Interview about Hydrospine Freediving Weight, winner of the A' Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design Award 2023
The design is a back weight for freediving, which allows an ultra precise balance and buoyancy. Its assets, its modular and fast load capacity, up to 6 kg, usable in any position, any freediving discipline. It is equipped with a quick release and adjustment buckles to adjust to different sizes, whatever the gender, offering incredible comfort that quickly makes you forget the weight carried. Its design comes from the fusion of marine animals and gear created for speed to give it very hydrodynamic lines and offer optimal glide under water. Its versatility makes it a one-of-a-kind concept.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsEven though from the beginning, we wanted our product to have a stunning and unique look. Above all, we wanted the 'Hydrospine' to offer a significant improvement in terms of ballast.It was only after defining its structure that we tackled its form. A lot of research has been done to create profiled shape that allows water to be chased away quickly and has underwater penetration that offers the least possible resistance.We've had plenty of influences, from the fastest marine animals like dolphins and sharks, but also vehicles designed for speed.All this combined to shape the curves and edges of the Hydrospine, giving it a unique modern look.
As the balance center of a freediver is his lungs, the more the ballast covers this area, the better his balance and his trim will be which have a preponderant impact on the performances in apnea. Indeed, the more the diver is at a neutral weight, the less he will have to make efforts to evolve and the more he is horizontal the more he reduces his resistance zone underwater. Since each person has different body shapes and physical abilities, it was important to be able to adjust the weights a bit like a spirit level to find that perfect position.From the start, the device was designed as a spine so that it could follow the different movements and always fit the body.At the start, the model was composed of boxes hinged together. Even if they came to fit the curves of the body very well. The disadvantage was that it was too long because of its lead stacking system and complicated to make more hydrodynamic.We stayed on this solution for a long time with difficulties in getting out of it. So we started from a blank page. Trying to find other concepts and also to go back to our first brainstorming. To achieve a new concept of triangular shapes to maximize the spaces lost in our previous prototypes. To end up placing the weights no longer flat but to tilting them one behind the other to gain even more space and maintain this flexibility of movement, by having only one envelope, to reduce the areas that could slow down in the water. While maintaining our capacity of 6 kg.
This was our biggest technical challenge, because we wanted the harness to be able to adapt to all morphologies, men and women, to avoid having to produce different sizes, without it interfering with arm movements or air intake when the rib cage increases or decreases.It was necessary to test several strap architectures, thicknesses, and materials to ensure that the weights were properly held in place.Comfort was later improved through user feedback so that the lead plates did not feel too much on the back, as was the revision of the straps.
Safety was an essential criterion for our product, which added an additional difficulty to maintaining the weights. Because we could not equip a freediver with such equipment if he cannot remove it quickly. This could compromise its approval and, above all, it could lead to serious consequences in the event of a problem.Once again, it's all down to the architecture of the straps which depending on the location of the straps and their thickness, enabled us to combine all our criteria of fit and safety. After sourcing and testing a huge number of buckles and quick-release systems, we ended up developing our buckle, which has been further optimised and simplified since the competition, so that we can do it in 1 action and with 1 hand to free ourselves completely instantly.
From the outset, we insisted with all stakeholders on the use of materials adapted to underwater conditions and swimming pools. We also indicated a range of manufacturing costs to keep production reasonable. By avoiding as far as possible plastic injection moulding with expensive moulds. That's why we opted for thermoformed shells to maintain a degree of flexibility, with different thicknesses of fabric that allow air to pass through, resist water and won't rot, with a good thickness in the lumbar area for greater comfort. The surface layer is a PU coating that can be printed to customize the hydrospine.
Before August 2019, many drawings and prototypes were made to test different theories, shapes and analyze what works and what does not. This phase lasted about 6 months with about fifty specimens. It was rich in lessons that allowed me to clearly and precisely define all aspects of the project and the problematic points as well as prioritize the essential or optional criteria. Early 2020, a first collaboration with a technical studio began. But it did not last long because the project was not going in the right direction, and was becoming too complex in its implementation and above all, no effective proposal to maintain the weights was conclusive. A period of uncertainty and pause followed. Then the Covid pandemic occurred.Despite being isolated, I worked remotely with a friend, Olivier Paul, who specializes in 3D printing for industry. With whom we laid the foundations of articulated boxes.Based on this new principle, I surrounded myself with a new team in September 2020, composed of Steven Pignon, the principal technical engineer, who was supported by Charles Pionchon and Alan Philipart, on the technical and prototyping part. Raoul Morel, the Product Designer with whom I designed the Hydrospine. As well as my mother, Christiane Lefebvre for the textile prototyping part.To holding 6 kilos on your back without it moving with the movements or the weight contained in the device. For a long time it remained a headache that we thought was insurmountable, when we managed to solve one point, it compromised another.As we couldn't find a solution to have a fast unloading system and optimal support, we tackled the problem in reverse. By deciding to keep the ballast on its carrier and to drop the envelope containing the lead with a pin-release system like a parachute, but there too it was necessary to do a lot of testing.By deciding to keep the harness in place on its wearer and to release the envelope containing the weights with a pin system. But here too, a lot of testing had to be done.We were drifting towards ever more complexity, without being satisfied with the result and even worse, that our future customers are not inclined to want to adopt it.We needed to go back to more simplicity and release a more refined version that could improve over time. It was in the summer of 2022 that I decided with Raoul to start from scratch and rethink the design, to end up with the hydrospine with inclined weights.We are so delighted with the result that finally meets all the required criteria, that we decide to submit our project to the best experts by applying to the A’ Design Awards. Being silver winner is a huge source of pride and a great recognition of this success and hard work. All that remains is to have a commercial success and we will be in heaven.
We are currently carrying out performance tests and forming partnerships with athletes in order to demonstrate its effectiveness and why not set new records. This will gradually make it a reference for this type of equipment. There is also a health aspect to our system, as we do not yet have many studies demonstrating the repeated impact of weight bearing on the cervical vertebrae, even though it is a sensitive area where many nerves pass. In addition, during our investigation we learned that some people could not wear this type of equipment because it causes them too much pain.We also hope that this aspect will push some practitioners to abandon their neck weights which are considered by some as torture devices.If in addition it can be used for all forms of apnea. There is a strong chance that it will shake up the standards.
Before doing our survey we had already tested our idea, just to know if it was worth embarking on this path. Our survey enabled us: firstly, to list all the pain points associated with ballasting, such as comfort, modularity, versatility use, etc. and two, to confirm our idea. But what was most valuable for us were the user tests, which enabled us to make many corrections to arrive at the final result. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to make this level of adjustment.To reduce the gap between what we imagine and reality, there is nothing better than testing in real conditions, with people who are there to test your work without complacency. Once they have nothing more to say or are ready to adopt it or want to buy it, it is a good indicator.
Once again, everything is in this famous product architecture.To be multi-discipline, the weights had to not move from the back and allow all possible movements without any restrictions and not interfere with breathing.To ensure that when you are upside down, the weights do not hit the back of your head and that when you are head up, that the harness cannot strangle you even if you have 6 kg or more pulling you downwards. As it meets all these criteria, in addition to being able to fine-tune its neutrality with its modular system. It can be used in all disciplines. Spearfishers are also very attracted by this concept which allows them to have a better balance for their aims.
We are on scalable production processes that must not compromise quality in any way. It is just the lead times that risk getting longer. Currently, manufacturing times at our suppliers are around 3 weeks upon receipt. As we are in a niche sector, in principle we should be able to anticipate and manage production flows according to sales.
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