- + Very durable, thick rubber construction holds up in abrasive conditions
- + Buckle reliability is excellent, trusted by the spearfishing community
- + Handles rocky shore entry conditions where other belts wear faster
- − Stiffer rubber than Beuchat, less comfortable initially
- − Heavier than other options
- − Less optimized for pure freediving comfort vs spearfishing durability
Overview
Rob Allen makes equipment for working divers: people who spearfish from rocky shores, drag fish and gear, and put their equipment through physical conditions that would wear out less robust alternatives quickly.
The weight belt reflects this. The rubber is thicker and denser than the Beuchat Marseillaise, which makes it slightly stiffer initially but more resistant to the abrasion and physical abuse that shore diving generates. The buckle is the sturdiest in this comparison: built with the confidence of a brand whose equipment gets tested in South African dive conditions, which are not gentle.
For pure freediving from a boat or sandy beach, the Beuchat or Omer is probably more comfortable day-to-day. For divers who also spearfish, or who do shore diving in environments that destroy gear, the Rob Allen is the right call.