The Best Size Speargun for Beginners and Kids
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When you’re getting into spearfishing, one of the first big decisions is choosing the right size speargun. Go too big and it’ll be hard to load and aim. Go too small and you might struggle with range and power. So, what’s the best speargun size for beginners?
Start Simple: 90cm to 110cm is the Sweet Spot
A regular rail gun is typically easiest to start out with compared to rollers (if you don’t know what this means, don’t worry! Just look for “rail guns”). Typically a roller is less ideal for beginners due to their difficulty to load however it is still suitable for some newer divers - give us a call if you want more in depth advice on rollers vs rails.
For most new spearos, a 90cm to 110cm single or twin band speargun hits the balance perfectly. It’s long enough to give decent range and accuracy, but short enough to handle easily in the water. If you’re diving around reefs or inshore spots with patchy visibility, this range is ideal. However, For the very little spearo (aged 5-10); a 70cm gun will be easier to handle and make Dad and Mum's re-loading duties a little bit less taxing.
Shorter guns (around 70–80cm) are great for low-vis or tight reef systems, but they can lack punch in open water. On the flip side, longer guns (120–140cm) are powerful with lots of range but require more skill and strength to load and aim.
Your size, age and height all make a difference in loading ability when starting out so keep this in mind. A younger grom may find a 90 easier to load while a taller adult will be more capable with loading a 110.
Match Your Gun to Your Conditions
Think about where you’ll be diving most often. If you’re just starting out on the reefs or exploring coastal shallows, a 90cm railgun is hard to beat. It’s versatile, forgiving, and easy to travel with. Remember, longer guns have more power and range, but they’re harder to track and more difficult to use in dirty water. Choose based on your average spearfishing conditions in your area.
Reel or Float and Floatline?
When starting out a floatline is going to be the simplest option and ensures you won't lose your gun. The way it works: a floating line with a buoy is attached to the back of your gun so that after shooting bigger fish, you can let go and swim to the surface for a breath, and fight the fish from there. An added benefit is if you drop your gun by accident in rough conditions or swell you can easily find it again by locating your buoy. The best bit: Aimrite guns can all be fitted with a reel down the line. So if you want to upgrade later on when you've built some confidence; it's easy!
A Good Example
Something like the Aimrite Venom 100 Railgun is a solid option for beginners. It’s built tough, accurate, and balanced. These are qualities that help new divers build confidence fast. They come with 14mm rubbers for ease of loading while starting out and the lifetime warranty on all Aimrite spearguns shows our confidence that they will stand the test of time (and the expected knocks and drops a beginner will throw at them). The key is finding a speargun that fits you and the type of diving you’ll do.
Final Tip
Don’t overthink it. Start with a reliable mid-sized gun like a Venom 90-110, get your aim dialled in, and you’ll quickly get a feel for what works best as you progress. Once you’ve built some experience, you can always upgrade to a longer gun or a roller.
P.S
We have an all inclusive Fiji holiday giveaway on right now.... so buying your first gun could include a free Fiji holiday!!!!! See the website for details and T's & C's