The C4 Tavolara freediving buoy wins the Best Choice 2024 in its category. The process of aiming strongly to the freediving world by C4 Carbon is evident, and the new products are showing high quality and performance, with the Italian company investing a lot of money and time in R&D. Another top product, second of the Best Choice 2024, is the 2BFREE Freediving Buoy, also reaches the finals thanks to a great design and excellent material. Among the finalists of the freediving buoys category is also the Mares Training Buoy, which wins the Best Value 2024 thanks to a very affordable price, around 140€.
C4 Tavolara freediving buoy winner of the Best Choice 2024
The new C4 Tavolara freediving buoy is the winner of the Best Choice 2024. Already deeply presented in our X-Rays article, the new Italian product excels in the materials and design. Additionally, the C4 Tavolara freediving buoy is the one with the biggest diameter, which makes it the most stable and comfortable, and with the greatest central storing space. The inflation is obtained with a pump, and can also be inflated thanks to an included car pump adapter. PVC waterproof and resistant materials, all steel rings, reinforcement bands, and YKK high strength anti-corrosion zippers make the C4 Tavolara freediving buoy a winner, with a price of around 240€.
2BFREE freediving buoy is second
Definitely aligned with the C4 Tavolara for quality and performance, the 2BFREE freediving buoy deserves to be in the top ranking of the Best Choice 2024. The second position comes from a slightly higher price (250€) and smaller dimensions (72 cm diameter) compared to the C4 Tavolara, and also D-rings in strong 4 YKK, but not in steel, except for the most stressed one for the connection to the line, which is in stainless steel.
The 2BFREE freediving buoy actually has one very interesting plus compared to the Italian one. In fact, the Ukrainian solution has 8 soft ergonomic grips on the top and 8 soft ergonomic grips on the bottom, a very comfortable and flexible solution. So, finally, the two products are extremely close as overall quality and the final choice really comes down to each freediver or freediving school, even though we see a slight advantage of the C4 Tavolara. The 2BFREE freediving buoy is inflatable with a pump and, as the C4 Tavolara, has an included car pump adapter.
Mares Training Buoy is Best Value 2024
The Mares Training Buoy, winner of the Best value 2024 by Apneapassion, is definitely a very interesting freediving buoy at a much more accessible price (around 140€) than the C4 Tavolara and the 2BFREE. Evidently, materials are of a slightly lower lever, such as the Cordura external texture of the buoy, which is definitely resistant, but soaks with water. The four outer D-Rings are in glass loaded Nylon, while the central one, for the connection of the line, is in stronger stainless steel.
Four anatomical handles with rubber cover, are also available and are somehow more comfortable than the ones of the C4 Tavolara and the 2BFREE. The inner storage space is slightly smaller than the two other competitors. The inflation is done thanks to a mouth inflator and overpressure valve, in some way more flexible system than the ones of the C4 Tavolara and the 2BFREE, even though the final inflation pressure will necessarily be lower.
