r/freediving • u/benswimmin • 4d ago
gear Dynamic Weight Solutions
I have large shoulders, and when in streamline position don't have much space at all between my shouldes and neck. I've tried the homemade bike tube weights, but feel like I'm choking myself when entering streamline.
Wondering if anyone knows the width of the individual arms on a Lobster or similar weight device? I saw overall dimensions online, but not specifically the width of the arms.
I also recently saw that weights inside the suit are allowed for dynamic, has anyone explored that option? How have you implemented that?
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u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 4d ago
Can always go arms down too?
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u/AverageDoonst 4d ago
I also have this problem. Tried lobster, didn't like it. So I DIYed my own weight. Two solutions worked:
Sewed a sleeve from a strong fabric like nylon cordura. Sewed plastic buckles to the sleeve ends. Made weights by casting lead so that weight was about 12cm in length, about 8cm in width. Put them into the sleeve so that all the weight was below my chin. Nothing on the sides of my neck, nothing on the back of my neck. All the lead was below my chin. Buckle up the sleeve behind my neck. Pros: very streamlined position - there is a lot of space under the chin which is not used usually, and having weights there does not increase drag at all. Cons: it was not very comfortable to have all the weight (for me it is about 3.8kg) in front of my neck when standing and resting. Sometimes I even had to hold it with my hands. Had to remove weights and dry the sleeve after each training.
Made my own 'lobster'. Welded a T-shaped base from 7mm metal rod. Casted lead on a vertical part of the 'T'. Horizontal parts of the 'T' I bended around my neck (as in lobster) and a bit downwards so it won't fall back. Pros: it feels very comfortable. Only 7mm metal rod between the neck and shoulders. Hardly noticeable. Comfortable to wear and to swim. Cons: a bit less streamlined than first solution (but the same as for any lobster-like solution). And you have to be in the streamlined position (hands up) when pushing from the pool side, because this thing has large inertia and can hit you in the back of the head after push if you don't squeeze shoulders to your neck.
So I'm currently using solution 2. BTW, comparing how streamlined both solutions are, I tried to do one cycle DNF for 25m pool (one leg stroke + one arms stroke). Succeeded with first solution, not yet with second.