Rubber Weight Belts for Freediving: Why You Should Get One NOW!

Freediver wearing black wetsuit, mask and fins floating above coral with blue backdrop ocean underwater.

Thinking of buying a rubber weight belt for freediving?

Well here’s some good news for you…you’re in the right place! ๐Ÿ™‚

In this post, I explain why rubber is the best material for a freediving belt and then I follow it up with my (and many freedivers’) top recommended rubber weight belt.

Sound simple and straight forward?

That’s because it is!

Let’s get into it…

? Time Out… ?

If you’re here just to see what rubber weight belt I recommend for freedivers…You can’t go wrong with the Riffe Rubber Weight Belt (click here to view price on Amazon).

As for the weights to use with a rubber belt, I recommend the Sea Pearls Vinyl Coated Lace Through Weights. They fit perfectly on the riffe rubber belt and won’t slide around during your dives. Click here to check the price of these weights on Amazon.

? Alright, now back to the post… ?

But first…Why choose rubber weight belts for freediving?

Rubber is, hands-down, the best weight belt material for freedivers.

Why?

Because a rubber belt gently stretches and expands with your belly and abdomen as you breathe in, resulting in more air getting into your lungs.

(so you can dive deeper depths…for longer amounts of time…) ๐Ÿ˜‰

Most other belts, like nylon weight belts, are too rigid and inflexible to bend and stretch properly as you inhale air.

This means your lungs and belly aren’t able to expand as you breathe deeply…

Resulting in air being cut off and less oxygen getting to your lungs.

If you’re wearing a rubber belt that fits; you’ll never have to deal with this problem. You’ll have clear, refreshing breathe-ups with gusts of fresh oxygen rushing into your lungs, refueling you supremely for your next dive.

Click here to view Amazon’s Choice for freediving rubber weight belts.

Are rubber weight belts for freediving really worth it?!

Nylon vs Rubber Weight Belts:

Nylon vs Rubber Weights Comparison

Although Nylon weight belts are typically cheaper than rubber; they’re really not the best choice for freediving.

  • Cost Comparison:In terms of cost, Nylon weight belts are usually about 20% – 40% cheaper than Rubber Weight Belts. Although investing in a nylon belt will probably save you money, it’ll really only be about $5 – $10 (the price of a coffee at starbucks). If you’re serious about maxing out your potential as a freediver; suck it up and spend a few extra dollars to get a rubber belt – you won’t regret it.
  • Weight Comparison: It might just be me, but I really do think that Rubber Weight Belts are a little heavier than nylon belts. I have yet to confirm this with other freedivers, but rubber weight belts are noticeably heavier. Don’t get me wrong – the extra weight isn’t a huge amount – but it’s definitely noticeable.
  • Comfort Comparison: Rubber is a nice soft, stretchy and super comfortable material. In fact, Rubber Weight belts are so comfy, you’ll forget you’re even wearing it a few minutes after being in the water! Yes, they really are that comfy. As for nylon…the material is much less forgiving, some divers even report the belt stabbing into their sides as they fin…ouch!

    A lot of pro freedivers harp on and on about how important it is to be calm, relaxed and comfortable in the water, if you want to hit longer bottom times and deeper depths…So make sure you’re wearing gear that’s actually comfortable!

  • Flexibility Comparison: I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here…but nylon really is quite a rigid material. It won’t flex or stretch with your body as your belly expands as you breathe in, leading to less air getting into your lungs and less oxygen rushing into your blood.

    If you want to wear a belt that’s nice and flexible AND doesn’t stunt your potential as a freediver, I recommend getting a rubber weight belt!

Make sure you choose a comfortable weight belt when freediving.

When choosing a weight belt, make sure it’s one that’s comfortable – weight belts can be a freedivers’ best friend or worst enemy!

Best Rubber Weight Belt for Freediving: Riffe Rubber Weight Belt

If you’ve read this far down the post, chances are you’re planning on buying a rubber weight belt (or at least thinking about it ๐Ÿ˜‰ ).

If you need any suggestions – I recommend the Riffe Rubber Weight Belt. It’s very popular among freedivers and is currently ‘Amazon’s Choice’ so you know its trustable and from a reputable vendor.

Here’s why the Riffe Weight Belt trumps every other belt on the market:

  • Stretchy Rubber Belt Boosts Breathe Up: The Riffe Belt has flexible, stretchy rubber that expands comfortably with your belly as you inhale…leading to a deeper, more powerful breathe-up (for deeper, longer dives).
  • Quick Release Buckle: The quick release buckle is made of durable nylon material. It won’t rust, corrode or damage easily. The quick release function of the buckle is so easy to use – you can snap it open with one hand and in an instant your belt will drop as you rush to the surface to gulp in fresh air. Perfect for emergency situations.
  • Weights Don’t Slip Around On The Belt: The Riffe Belt has been crafted carefully to avoid your weights slipping around as you dive. How? Well, firstly, rubber creates a lot of friction against your weights, which stops them sliding around as you fin.Secondly, the Riffe Rubber Belt has been ingeniously designed to have horizontal anti-slip lines carved into its exterior. These lines create another layer of resistance and friction, which further removes any chance of your weights slipping around on your belt.
  • Adjustable Sizing: The Riffe Weight Belt fits almost any sized waiste because it has fully adjustable sizing. There are no pre-set holes you have to work with where your belt can sit either too loosely or too tightly (it’s always a gamble!). Instead, you can simply slide your belt through the buckle and fasten it when it’s at your desired tightness.
    • 20lb Weight Capacity; 54โ€ณ Long, 2โ€ณ wide (fits most freedivers).

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For the price of just two lunches, you can get your Riffe Rubber Weight Belt by clicking this link here.

If you’re looking for a nice set of diving weights to go with them, I recommend the Sea Pearls Vinyl Coated Lace Through Weights. Click here to see them on Amazon.

About the Author Gerrie van Niekerk - Apnealogy

Gerrie is a passionate Freediver, Spearfisher, Digital Marketer, and author for the Apnealogy website. Gerrie is an SSI Level 1 certified Freediver who loves geeking out about freediving and spearfishing gear and lives for his family and adventure.

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