Our Testing Philosophy: Honest Results from the Deep
Every piece of gear we recommend at AC Shooting School earns its place through repeated, unflinching use in the conditions it was built for. We don’t test gear in swimming pools or write impressions from a showroom floor. Our evaluation process happens where it matters: in the water, on the boat, and across the diverse environments that define real spearfishing.
After testing more gear than I care to admit — and breaking plenty of it — I’ve learned what actually holds up in real conditions.
We started this testing program because we got tired of conflicting online reviews and marketing hype. Our students and community deserved better. So we built a system that prioritizes honest feedback, long-term reliability, and practical performance. If a piece of gear doesn’t hold up during a full season of dives, it doesn’t get our recommendation. It’s that straightforward.
Who Tests the Gear: Our Team of Experienced Spearos
Our testing team is made up of AC Shooting School instructors and advanced divers who collectively have decades of spearfishing experience. We aren’t a group of weekend warriors or casual snorkelers. Our testers include:
- Competition divers who push gear to its limits at depth and demand precision in every mechanism.
- Instructors who train new spearfishers and need equipment that is intuitive, reliable, and safe for students.
- Rec fishermen who log hundreds of dives per year across different regions and conditions.
This range of experience ensures we catch issues that a single tester might miss. Beginners notice different problems than veterans, and we value every perspective. No one on our team is paid by a brand or incentivized to favor one product over another. Our only loyalty is to the diver holding the gun.
Testing Environments: From Calm Reefs to Strong Currents
Gear that performs flawlessly in 20 feet of calm water can fail miserably in a ripping current at 60 feet. We test across a spectrum of environments to build a complete picture.
Our standard testing includes:
- Open ocean dives on reefs and ledges with variable currents and depths up to 80 feet.
- Rocky shoreline entries where gear takes abuse from sharp edges and surge zones.
- Low-visibility conditions that test trigger feel, line management, and intuitive handling.
- Warmer and colder water to check materials against temperature extremes and salt exposure.
We don’t baby gear during testing. We use it the same way you would on a tough day out. If something breaks or underperforms, we want to know before you spend your money.
Key Testing Criteria: What We Evaluate for Every Product
Every product we test goes through the same core evaluation framework. These five criteria determine whether gear earns a recommendation or gets dropped from consideration.
- Performance: Does it do the job it was designed for? Accuracy, power, and ease of use in real conditions.
- Durability: How does it hold up after 50-plus dives? We look for material fatigue, corrosion, and weak points.
- Ergonomics: Is it comfortable to handle for hours? Reloads, maneuvering, and grip all get scored.
- Safety: Does the design prevent accidental discharge or line tangles? Does it fail safely if something goes wrong?
- Value: Does the price match the performance and longevity? We don’t recommend cheap gear that breaks or overpriced gear that doesn’t deliver.
No single criterion outweighs the others. A gun that shoots perfectly but corrodes after three months doesn’t pass. A budget model that’s reliable but handles poorly gets noted honestly.
Our Testing Process: Step by Step
We follow the same process for every product, from a spear shaft to a full wetsuit system. This consistency lets us compare gear fairly and spot trends over time.
- Initial inspection: We unbox and examine build quality, materials, and machining. We look for obvious flaws, sharp edges, or poor assembly.
- Bench testing: For guns and mechanisms, we cycle triggers, check band tension, and test fitment of components in a controlled environment.
- First dive session: The gear goes on a real hunt. We note first impressions, but treat this as a baseline rather than final judgment.
- Extended field use: Over several weeks, the gear gets used across multiple dives. We rotate testers to get different perspectives.
- Comparative benchmark: We test the gear head-to-head with established products in the same category. This shows relative strengths and weaknesses.
- Long-term check: After 3 to 6 months, we inspect the gear again. Corrosion, wear, and performance degradation all factor into the final assessment.
If a product fails at any step, we either stop testing or note the failure clearly. We don’t skip steps for convenience or to meet a deadline.
How We Score and Compare Gear
We don’t use a simple numbered star system. Instead, we assign qualitative scores across our five criteria and combine them into an overall assessment. Each product falls into one of three tiers:
- Recommended: Gear that excels across most criteria and offers strong value. We would buy it ourselves and recommend it to students.
- Conditional: Good gear with notable tradeoffs. We explain who it suits and who should look elsewhere.
- Not Recommended: Gear that fails in performance, durability, or safety. We explain why honestly.
Price is always weighed against performance. A budget option that performs well for its cost might earn a strong recommendation, even if a high-end model scores higher on raw capability. We aim to help you find the right gear for your actual needs and budget, not just the most expensive option.
Transparency Matters: Affiliations and Honest Reviews
We participate in affiliate programs, and some links on our site may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We want to state that plainly so there is no confusion.
Here is what that means for our testing: zero influence. We do not accept payment for positive reviews. We do not allow brands to approve or preview our evaluations before publication. If a manufacturer sends us gear for testing, we disclose that fact in the review. We also buy our own gear regularly to ensure we have independent control over what we test.
Our reputation depends on telling you the truth. If a piece of gear is unreliable, overhyped, or not worth the money, we say so. Every product we test is judged equally, regardless of how we acquired it. We earn your trust by being honest, not by being polite to manufacturers.
Explore Gear Tested by Our Team
Every product we recommend has survived our full testing process and proven itself in the water. Our gear guides and reviews reflect months of real-world use, not quick impressions.
If you are looking for your next speargun, wetsuit, or accessory, start with the gear our team uses and trusts. We update our recommendations regularly as new products come through testing and older models accumulate more data. No hard sell—just honest gear that works.
Browse our recommended setups and see what earned a spot in our dive bags.