13 Best Spearguns in 2024 | +20 Tested Spearfishing

Throughout history, spearfishing has existed as a means to put food on the table. In recent times, it has become increasingly popular and is now considered a sport. Unlike our ancestors though, who used sharpened sticks to catch their prey, today’s spearfisher uses a high-powered speargun to add power and accuracy to each shot.

There’s nothing more exhilarating than landing your first fish of the day. Or even the first fish of your life! But in order to do so, you need to find the right speargun. Walking into a spearfishing store can be an overwhelming experience. The choices seem endless and whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned spear-pro, knowing which speargun to choose can be difficult.

To make your decision easier, we put together a list of the best spearguns on the market today. We’ve also included some info to help you find the right gun for your spearfishing needs.

What To Look for in a Speargun

When buying a speargun, it’s important to find one that’s comfortable to hold and easy to use. Equally important is choosing a gun that’s right for your needs. If it’s larger fish or bigger game you’re after, there’s no point using a European banded speargun as you risk bending the shaft.

And if you’re not the best aim just yet, using a pneumatic speargun might scare off your prey as they tend to be quite noisy.

So, how do you choose the right speargun for the job?

The Basics

For the beginner spearos out there, we’ll quickly go through the basics of how a speargun works and the jargon we’ll be using further on.

There are three main components to a speargun: the barrel, the shaft (or spear), and the handle with a trigger. After loading the weapon, you aim, pull the trigger and the shaft is propelled out of the barrel, hopefully into the fish you were targeting. The shaft has a sharp tip at the end which is what goes through your prey to kill it.

So you don’t lose the shaft if you miss your shot and to prevent the fish from making off with it, a line is attached to the shaft at one end and the gun at the other. Some spearguns use a shock cord that is attached between the gun and the line. These can be invaluable as they reduce the tension on the line, reducing the risk of the line snapping.

A line release is another useful component of many spearguns which holds the slack of the line out the way and releases it when you fire. More advanced spearguns feature reels or have a mount where you can attach a reel. This works like a reel on a fishing rod with the line wound around it.

Now you know the basics, here’s what you need to consider when buying a speargun.

Type of Spearfishing

The first thing to consider is the type of spearfishing you’re going to be doing. Are you planning on catching fish while scuba diving in deep waters or will you freedive and stay close to the surface? This will determine the kind of speargun, shaft, speartips, and gun length you need. Shallow water and reef fishing require guns with lighter shafts, a short-range, and less power. Hunting larger prey at depth will require a larger, stronger shaft and a gun with a longer range.

Types of Speargun

There are many types of speargun but just two main types dominate the sport: pneumatic and band-powered. Each has advantages and disadvantages. However, it usually comes down to personal preference and spearfishers tend to find the style that works best for them and stick with it.

Pneumatic Spearguns

Though not as popular today as they were in the 1960s and 70s, pneumatic guns are still widely used throughout the spearfishing world. They are very easy to use, have very little recoil, and can be fired over long distances with both power and accuracy.

The spear is fired by pumping air into the gun. After placing the shaft into the barrel, this compressed-air fires it through the water when the trigger is pulled. The power of a shot is determined by the strength of the user and how much air they can pump into the speargun.

Pneumatic spearguns generally have a compact design and use shafts that are around 0.31-inches (8 mm) thick making them hard to bend or break, ideal for penetrating larger fish. Reloading is quicker and easier than with a band-powered gun which is a feature that should be taken into consideration. If you miss a nice grouper on your first try, a faster reload speed is essential to get off a second shot before it swims away.

One of the major downsides to pneumatic guns is that they tend to be quite noisy when fired. Fish are likely to be scared away if you miss the shot which is why they’re less popular with novice spearfishers. Moisture can build up in the cylinder making them more difficult to maintain. And, although they are still accurate over large distances, they’re less accurate over shorter distances than their band-powered competitors.

Pneumatic spearguns are still very popular with seasoned spearos who prefer their fast-loading action and the compact size that packs plenty of power.

Band-powered Spearguns

Band-powered spearguns dominate the market and are the gun of choice for most spearos as they’re highly accurate and super powerful. They act like a sling-shot, using a band made of an elastic-like material that you pull back and release with the trigger, propelling the spear forward through the water. The bands are often attached to a wishbone, a V-shaped metal or rubber attachment, to make loading easier.

You can expect most band-powered spearguns to have a range anywhere between 3 and 15 plus feet (0.9 m to 4.6+ meters) depending on the length of the barrel and the number of bands you’re using. Unlike pneumatic spears, the power of a shot has nothing to do with the strength of the user. Power is controlled by increasing the number of bands. More bands mean more power. Band-powered guns are also completely silent so won’t scare the fish away if you’re a bad shot!

Now to the downside. Band-powered spearguns take more time to load than pneumatic guns, especially if you’re using multiple bands. They also use slimmer shafts, typically between 0.26 and 0.28 inches (6.5 mm to 7 mm) in diameter, which have a tendency to bend if you’re going for larger fish. Wearing gloves and a chest plate is also advised to protect your hands and body when loading.

Overall, band-powered spearguns are great if you want accuracy, power and are planning on catching small marine species. This combined with the fact that they require little or no maintenance makes this style of gun the best option for beginners.

Where a speargun is made also needs consideration as it has some influence on the weapons performance.

European Spearguns

European spearguns are compact, making them more streamlined when maneuvering through the water. Being more lightweight than American spearguns means reloading is a breeze. They use slim shafts which are perfect for catching small fish at close range, usually less than 10 feet (3 m). However, using a European speargun on larger prey could lead to shaft damage.

American Spearguns

American designed spearguns are typically made of wood and are more powerful and robust compared to their European counterparts. They use thicker shafts which means they can be used to shoot larger game. The increased size makes American spearguns more cumbersome, but it does mean you can install additional bands to improve the overall power delivered in the shot.

Length

In spearfishing, length does matter. Different situations call for different sized weapons. If you’re hunting in tight environments, looking for fish in caves or under boulders, a smaller, more compact gun gives you more maneuverability. Typically you’ll want a speargun somewhere between 19.7 and 29.5 inches (50 cm and 75 cm).

For shallow water and reef spearfishing, where you shoot fish hiding out amongst rocks and coral, a midrange speargun is ideal. These are the most versatile of weapons and can be used for short and long-range shots. Look for a gun measuring 31.5 to 45 inches (80 to 115 cm) to give yourself the best chance of catching your prey.

The longer spearguns are intended for use in deep, open water situations and when hunting big game fish. It’s essential to get power and strength behind the shaft to propel it through the water at high speed. These guns range from 47 and 63 inches (120 cm and 160 cm) in length.

Beginners may benefit from using a shorter or mid-sized gun to begin with and moving up in size as they become more experienced.

Shafts

A shaft is a piece of steel (stainless, galvanized, or hardened) with a tip at the end. Due to its resistance to corrosion, stainless steel is the most common metal used. Shafts vary in size depending on the length of the speargun.

The size, or diameter, of the shaft is important and they tend to range from 0.24 to 0.35 inches (6 mm to 9 mm). Slimmer shafts are faster through the water but don’t pack as much punch so are used for spearing smaller fish. If big game is your target, go for a thicker shaft that will penetrate the skin of larger fish.

Tips

Tips come in three main types: single barb, tri-cut, and pencil-nose. Single barb and pencil-nose tips are designed for catching small to medium delicate-skinned reef species while tri-cut tips are better suited to get through thick-skinned and scaled fish.

Behind the point of the tip is a flopper, a piece of metal riveted to the shaft. The flopper sits flush against the shaft after release, which maintains streamlining, and flops open after passing through a fish to secure your catch in place. There are different kinds but the most common are the single Hawaiian and Tahitian floppers and the double flopper.

Conclusion

Although spearguns are easy to use and have very few moving parts, buying the right speargun takes a lot of thought. You need to know where you are fishing and the type of prey you’re hunting.

Always take into account your experience level and how much of a challenge you’re after. Once you have this figured out, you can choose your gun type, shaft length, and tips for the best chance of success.

Hunting prey under the water can take some getting used to. But whether you’re looking to catch your first fish or have already speared thousands, the thrill and excitement are always there. Just make sure you have the right speargun to make the experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Have you used any of our top picks or do you have a favorite speargun that we’ve missed off the list? Need more information about spearfishing? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Buying Guide

In this buying guide, I’ll unveil to you all the types of spearguns you can choose from. Each one has something unique. But beware of picking a speargun that isn’t suitable based on your needs.

Once you read this guide, you’ll have a thorough understanding of the speargun types currently on the market. And you’ll be able to assess your situation and buy the speargun that perfectly suits your preferences.

Let’s dive right into:

There are currently two dominant speargun types on the market today – Pneumatic and Band Powered.

Pneumatic spearguns, unlike the band powered, don’t have any slang or band to fire the shaft. They are actually powered by air. Here’s how the mechanism work: you put the shaft into the speargun’s barrel. The shaft compresses the air. Once you pull the trigger the compressed air fires the shaft into the targeted direction. Pretty simple, eh?

Pneumatic spearguns might require a loader to load, yet, they tend to be loaded easier than band powered, especially those that feature a band.

Typically, pneumatic spearguns range from 55 to 135cm in length. Based on your experience, you should strive for long guns as you become more experienced. But a good start would be a speargun around 80cm. They might also be heavier than band powered spearguns.

A disadvantage with pneumatic spearguns is that they tend to be quite noisy when you’re shooting. This might scare the prey, and if you aren’t meticulous enough you’ll miss.

When it comes to Band Powered spearguns, it’s worth saying that they are more popular compared to the pneumatic spearguns. They are likewise powerful and accurate weapons. Moreover, they are silent enough.

The power of this gun can be increased significantly merely by adding more bands. What’s more, is that they require quite little maintenance and are easy to operate with.

Similar to the pneumatic, the band powered spearguns tend to range between 50 and 130cm in length. Their structure typically features aluminum, wood, or carbon-fiber. Unlike the pneumatic guns, you don’t need a loader to load the band powered spearguns. Yet, you’ll have to equip yourself with gloves and a chest loading pad as protection.

A disadvantage here is that the band powered spearguns take a longer time to load. But all in all, they are definitely a good fit for those who are looking for effortless operation.

Band Powered spearguns can be sorted out in three types of weapons: American spearguns, European spearguns, and wooden spearguns.

The American spearguns are naturally more powerful compared to the European spearguns, since the shaft the feature is thicker, allowing you to capture bigger fish.They also provide you with the ability to install additional bands to enhance the overall power of the gun. They feature a rigid construction and are extremely balanced.

Whereas the European spearguns tend to easier to maneuver with and very silent. Though they don’t come with a thick shaft, they tend to be perfect for smaller fish in close range, under 10 feet. Moreover, the European spearguns are also exceptionally lightweight. Thus the reloading process becomes a breeze. But don’t hunt larger and bigger fish, you put your shaft at risk since it might bend.

And lastly, wooden spearguns. They are entirely built from wooden materials. Typically, they tend to be very heavy outside water but once you dive the heaviness magically disappears. The mechanism of a wooden rifle is actually built from high-quality materials, ensuring durability. Wooden spearguns are perfect for accurate targeting and shooting.

Now based on your preference, you can choose between pneumatic spearguns or band powered spearguns. Whatever speargun you consider, make sure you’ve gone through the length, structure, and type of the speargun.