Neck weights

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Hi there!

One thing that I think a LOT of mers would benefit from is a proper neck weight - usually between 4 and 7 lbs, depending on your size, body composition and lung capacity.

Makes a WORLD of difference to me.

There is some technique in figuring out how much you should use, but once setup, is incredible.

The conventional Freedive neck weight is lead shot in an inner tube with some plastic clips to hold it secure. I personally use small .5lb lead "chicklets" strung through nylon webbing with the same clips to secure it.

Another option is attaching 2 scuba ankle weights together.

I even have an idea for mermaids of using large lead fishing weights (round or oval) and coating / painting them white to look like pearls.

If you haven't tried a neck weight... You really are missing out!!

Give it a go!

Jeff
UltimateSwimFin.com




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[Mermaid Jaffa]

No. We need our necks and heads to swim up for air easily. If some freak accident were to happen, then we are unable to surface quickly and will drown.

And the way we swim, we need our necks and heads to be able to move freely with the up and down motion. Can't do that if there are weights restricting that movement.

[Merley]

Neck weights just sounds like a bad idea to me. I can get on board with ankle weights or weight belts, but neck weights? You say "One thing that I think a LOT of mers would benefit from is a proper neck weight - usually between 4 and 7 lbs, depending on your size, body composition and lung capacity," but you don't actually mention what any of these supposed benefits are.

[OceanWhisper]

^^^^^^^^^^^ not being terrible to UltimateSwimFin, but I kinda agree with both of you. Just sounds a bit dangerous

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I'm starting to think he's a troll... Or a sales rep trying to get more business with incorrect facts.

[Princess Pearl]

As he sent me a message through the "quote request" system on GigSalad, trying to get me to buy a monofin using the same wording used in his monofin posts... I'm going with sales rep.


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Not a troll.

Every Freediver wears a neck weight. Your lungs are the most buoyant part of your body and the neck is an ideal location to put ballast to neutralize this effect.

Proper monofin technique does not entail your neck undulating and it will not stop you from getting air.

The benefits are that you are neutrally buoyant and therefore all of your energy is spent to propel you forward, instead of fighting buoyancy.

Being neutrally buoyant is the most peaceful and freeing feeling in the world.

If you want to feel like a mermaid... Sort out your buoyancy. Trust me on this one. Just look at every single DYN swim by competitive freedivers.


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

If you want true underwater freedom, work on neutralizing your buoyancy and also work on reducing drag.

It's night and day.


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Show us a pro using neck weights underwater.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

This is me a few years ago before I found the Lunocet with an 11lb neck weight:

http://youtu.be/uP712NO8Y5o


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

http://youtu.be/-cQOz9ePDN8


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Neck weights are even more important in pool and the typically shallow depths that Mers play in (less than 5m deep).


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[ShyMer]

Hang on guys, a quick search does show that free divers use these. I can't remember anyone complaining here about buoyancy problems that could be solved with these kinds of weights, but these could actually be more useful than the weight belts people have been using so far, based on the theory.

To be honest though, Jeff, I would have liked to see more information here about neck weight benefits. I've never heard about them before, so I was confused a bit.
I did like the idea for modifying the design to make it appropriate for mermaids though. The designs I'm seeing are rather unattractive to me...

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Benefit: you go further, with less effort on a single breath.

Benefit: you glide perfectly horizontally and induce less drag and travel further.

Benefit: you feel completely weightless, neither floating, nor sinking and it's the most incredible feeling in the world.


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[PearlieMae]

Not a troll.

Every Freediver wears a neck weight. Your lungs are the most buoyant part of your body and the neck is an ideal location to put ballast to neutralize this effect.

Proper monofin technique does not entail your neck undulating and it will not stop you from getting air.

The benefits are that you are neutrally buoyant and therefore all of your energy is spent to propel you forward, instead of fighting buoyancy.

Being neutrally buoyant is the most peaceful and freeing feeling in the world.

If you want to feel like a mermaid... Sort out your buoyancy. Trust me on this one. Just look at every single DYN swim by competitive freedivers.


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Sorry, I know you are being friendly and you think you have found a new marketing opportunity here, but aside from maybe two mers who are thinking of using a Lunocet for an extended tail, we are NOT freediving merfolk. Aside from the rare underwater photoshoot, for the most part, I think I can speak for most when I say we pretty much stay in the top few feet of water. Surfacing often. Hanging out with children. I, for one, don't even like to wear heavy necklaces with my mermaid tail, much less 4 to 7 pounds of weights around my neck. As for drag, if you look at our flukes, our accoutrments like hair clips, shell tops, netted waist decorations...we don't really care about reducing drag much, either.

Neck weights and mermaids? No.

You are trying to combine two entirely different activities, they both happen to take place in a swimming environment. Be prepared for pushback from the community on this one.

I don't want to sound mean to you, I'm not trying to be, but I think you need to better acquaint yourself with this community before trying to sell us on things we aren't even going to consider.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

In freediving, men can typically get away with JUST a neck weight and women TYPICALLY will split their weight more evenly between waist and neck, due to typical body fat distribution differences between the sexes.


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Did you even read and take in what Pearlie Mae just wrote?

[PearlieMae]

We aren't freediving.

[Mary Marine]

While I can see the appeal of being neutrally buoyant, looking at current designs of neck weights they seem like they would get in the way of arm position for dolphin kicking? It's less the weight than the placement I'd object to.

Also, while freediving and mermaiding share some techniques and gear, freedivers, like scuba divers, use the buddy system for safety. Most mermaids do not have the luxury of a friend or mertender for every swim and not every swim spot has lifegaurds. We are already constricting our legs, anything that could make it potentially more difficult to swim or surface has to be carefully considered.

Neckweights might be better for professional mermaids who perform tricks underwater or swim in deeper water with mertenders on hand.

[MerEmma]

I see the benefit of having a neck weight completely, in the situation that buoyancy is a concern for people. I think the average person though is weary of weights in general (I know that the current population of MerNetwork who do use weights regularly are kind of low? Those who do modeling or have issues with buoyancy, Raina and Iona are the only ones who come to mind for me) because swimming in a tail already puts you in a tough situation should there be an issue with surfacing. Adding neck weights just sounds a little more threatening; I know it probably doesn't feel that way but immediately I imagine something constricting around my neck.

I think Pearlie is right in that we're probably not the market for it to be honest.

That being said, your monofin swimming videos are quite relaxing to watch.