It is the new Beuchat Marlin Lite to win the Best Choice 2024 in the Spearguns below 100€ category. The French speargun takes the title from another great offer, winner last year, the Picasso Cobra Rail. In this same category one of the most famous spearguns of all times, the Cressi Comanche Rail, wins the Best Value prize, meaning the speargun with the best Value for Money ratio in the category. Three products which represent definitely a fantastic choice when it comes to choosing a very affordable speargun, still able to guarantee reliability and ease of use. But let’s see why the Beuchat Marlin Lite has that additional plus that makes it a Winner.
The heart, the release mechanism
We have made a deep analysis already of the new Beuchat Marlin Lite in our X-Rays article. The French speargun is definitely a simple solution, where for example the 28 mm barrel has no integrated shaft guide. Still, the heart of the speargun, the release mechanism is definitely a winner.
Equipped with two powerful 16 mm rubber bands for 40 Kgs (88lbs) of load, the release mechanism perfectly supports this force and more. The key plus is the fact that the force on the trigger required to release the shaft during the shot is extremely low. Such aspect determines a great smoothness and sensitivity on the trigger, which definitely helps the precision of the shot. The release mechanism of the Beuchat Marlin Lite has been tested for loads up to 300 Kgs.
Additionally, the release mechanism has a steel structure with also a lateral steel line release lever, so it is in general a solution used for higher category, and price, spearguns.
Details such as the curved profile to help the insertion of the shaft and the red soft rubber cover of the handle are two other elements which bring the Beuchat Marlin Lite to be the perfect choice for a rookie, but also for an expert spearo who needs a reliable and adjustable speargun for shooting in the dens.
Cressi Comanche Rail
Already finalist of the Best Choice 2023, the Cressi Comanche Rail confirms such result also in 2024. This year though, with the prepreparation by Cressi of the monofilament and sleeves, with no price increase, the Cressi Comanche Rail becomes also the winner of the new Best Value prize in its category.
The strength of Cressi is its years of experience in the sling spearguns industry, an aspect that generates unseen but real qualities throughout the Cressi range. The design of the handle and the angle between the latter and the barrel of the Cressi Comanche Rail are ideal. This speargun has a standard release mechanism not made of steel, a common feature among most sling spearguns under 100€. It features an extremely good 28 mm diameter barrel with an integrated shaft guide. The muzzle is closed with standard 16 mm rubber bands, but can also be set up with a circular rubber band. A beautiful 6 mm burnished steel shaft with notches is matched with a steel wishbone. An excellent handle with white non-slip soft rubber cover, a color clearly visible on the bottom, is included. The line release under the hilt is though an improvable item.
Picasso Cobra Rail
The Picasso Cobra Rail still is one of the best speargun below 100€ on the market, with some solutions which make is look as a higher category product. The rubber cover of the handle, the lateral line release lever and the integrated shaft guide are definitely key elements of a great small speargun.
