needs and better match with the kind of diving user do. Pteryx Zuccari are more suitable for deep freediving and require a close but frequent kicking. The manufacturer himself mainly designed them for this purpose while the T5 Vasiliou would rather be more suitable for spearfishing (even at depths greater than 30mt), nevertheless both habits and technique (as well as training level) of the user must be considered in order to be able to do a more complete and appropriate evaluation.
As we mentioned above the Zuccari Pteryx fins are not really aimed to be used for spearfishing but if the spearo diver is keen to generate less force with his legs during the descent/ascent then this model is the right choice. However it turns to be it a little less if he is not well trained and has not a good technique.
Zuccari pteryx are particularly suitable for deep dives due to their own structure. They are 19.5cm wide (overall measure) and 72cm long (longer thrust surface). They have a slightly concave tip profile and are made entirely of 100% carbon twill and bent with an angle of 29 degrees.
The very low water rails (1.5cm) which run along almost the entire length of the blade and leave very little space to the KM DIVE footpocket arms (it is however possible order fins also in pathos or C4 ones for example) trimmed to a length of about 15cm, enormously contribute to a great flexibility. However, the most important role is played by the particular progressive thickness framework (decreasing from the footpocket toward the tip) and the layout of the carbon fibers. It is in fact possible to notice, by orientating the blades in backlight, how the fibers are arranged with a V-design, creating a thinner triangle in the end portion.
The combination of these characteristics makes them particularly flexible, so as to make them resonate widely if gently swayed in the air. However, user is requested to be well trained to exploit such a greatness. The fins made by the XT DIving can all be classified according to the type of curvature they obtain if subjected to the effect of the kick. As you can see from the table below, the carbon structure, clearly different for each fin, flexes in different points favoring one use rather than another. In general, we can say that the fins that bend towards the beginning of the blade (foot pocket side) are more suitable for those who have a good training and a good technique.
This is a special model as the production process is particularly long and requires 8 days between high temperatures and high pressure. This also makes them the most expensive product in the XT DIVING range.
PTERYX XT DIVING PRO ANDREA ZUCCARI CARBON FINS BLADE VOILURE PALME CARBONE PINNE PALA CARBONIO APNEA PESCA CHASSE SOUS MARINE FREE DIVING SPEARFISHING
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FREEDIVING COMPUTER WATCH SEAC DRIVER
FREEDIVING COMPUTER WATCH SEAC DRIVER ECONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL
In its 2019 catalog, Seac Sub presents its new flagship product, the DRIVER. It is a freediving computer watch dedicated exclusively to this latter activity, therefore it does not features SCUBA computer functions. It is a product projected and designed entirely by SEAC, so it is not an outsourced instrument made by others and branded by SEAC and this is already in itself a guarantee of the care that the Italian company had in the making of this product. It is a simpler and more intuitive computer than its predecessor JACK and much cheaper. In fact, while the JACK was around € 400, the DRIVER is at a variable price that does not exceed in many cases € 200. Thanks to its particular characteristics it is placed at a higher level than its main competitors in the same price range. As anticipated it has a very simplified structure and in its watch functions allows to carry out the following operations:
• 12/24 hours setting with minutes and seconds.
• Second time function.
• Possibility of switch between main and secondary time.
• Calendar.
• Chronograph
• Countdown
• Alarm.
In the dive computer function, on the other hand, it allows you to perform the following operations:
• suggest minimum recovery time between one dive and the other MSST (Minimum Suggested Surface Time)
• Complete set of alarm parameters on dive times and depths
• Acoustic and visual alarms.
• Acoustic alarms can be activated or disconnected.
• Setting of fresh or salt water.
• Battery change by the user.
• Logbook with sessions.
• Possibility of setting the sampling frequency 1 sec. or 2 sec.
• Change of units of measurement from the metric system (meters and ° C) to the imperial system (ft- ° F).
• PC / Mac interface with general data and dive profile (optional).
It is possible to download the application to manage the dive data on your PC / cell, but it is not provided with a cable for data transfer that must be purchased separately. It is available in black and military green colors.
When you buy it, generally the display is off and to activate it you just need to press the key M for at least 5 seconds (see photo). In case you do not use it for a long time you’d better turn it off through a prolonged pressure of the D key. however, with the shutdown the logbook records will be irretrievably lost. Let's see the main functions of the dive computer.
To enter the DIVE menu, press a little longer the M button. The first setting proposed is the maximum depth alarm, which if activated, warns the user to have reached the set depth, through acoustic and visual alarms. The second setting, instead, is related to the maximum dive time and works exactly like the previous one, alerting the user when the maximum time set is reached. Subsequently, it is possible to set an alarm to warn the diver in case the recovery time is not respected. Finally, the last two settings are for the water type in which you dive, that is, fresh or salt water and the sampling rate of the info. By default it is set with 2 seconds, in other words every two seconds it records the data related to the dive (depth, temperature, etc.) but it can be brought to 1 second. When the M key is pressed to enter the DIVE mode, a standby screen (see photo) is presented to the user, showing the temperature, dive time and depth. After two seconds, the same screen is automatically displayed again with the number of dives in the current session. During the dive instead, in addition to the above mentioned info (excluding the number of dives) the descent / ascent speed is shown. The dive session can be started either manually through the U key or automatically after passing 1.5m depth.
Every 2 hours of activity is proposed the hydration alarm that reminds us to drink and can be deactivated by pressing any button.
The Driver suggests a minimum surface time for physical recovery between two dives, which is displayed at the top left and through a flashing "RECOVERY" icon. The calculation for the surface time that is shown on the display is as follows: for apnea diving with a depth of less than 30 meters = diving time x 2. Apnea dives with depths greater than 30 meters = max depth / 5.
The Driver has a capacity to store data up to 500 dives, depending on the frequency set (1" or 2") and the duration of the dives. It can store up to 99 sessions and each session can contain up to 199 dives.
NEW MUZZLE SIGALSUB STARK
NEW MUZZLE SIGALSUB STARK AVAILABLE IN MAY
TEST AT SEA WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY...
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NEW MINI LAMP SIGALSUB HORUS
NEW MINI LAMP SIGALSUB HORUS AVAILABLE IN MAY
One of the new articles in sigalsub 2018 catalog is the Horus lamp, a versatile product suitable for the needs of the most demanding users.
It is made entirely of anodized aluminum and is available in blue and black. It is characterized by many aspects that make it practical and easy to use, in fact it is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand (length 13.5cm, diameter 28 / 23mm), weighs only 150gr (including 50g of the battery) and it is rechargeable.
It is sold in a case with a charger for the wall socket and a 3000ma type 18650 battery. The power button has the particularity of being surrounded by a led that at 100% of the battery charge lights up green while red at 30% and when the remaining charge reaches 10% then it starts to flash. A very useful and convenient indicator.
The autonomy declared for a constant use is about 2 hours. The light beam is generated by a single LED (XM-L U2 LED) and guarantees 1050 lumens of intensity.
The maximum operating quota is 100 meters.
NEW SHAFT SIGALSUB HRC WITH WELDED PINS
NEW SHAFT SIGALSUB HRC WITH WELDED PINS AVAILABLE IN MAY
The new shaft by Sigal is called HRC and takes its name from the hardness test of the steel which is conducted by penetration with a diamond point. The shafts are made of sandvik steel with heat treatment 48 / 50HRC that makes them very tenacious even when they hit the hardest rocks. The peculiarity of this new series is represented by the presence of "shark-fin" pins that are laser-welded in a non-through housing which avoids the presence of structural critical points.
All the shafts are equipped with 4 fins, 3 of which are grouped together in a backward position while the last one is more distant and it is aimed to help loading the speargun only. The position of the latter can be customized according to the user's needs, as indeed many other features (barb position, barb number, diameter, tip type, etc.). All the fins have the hole for the passage of the monofilament in order to offer a wider range of possibilities to the user. All are polished and finished by hand so as not to have abrasive edges that could damage the monofilament.
The fins can have two sizes so you can choose between 5mm height and 3mm height according to your desire. Another important feature is the presence of a larger barb and a totally revised tip design. We have tested the version 135cm x 7mm diameter mono-barb and then we list you its numbers:
Length: 135cm
Diameter: 7mm
Distance from the bottom of the shaft: 1st to 6cm, 2nd to 9.5cm, 3rd to 13cm, 4th to 49.7cm
Weight: 409gr
Pinnette: 5mm high profile
barb: upper mono-barb 7.8cm in length and 8mm in width
NEW SPEARGUN SIGAL SUB NEMESIS
NEW SPEARGUN SIGAL SUB NEMESIS AVAILABLE FROM MAY
For many years Sigalsub has pampered us with high quality products designed and made with care by those who actually get personally in the water. The accessories that in the last years have offered us, have solved small problems arising from the use of weapons of other producers or have however facilitated their use but what has always been missing in its catalog was its own speargun.
A weapon designed to include all those small solutions that over the years had been made for the competitors and that could be customizable to all types of spearos without compromises on quality and after 2 and a half years we are ready to touch it with our hands.
The key principle of this project is to become customizable according to our own needs without having to worry about finding alternative solutions or components because it has already been fully considered and is already available. For example, the speargun is marketed as standard with a traditional mono or double band muzzle (depending on the model chosen) but if you want to turn it into a fusion/demo an alternative muzzle with aluminum stopper is available while on the handle there is already a robust hook for pre-tensioning. So let's find out in detail the nemesis.
HANDLE
The real jewel of this speargun is the handle made of nylon loaded with 30% glass fiber while for the area of larger contact with the hand was considered a soft material for greater comfort of the user. The mechanism is particularly backward and is equipped with an line-releaser that can be positioned both on the right and on the left side. Its very soft trigger is designed to withstand exaggerated loads like multi-bands or roller. It is equipped as standard with two plastic adapters which are designed to cope with the different sizes of the hand and the use (depending on the season) of more or less thick gloves. In fact, these adapters bring the distance from the handle to the trigger, from the normal 64mm to 67mm and finally to 70mm, in this way our grip will always be effective and comfortable. In the upper part a notch has been provided to house the fingers that pull the rubber bands at the moment of hooking on the shaft and practically on the handle butt, behind the mechanism, was fit the stirrup of the cam. Normally, the holes used to fix the screws of the stirrup house some little hexagonal screws which must be removed before you can fix the stirrup. In the front part above the reel has been designed a strong hook for the pre-tensioning of rubber bands, indispensable in the configuration of fusion, inverter, demo, etc. The handle is connected by a male coupling (double o-ring) in a barrel with a 28mm circular section.
BARREL The barrel is made of extruded aluminum but later (not shortly, however) rumors confirm that a carbon version will be available. Also for this component of the weapon some important tricks have been realized. At the top is equipped with an integrated shaft guide that runs for its whole length, designed to have the least possible contact surface with the shaft. In fact, the shaft touches only two points on the right and on the left while the central part never touches the shaft guide because the latter has been designed to form a sort of channel that allows water to flow thus reducing any friction. In the lower part of the barrel it is instead possible to notice two very accentuated ribs / edges which are quite unusual on a circular barrel and therefore do not go unnoticed. In addition to having an attractive aesthetic effect, together with the upper shaft guide, further contribute to stiffen the barrel allowing it to withstand important loads without bending.
MUZZLE The muzzle is open, slender and essential with a single or double hole of 16mm (avoiding the large single slot that creates friction between the rubber bands) and includes hooks for the passage of the line both on the right and on the left. As previously indicated if you want to switch to a fusion, inverter or demo you can mount another muzzle that has the advantage of being able to turn from a fusion to a traditional with C4 hooks easily without demanding work, however this product will be the object of a separate article.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES the model that we have analyzed is the 104cm that naked (without shaft and bands but with reel) weighs only 720gr. the overall length is 119cm. The useful run of the bands is 102.5cm for the first and 104cm for the second. The video stirrup weights 24gr and if you want to go “fusion” the muzzle weights is only 86gr.
CONFIGURATIONS The speargun is available in both black and military green and is equipped as standard with shaft, rubber bands and reel. According to your needs it is available in the following versions and fittings. The video stirrup and the stark muzzle are considered optional accessories not included.
NEW WETSUIT SEAC TATTOO & M70 RED MASK
NEW WETSUIT SEAC TATTOO AND M70 RED MASK
For 2018 the seacsub offers a new series of wetsuits that as always stands out for the quality of the materials and for the exclusive camouflage. This year's range is called TATTOO and is characterized by a camouflage available in 4 different colors brown, green, red and blue. The first three versions (brown, green, red) can be purchased in the thickness of 5mm for both jacket and trousers, while in the 7mm thickness only the jacket is available. The blue color instead is available only in the thickness of 3.5mm for both jacket and trousers. All four variants can be purchased in sizes ranging from S to XXXL and both the jacket and the trousers can be sold separately.
The suits are made with the prestigious neoprene YAMAMOTO FOAM in the version # 38 (internal open cell / outer lining) which guarantees both a good thermal protection and a good resistance to crushing due to water pressure. The anatomical cut, preformed for arms, knees and back, gives a pleasant comfort and a remarkable fit. This is also increased by the careful choice of the positioning of the seams which are not, for example, behind the knee in order to avoid friction and the consequent abrasion during kicking. The various parts of the suit are glued and then sewn together with "blind" stitching and not looping which are then further finished with seals at the intersection points to avoid fraying due to normal wear (see photo).
The jacket is supplied with a double plastic frog closure. Wrists, ankles and face contour are trimmed with SSRS SYSTEM (super stretch round seal) cuffs to enhance the thermal protection of the product and the trousers are characterized by a particularly high waist that easily covers the entire abdominal area almost to the pectoral muscles. To protect against abrasion, we only have large powertex inserts on the knees. Closes the set of protections provided a very large and thick chest support divided into two sections to avoid stiffening the portion of neoprene in that area and to enhance the adherence to the skin. All the accessories are available, coordinated with the camouflage of the suit, socks, gloves and vest except for the red color (also the vest is available in black rather than in blue).
The range of masks is renewed for 2018 with the introduction of the red M70 made of pure liquid silicone printed directly on the skeleton of the mask. The internal volume has been reduced so much that the compensation by the user during the descent is almost unnecessary. The lenses are made of tempered glass, 3mm thick. The proximity of the lenses to the eye, combined with the particular structure of the skeleton of the mask, also helps to widen the field of vision. The belt buckles are tilting and connected directly to the skeleton of the mask and not to the silicone skirt, increasing their robustness. The structure of the mask leaves wide space for the fingers that can thus easily reach the nose during the valsava maneuver. This model is therefore available in the red, brown and blue version
ABYSSTAR GROUPER EVO OPEN CELL WETSUIT
ABYSSTAR GROUPER EVO OPEN CELL WETSUIT COMFORT AND SOFTNESS WITH NO EQUALS
We can say a lot about freediving wetsuits, the several variables offered by the market but the essential features that everyone looks for and which are the basis of a good product are mainly just two: it must guarantee a good thermal protection and above all it must be 100% comfortable. This is the case of the new open-cell GROUPER EVO wetsuit marketed by the Italian company Abysstar. This is an evolution of the product that was in their catalog of past seasons to which substantial changes have been made. The wetsuit is available in two versions that identical except for the fact that one is nylon outside/open cell inside and the other is nylon outside/ nylon inside. However, while the first is only available in 5mm, the second is available in either 5mm or 3mm.
We have analyzed for you the 5mm nylon outside/open cell inside. The Evo Grouper is made of JAKO microcellular neoprene (coming from SOUTH KOREA) which guarantees a low incidence of crushing due to water pressure and hence a longer product life. The outer lining reflects the nuances of a mixed rock/seaweed bottom, which, with a prevalence of green and brown, is well suitable for fishing in the Mediterranean sea. On both sides of the chest, on the lower portion of the jacket and legs, on the face contour, thighs and forearms, there are neoprene inserts with super elastic brown lining characterized by an unmatched softness that is already clearly perceptible to the touch and that make the wetsuit very comfortable to wear and well adhering to the body, facilitating the expansion of the chest during ventilation and minimizing the feeling of constriction in all parts of the body. The only exception is the neoprene portion in the pelvic / inner thigh area that is lined in nylon both inside and outside to ensure greater resistance. Cuffs, ankles and face contours do not have the water-stop ribs we are used to but they end with a simple reinforcement seam.
The jacket closing system is a two plastic clips beaver's tail, maybe it was best to place a Velcro closure because it is more practical but that is a completely subjective choice. Knees and elbows are equipped with rubber anti-abrasion protections, applied to the lining. The chest support is applied from the outside and is wide and well padded without stiffening the neoprene in the chest area and maintaining a good adhesion to the skin. The fit is great and the wetsuit does not leave any air pockets at any point wrapping the body as if it was an elastic clothing. As a reference, consider that the tester has worn a XL size and is 185cm high, weighs 85kg and is skinny (see size table). Abysstar also manufactures a range of accessories with the same wetsuit camouflage, that are socks, gloves, vest and shorts. Even with regard to these accessories, attention to detail is high standard. Testers have particularly appreciated the socks. This is an accessory made of twin-lined neoprene with camouflage outer lining and sole with anti-abrasion surface. The peculiarity lies in the neck of the boot, which is instead made of neoprene lined internally and smooth externally to ensure a better sealing with the end of the trousers. Even the gloves (camouflage) are made of double-side lining neoprene, with the same anti-abrasion finish on the palms. Unlike socks, the gloves do not have the smooth neoprene end piece, but are entirely made of double-side lining neoprene and end with a naked cut, not finished with the usual reinforcement stitching.
At the conclusion of this review I find it important to emphasize again the softness and comfort that this neoprene gives to the grouper evo wetsuit.
SIGALSUB FISH CALLER & SAURON MASK
SIGALSUB FISH CALLER & SAURON MASK WITH SOFT SNORKEL AIRSOFT
The new sigalsub recall is a small accessory that allows you to have some chance to successfully end the hunting action. In short, a little trick that measures 4.5cm x 3cm and 6cm in depth. It is entirely made of plastic and by opening it you can appreciate the simplicity of its operating principle.
In fact, it is a cogwheel that, manually rotated against a plastic wand, produces a noise similar to that of fishes engaged in breaking small crustaceans shells. It is equipped with a ring that allows to wear it to the finger (index or medium but we suggest medium) and through a screw you can adjust the diameter by adapting it to any hand or glove. The ring is secured to the recall by means of a screw and can therefore be dismounted to be applied (via special brackets) on industrial speaguns or directly on the wood of handcrafted ones.
You can move the wand that produces the noise both to the right and to the left of the wheel. In this way this accessory is also very useful for left-handed people. If the wheel gives you the impression of being too hard to be rotated do not worry because it gets smoother in the water.
The latest born in sigalsub factory is the SAURON mask, a product designed to be one of the top products in the coming season. This is a mask for apnea and spearfishing characterized by a very low internal volume and an eye-catching design. SAURON belongs to the category of "frameless" masks, that are, those masks that do not have an external frame or which however possess it but it is embedded in silicone. In fact the mask itself is very soft and this greatly increases the comfort when wearing it. The only points where it is rigid are the lenses contour and the top of the nose (between the eyebrows). This zone has been molded with an inclination so as not to cause pain / pressure pains. The shape of the nose is made with "steps" that favor the closing of the nose during equalization. The strap is fixed to a hook made of silicone that despite being robust can give the impression of being a critical point in this product.
Overall fit even if it is strongly subjective, is very comfortable. Worn in fact by several testers with heterogeneous physiognomy, it has given all the same sensations. The particular position and shape of the lenses allow a wide view and the inner volume is so small that the first equalization during the descent happens at approximately 17 - 18 meters. The mask is available in green, brown and black and can be supplied with the new AIRSOFT snorkel available also in brown and green and that is characterized by great flexibility as you can see in the picture.
TESTING THE PATHOS THIRA 5MM WETSUIT
TESTING THE PATHOS THIRA 5MM WETSUIT HIGH PERFORMANCES FOR TOP SPEAROS
Spearos generally know what is the value of a solid and reliable equipment at sea and tends to assiduously purchase the products and brands that have transmitted such a sensation. It is difficult, therefore, not to be carried away by enthusiasm when you can finally test a well-made product. This is the case of the THIRA wetsuit by the Greek company PATHOS that we tried in the 5mm version, XL size.
PATHOS has lately proved several times to be able to produce high performance equipment that clearly shows the results of a careful design by designers-users who are fully aware of the needs and difficulties that spearfishing implies.
The THIRA wetsuit is made of high density SHEICO neoprene which, in addition to ensuring a firm body comfort, helps preventing it to get thinner over time (very common in industrial wetsuits from other manufacturers) due to normal use.
To increase comfort in use, the wetsuit includes neoprene inserts coated with super elastic black lining on both the chest sides, immediately below the armpits, and on the frontal part of the neck, from base to chin. This enhances the expansion of the chest cage during breathing, limiting the sense of constraint and facilitating neck movements where neoprene usually folds.
The neoprene (open cell inside) is externally lined with camu lycra characterized by a predominantly green pattern with hints of brown that makes it ideal for use at our seas. However, the plain black version is also available.
All seams have been covered with a neoprene sealant that has the double advantage of ensuring the seam sealing over time avoiding the usual shrinkage and increasing water protection despite the seams do not pass all the way through the neoprene. Also other features have been implemented to limit the access of water inside the wetsuit. On the wrists and ankles the common ribs have been implemented but on the face contour a slightly thinner neoprene band is applied, which also ends with the above mentioned rib. The thinner material and the absence of seams give a feeling of comfort while guaranteeing waterproofness. Finally, with regard to pants design, the WATER STOP system was adopted, which essentially consists of a particularly high waist that, folded about 10cm outwards, allows open cell neoprene of pants to adhere to the open cell neoprene of the jacket preventing Water to get in.
In addition, this wetsuit is also functional and in fact large supratex inserts have been implemented to counter abrasions due to normal use. They are present on the front of the legs (from the knee to the ankle), the forearms (from the elbow to the wrist) and the waist area of the jacket throughout its circumference. Finally, a thick chest pad that reproduces the stylized shape of a fish provides a good support during loading operations.
In relation to cutting, as almost all manufacturers make, legs and arms are preformed, it has to be noted that the back part is not divided into two but is obtained from a single piece of neoprene. Finally, another very important feature is that seams of the back of the knees have been moved to avoid abrasion in the folds.
In short, not a good product, not a good compromise but a A class product with honours!!!
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