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SALVIMAR NEXT WETSUIT: THE TEST NEW CAMOUFLAGE, HIGH COMFORT
The summer is coming and it is time to choose the best performing equipment to catch the most suspicious preys. In the last few years equipment manufacturers have been camouflaging every single piece of equipment from snorkels to fins with drawings and even photos depicting elements of the seabed.
THE CAMOUFLAGE Salvimar in 2014 introduced a camouflage, called NEXT, in which pictures of light-coloured rocks and Posidonia blend with elements that recall the fish livery. A combination that includes all the components of the typical Mediterranean aquatic life. At first glance the wetsuit appears with a prevalence of clear zones interspersed by clumps of Posidonia. Light brown is the most used colour together with green and darker brown and such a choice makes the final product suitable for spearfishing on sandy bottoms or on white limestone seabeds (widely available in southern Italy for example) on which we usually use the waiting technique. We must consider that if the dry colours appear very light, once in the water, they get darker making the suit effective even on dark backgrounds. Another strong point of the NEXT line is that it also includes techno polymer fins which, thanks to the IML printing system (abrasion resistant), have on their surface the same camouflage of the suit!
THE FIT We have so far shown the livery but the best quality of this suit (jersey outside/open cell inside) relies in its fit because it really looks like it is custom made. This is unquestionably due to an optimal cutting but also to the possibility to choose the most comfortable size on the prospectus that Salvimar provides on its catalogue and that basically consists of 4 measures to take on our body: chest, waistline, hips, height and weight.
By comparing these data with the prospectus you can easily choose the size that fits better on you. In the video below you can see an example of this. Some other details make this suit special compared to the average competitors. First of all, the face hole is narrow and does not end under the chin as it often happens with other products. This is a very important feature for winter suits. The chest loading pad is large and made in puff gum. It turns the loading operation into a safe thing even if you are in hurry. Anti-abrasion reinforcements are present on the major points of contact (elbows, knees and bottom). The beaver tail locks up with a clip, adjustable in length. Some fixing points are already printed on the outside to help user have an optimum closing. Finally, on wrists, ankles and face hole are some cuffs for a better seal against the skin. This model is available in 5.5mm and 7.0mm .
OTHER SUITS
Salvimar also markets the NAT suit, unlike the NEXT, it is available also in the 3.5mm version. It stands out thanks to another effective camouflage pattern (mostly green) and it is made of open cell neoprene outside and jersey outside. For more experienced and demanding divers instead the TRAINING suit is strongly recommended. It is the most soft model in the range and it is made of sharkskin neoprene outside/jersey inside. This model is available in 2.5mm and 5.0mm and with Velcro ballast vest version in 7.0mm and 5.5mm.
A world to discover with satisfaction, please visit : www.salvimar.com
INTOVA SPORT HD EDGE THE REVOLUTIONARY ACTION CAM
Could Intova guys design a better sport cam? That was the question once I knew a new model was about to come. Producing a top performing sport cam with professional features was a great challenge in a high competitive market as the actual one but in the end they succeeded. They managed to build up a tiny camera able to meet the expectations and needs of customers practicing very different outdoor sports. This obviously means that the new INTOVA HD EDGE is suitable for several sports like sailing, cycling, surfing but the activity we prefer the most and for which it really represents a revolutionary product is of course spearfishing.
In order to better understand how this camera is, let’s roll through its features first. The Intova Hd Edge has a non-removable rubber armoured housing protecting it against accidental shocks. It weights only 210gr (battery included) and despite the presence of the rubber housing it remains a compact and space saving camera (72mm x 56mm x 50mm) waterproof up to 200feet/60mt. It can record videos and take pictures at the same time and for each function it has separate operating buttons. It can record videos with the following resolutions 1080p@30fps, 960p@48fps or 30fps, 720p@60fps or 30fps, 480p@120fps or 60fps and take 14MP, 11MP, 8MP or 5MP pictures (4:3). It is equipped with a flat optical-glass lens port with Water-repellent and Anti-Reflection coating that guarantees no glares during shooting. It has a super wide angle lens at 160 degrees and a digital zoom up to 60x.
You can playback your videos or check your pictures through the1.5” / 3.8cm TFT-LCD screen (480×240) and finally you can remotely operate the camera through the wifi connection and both your mobile phone (after you have installed the proper APP) and the remote control provided by the manufacturer. Such a function is also useful to easily transfer file to share with your social network friends.
This camera was specifically designed for water sports, in fact it is provided with a “Dive Mode” preset enhancing the quality of both videos and pictures taken below water surface. It simply adds red colour to images in order to let them appear closer to normal view. It has a 160° wide angle but it can be narrowed without changing any part of the camera, by simply selecting the option FOV from the menu. FOV stands for “field of view” and you can either narrow or enlarge it by operating such a function. The main advantage of it in spearfishing is that during your action videos preys will appear closer and larger if you narrow the field of view. Other cameras need lenses to be replaced to get that result, instead with the HDE you can decide to easily switch from a view to another according to your needs.
By browsing the function menu you can select the “Burst Mode” that allows the camera to take 3, 5, or 10 pictures at the time and this is very useful when you are in the water and need to take pictures of your prey. Furthermore while recording a video, by pressing the shutter button, you can take pictures of what you are filming without stopping the recording. Should you be not able to regularly mount the camera on the speargun you can select the “upside down” function allowing the camera to normally record even it is actually flipped over. This also applies to the screen that is finally provided with a rubber anti-glare hood to be mounted on.
After mentioning all the spearfishing features users should know that the HDE has also several top functions ideal for everyday life uses. It has a motion detect function allowing the camera to turn into a security one, in fact once this function is set any movement detected in front of the camera lets video recording start. User can choose among several still images present but he can also manually select the white balance. Such an option lets colours in pictures be closer to real ones by just taking a photo of something white first.
Although some issues still exist with the wifi connection as the APP seems to be not compatible with some mobiles, the camera is a great product for our sport and I would surely recommend it.
Here is a feature summary:
Video Resolution: 1080p@30fps, 960p@48fps and 30fps, 720p@60fps and 30fps, 480p@120fps and 60fps Photo Resolution: 14MP, 11MP, 8MP and 5MP Rubber armoured housing Waterproof to 200 feet / 60M Flat optical-glass lens port with Water-repellent & Anti-Reflection coating Super wide angle lens at 160 degrees Digital Zoom: 60x or 10X Uses same filters and lenses as Sport HD II WiFi: remote operation and viewfinder, wireless file transfer (with smart phone app) RF remote controller with waterproof bag 1.5” / 3.8cm TFT-LCD 480×240 Rechargeable/Removable Li-ion battery 1150mAh Battery life: 1.5 hrs (LCD on), 1.5 hrs (wifi on), 2 hrs (LCD off) Slave strobe function Removable LCD glare hood Dive Mode Motion Detection Mode Time Lapse mode Self-capture mode Burst Mode: 3, 5, 10 photos Upside Down Mode (Video/Still image flip) Manual White Balance Picture in Video Dual stream mode Led indicator- Visual Record Alert front and back Audible record alert Float Strap High Definition TV output HDTV micro USB cable (optional accessory) Micro USB cable to connect external 3.5mm mono microphone (optional accessory) Video format: H.264 / Photo format: JPEG Supports Micro SD Card up to 32GB (class 6 or 10) Size and weight: 72mm x 56mm x 50mm, 210gr
BLEU SPEARFISHING PROGRESSIVE BANDS ATLANTIS BY APNEA STORE
A new spearfishing band with some intrinsic features that make it different from the others available on the international market, have been lately presented by Lorenzo Lamanna, the owner of APNEA STORE. Its unusual aesthetics is definitely one of the characteristics that will make it popular in the spearo community but it will surely stand out as vigorously also for its responsiveness in water. That is the ATLANTIS.
It represents an evolution of the progressive bands we usually see in amber colour, naked or covered by a more or less fine coextrusion, because as a result of a colouring process it is in fact entirely blue. Its mimetic power is indisputable because they do not need disguise the shades of the surrounding environment as they have the same colour of the water.
The first test was then carried out to verify whether its colour shade changed once it was under traction. During some previous tests with other bands it was possible to note that once they were stretched, their colour tone changed to a clearer one and this got worse with extreme stretching coefficients. As you can see in these pictures the ATLANTIS keep its original colour.
The most important feature, however, is represented by the possibility to easily load big diameters while applying extreme stretching coefficients. In the video below it is in fact possible to note how even in the presence of a 47cm long 18mm circular band, mounted on a 80cm railgun (coefficient: 350%), the loading operation is so smooth and easy to let people infer its diameter is much smaller.
The ability to progressively return the force applied make it ideal for multi-bands or roller guns with a recommended stretching coefficients between 330% and 350%. It is available in the following measures 14mm, 16mm and 18mm at 18, 19 and 20€. APNEA STORE. Soon some in-action videos...
SALVIMAR SAPIENS CARBON 85 PRECISE, LIGHT, GOOD-LOOKING
Intrigued by some (inaccurate) reviews available on the net, I decided to test the Salvimar flagship speargun: the Sapiens Carbon.
I told my friend Massimo Quattrone about it and he promptly sent me a 85cm one equipped with all the standard accessories. At first glance it looks great, anyone who chooses it in fact, will find it housed in a transparent pack that reveals its eye-catching silhouette.
The particular shape of the barrel is certainly the aspect the user will notice first. It is a tube (with an inner diameter of 24.5 mm) which is gets a cuttlefish bone shape near the handle. On the upper part it is provided with an integrated shaft guide made of carbon.
The handle is comfortable and houses such a backed aluminum mechanism, that the line release pin is practically located on the (removable) chest support and provides a band useful stroke of 91cm (on a 85cm model). I can’t deny that in the water during the test, the combination of very backed line-release and shaft pins, turned in some cases the loading operation a little bit difficult, since the arms already largely closed, were no longer able to give strength. The safe is positioned in the notch that houses the index finger and that makes impossible not realizing that it is activated.
Having reviewed the general characteristics let’s go through the most important technical features. The speargun comes from the factory with a neutral and perfectly balanced floating so if you throw it into water it will float horizontally. For this reason it comes inexplicable the creation of a ballast housing in the muzzle but since there is one you should know it. The barrel is filled with polyurethane foam that contributes to the weapon tightening with obvious advantages on the shooting accuracy side. The central portion of the barrel is sealed with both polyurethane and a layer of carbon fiber and you can see it yourself if for example you disassemble the muzzle. The muzzle is open and it is equipped with two fins that direct the bands once they are stretched. It is provided with a pair of 14mm threaded bands and two non-articulated wishbones with different width to facilitate the loading operation. Salvimar has justified this choice by arguing that it was more intuitive to load for the average user. I honestly do not agree with this choice as the target user of a top of the range product is an experienced one. In addition, once the bands are stretched they protrude from the barrel silhouette neutralizing all of its benefits. For this reason I would suggest the use of Dyneema wishbones that, as you can see, keep the aiming line clean and leave no room for vibration during the swing . After having tested this configuration in fact I was tempted to compare it to a black stiletto that cuts the water with ease.
The compactness of its shape is also reflected in its weight that with complete equipment (rod, rubber bands, reel ) is only 1263gr: barrel (with handle and muzzle) 712gr , reel 81gr, shaft (120cm x 6.5mm) 306gr, bands 162gr.
One of the points criticized by some reviews is the size of the shaft guide which seems to adequately accommodate a 6mm shaft at the expense of those with a greater diameter. In the end this is a false problem because the greater diameter shafts, by touching a smaller surface, has less friction and accelerates more easily while remaining firmly in the ideal firing trajectory. Finally, during the usual swing the shaft does not move because it is firmly held down by the monofilament.
As you can notice in the video below, it is particularly clear the greater penetration of the TORSION shaft in comparison to the traditional one. The absence of the barb, allows the shaft to cross with greater efficiency the target. The aim is intuitive and does not require wrist balancing. Surely the shooting line is cleaner bands equipped with Dyneema wishbone. The trigger sensitivity adjustment screw ensures even greater precision. However, the shots in this video were very precise although the adjusting screw was left with the factory default setting.
The judgment is definitely positive from both the design and the functional point of view. During the in-water tests it turned to be well balanced, light and precise . In my opinion (except for the bands that should be substituted as mentioned above), there would be nothing to change of the original configuration and this is an incredible advantage for those who buy a weapon which does not have anything to worry about.
TEST FINS SALVIMAR NEXT SOFT, MIMETIC, REACTIVE
In 2014 catalog, Salvimar has enriched its line of spearfishing fins introducing the brand new NEXT. These fins with mimetic interchangeable blades are made of polypropylene. This product is not a real novelty from the conceptual point of view since Omer / Sporasub were the first to market it. By the way it is undeniable that the end result is completely different, so let’s take a closer look at it.
On both surfaces there is a seabed picture printed with the IML - in mold labeling technique ( the same used by Omer / Sporasub). That is a process consisting in printing a photo/drawing on a thin film made of the same material used for the blade that is subsequently melted in the mold with the rest of the blade. This operation turns the print into an integrant part of the fin itself and not into an application lying on the surface. This produces mainly two advantages: firstly, the print is more resistant to scratches and secondly it doesn’t affect the mechanical properties of the material and as a consequence it doesn’t affect the overall performance of the product. Finally, it should be noted that Salvimar used the same pattern to produce the new wetsuit (also called NEXT) which allows the spearo to have a total and uniform camouflage.
As you can see from photos and videos attached, in comparison to the others made of the same material the fin NEXT responds with great flexibility and responsiveness. The bending of the blade has its fulcrum in fact very close to the foot, while those of other brands have their fulcrum at about half of the length. This difference is mainly the result of the influence that the water rails have on the action of the blade.
In the attached video we tried to conduct an empirical experiment in which we flexed different blades with the same force (traction was mild, made with only two fingers) up to the point where they started to oppose normal mechanical resistance. By this test it is clear that beyond the intrinsic properties of the blade the limit of the competitor fins is represented by the rigidity of the water rails which strongly affect the bending of the blade. In addition to the bending test this is far evident when we try to vertically shake them. The SALVIMAR NEXT are the only ones able to flex up to the curvature under the footpocket.
I therefore believe that it is a product particularly suitable for inshore spearfishing because it is a type of fishing in which you swim for longer time and in which camouflage plays a crucial importance. Moreover their price (in line with the market average and slightly higher than the one of non-mimetic blades) makes purchasing them definitely advantageous and convenient.
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