As you may infer from my previous review of Alchemy Freediving neckweights, they are awesome.
For my earlier review, I ordered the heaviest model available at the time, which was 1.55kg/3.4lbs. I wanted to use it in the pool with a very light wetsuit and in open water with my 3mm – ideally without a weight belt. I use it every time I dive, but it’s not enough for the pool, and it’s still a bit light by itself with a 3mm. At 50cm it’s also longish around my neck with thinner suits.
‘I wish,’ I thought, ‘they made a heavier one and that it didn’t have to be quite so long.’
Enter the Alchemy ‘Heavy’ neckweight. It’s heavier, okay, but also wider—more weight for less length. And it’s silver, which goes with everything!
The wider form factor distributes the weight comfortably along the back of the neck without increasing drag. It also tends to shift less during vertical dives.
The silver color is good for visibility, reflecting at least as well as white, making it easier for your buddy to keep track of you in dark waters.
At 2kg/4.4 lbs, the heavy model is ideal for me in a 3 mil suit. In the pool, it’s a bit light for long, slow glides, but perfect as long as I maintain a speed of at least a meter a second or so.
For those unfamiliar, I’m including two categories under features – one for neckweights and one for the Alchemy Heavy.
General Benefits Of Neckweights
- Take some (or all) of the load off the low back during surface intervals
- Move the center of mass forward a bit – which helps stabilize the upper body when using a monofin
- Closer to the center of buoyancy at the lungs – as opposed to the legs and hips, which tend to sink even without added weight.
Specific Benefits Of The Alchemy Heavy Neckweight
- Wide form factor provides more weight without increased length
- Slips less during vertical dives
- Width distributes the weight across a larger surface area, making the neckweight more comfortable while maintaining a low profile.
- Silver color has high visibility
- The clip-free design is quickly and easily removed in the event of an emergency
- Easily adjusted for fit
- Extremely durable – Thick Silicone over a lead bar will not leak lead shot or break down like some other designs.
Conclusion
The Alchemy Heavy neckweight is a natural evolution of the already brilliant Alchemy neckweight series. Like its lighter brethren, it is an elegantly simple, efficient, and durable marriage of form and function. The Alchemy neckweights are a little pricey. However, properly cared for, they’ll last decades.
Specifications
- Available Lengths: 40, 45, 50 cm
- Available Buoyancy: 1 per length
- Negative Buoyancy: From 1.8kg to 2.2kg
- Color: Silver Grey Metallic
- Material: Silicone Encapsulated Lead
- Silicone Tensile Strength: 10 N/mm2
- Silicone Density: 1.12 g/cm3
- Logo: Engraved
- Made in Greece (EU)
Price
- Alchemy Heavy Neckweight: €100 EUR / £85 GBP / $110 USD
Buy Now
Freediving Heavy Neck Weight
Introducing Heavy - the neck weight that changed the game forever, now with added weight for an unparalleled experience. Immerse yourself in the world of cutting-edge design and flawless, fluid fit. Discover the pinnacle of freediving with our Heavy Silicone Neck Weight – precision engineering for the ultimate journey.
