Mares X-FLOAT Board Buoy – Practical, Resistant and Smart
The new Mares X-FLOAT board buoy is an extremely interesting solution for shore spearfishing, combining high resitance and durability, excellent visibility, practical transport capacity and intelligent equipment management in a compact and lightweight system.
Its shape follows the now well-proven concept of the small inflatable board, a format already appreciated by many spearfishers for its comfort during long swims from shore. The main advantage is not only the important role as a highly visible spearfishing safety buoy with flag, but also the possibility to comfortably rest on the board during long sessions and transport all essential equipment directly on the float.
Excellent Solution for shore Spearfishing
The Mares X-FLOAT allows the diver to securely position spearguns, long fins, water bottles, torches and additional accessories while fishing. Thanks to the integrated shoulder straps, the board can also be transported like a backpack before entering the water, with fins and spearguns securely attached externally.
This is an extremely practical solution for shore entries involving long walks on rocks or coastal paths, where transporting equipment comfortably becomes a key advantage.
Strong PVC Construction and better Hydrodynamics
One of the key strengths of the X-FLOAT board buoy is definitely the material choice. The external structure is made from thick and highly resistant PVC, a solution that offers major advantages compared to traditional fabric-covered floats.
The robust PVC significantly reduces risks of tearing and puncturing the internal air chambers, which are separated inside dedicated PVC compartments.
Beyond resistance, PVC also improves hydrodynamics. Unlike textile-covered solutions that absorb part of the water and become heavier during use, the smooth PVC surface slides much more efficiently on the water surface, reducing drag while swimming.
Another important advantage is the fast drying capability of the material, preventing the float from retaining water and excessive weight after use. Despite its solid construction, the total weight remains limited to only 2.2 kg, making the board easy to carry and practical for travel.
Very Stable Speargun Holder System
Particularly impressive are the lateral speargun attachment systems. Positioned higher than the waterline, they prevent the spearguns from continuously touching the sea surface while the float is moving.
Each side uses two strong and thick rubber retaining rings that firmly secure the spearguns in position. This system feels noticeably more stable compared to traditional softer elastic retainers commonly used on many floats.
Softer elastics often allow excessive movement of the spearguns and progressively lose elasticity over time. The solution adopted by Mares instead provides a much firmer and more durable fixation.
Excellent Visibility and Safety
The visibility in the water is excellent, an extremely important aspect for overall diver safety during spearfishing sessions.
The lightweight flag pole is made in two resistant sections and is securely positioned thanks to a rubber base system. An additional elastic safety connection can be attached to the front D-ring of the board to avoid accidental loss of the flag during transport or navigation.
The float includes both the traditional red-and-white diver flag and the European blue-and-white flag.
Numerous Attachment Points and Resistant Finishing
The Mares X-FLOAT board buoy includes numerous plastic D-rings for equipment management: one front ring, one rear ring, four upper internal lateral rings and four lower lateral rings.
The lower section of the board features a double PVC reinforcement that greatly improves resistance against abrasion and contact with rocks.
The zippers are made from plastic to avoid long-term corrosion issues caused by saltwater exposure. They are not premium YKK zippers, which usually provide additional guarantees in terms of long-term durability, but still appear coherent with the product philosophy.
Storage Space and Inflation System
The front compartment offers useful storage space for accessories such as water bottle, torch and other non-sensitive equipment. While not waterproof, it remains practical for quickly organizing essential gear during fishing sessions.
Internally, the buoyancy system uses three inflatable chambers: one central chamber and two lateral tubes inserted into dedicated pockets and secured with external compression closures. The lateral valve protection system is well designed and protected with Velcro closures.
Inflation is not the fastest process, but remains relatively simple. A standard bicycle pump can also be used to achieve firmer inflation pressure.
Care should however be taken not to excessively inflate the central chamber if the diver intends to insert long fins inside the dedicated upper fin-holder area, otherwise blade insertion may become less practical.
Comfortable Backpack Transport Solution
The fins transport system proves extremely comfortable and effective. Long blade fins remain securely blocked in position while transporting the board on the shoulders like a backpack.
This is one of the most practical aspects of the Mares X-FLOAT, especially for divers who frequently perform long shore entries carrying multiple pieces of equipment.
First Impressions
Overall, the Mares X-FLOAT board buoy appears to be a very intelligent and practical product designed for demanding shore spearfishing enthusiasts looking for excellent visibility, strong PVC durability, efficient hydrodynamics and highly functional equipment transport solutions.
A complete in-water test by Apnea Passion Magazine will follow soon.
