Spearfishing Weight Belts & Vests

Yes, on decathlon.com.gr you will find a comprehensive collection of weight belts and vests (back vests), specifically designed for the needs of spearfishing and freediving. Our range includes rubber or silicone elastic belts with quick-release buckles (Marseillaise or quick-release style), as well as anatomical back vests that allow for ideal weight distribution across your body.

As a general rule for a beginner fishing in shallow waters (up to 5-6 meters deep), the required weight equals approximately 10% of their body weight plus 1 to 2 kg, assuming they are wearing a classic winter/spring 5mm wetsuit. For example, an 80 kg diver with a 5mm wetsuit in shallow waters will need around 9 to 10 kg. If you are using a thinner wetsuit (3mm), you will need significantly fewer kilograms, whereas if you wear a thicker one (7mm), you will need more due to the high buoyancy of the neoprene.

The absolute safety rule for calculating the ideal weight is to maintain positive buoyancy at the surface. This means that with full lungs, without moving your hands and legs, the water should reach up to the level of your eyes or chin and you should not sink. At the depth you intend to fish (e.g., at 8 meters), you should achieve neutral buoyancy, meaning you neither ascend nor sink. During ascent (as you climb back toward the surface), as soon as you pass your fishing depth and approach the top (in the final 5-6 meters before surfacing), your buoyancy must become positive. This means the water pushes you upward on its own like a cork. Thus, during the final and most tiring meters of the ascent, you do not need to exert effort, as the water itself helps you surface effortlessly to breathe.

A weight belt is safe, provided that two rules are strictly followed:
Quick Release Buckle: The belt must be capable of being unbuckled and dropped to the bottom with a single movement of one hand in case of an emergency (e.g., a cramp or a tendency toward hypoxia). Elastic belts (rubber) are the safest because they do not slide up toward the chest during the descent.
Correct Distribution: Never overload your belt just to sit easily on the bottom. If you need a lot of weight for shallow fishing, distribute the load: place 5-6 kg on the belt and the remaining 3-4 kg in a back vest, so you do not strain your lower back and maintain better hydrodynamics.

After every use, rinse the belt or vest with fresh water to remove salt, which crystallizes and degrades the elastic fibers or the buckle. Before every dive, check the rubber or nylon of the belt near the buckle for any small tears, so it does not snap while you are fishing. Let it dry in a shaded area. Do not leave it exposed to the sun, as UV rays dry out rubber and silicone, causing them to crack and lose their elasticity. Also, do not store it hanging with all the weights attached, as the weight will permanently stretch and deform the material.