Spinlock launches the new ALTO Belt Pack flotation aid
by Mark Jardine 23 Nov 2018 12:00 UTC
Spinlock launches the new ALTO belt pack flotation aid © Spinlock
One of the most interesting products Spinlock launched at METS is the ALTO Belt Pack, which bridges the gap between a buoyancy aid and a lifejacket.
The ALTO Belt Pack is a manual only 75N floatation aid that effectively turns into a horseshoe life-ring around you. It's purposefully manually inflated, so it doesn't automatically inflate when you go in the water. There are many examples in different sports and situations where a bulky flotation aid is not required (i.e. Paddleboarding, Angling, Rowing etc.).
We spoke to Spinlock's Ash Holmes about the brief behind the design:
"We know there are situations where people don't want to wear a PFD or a lifejacket; maybe it's too hot, too bulky, too heavy or they think they don't need it. A typical example would be a dinghy transfer when going ashore from/to your boat. You don't want to take and carry an expensive offshore lifejacket, but you want to wear something just in case of an emergency. More people have fallen in transferring from a tender than a MOB from their boat.
"The ALTO is small, lightweight and comfortable to wear. Worn like a belt around your waist with a single clip, it's one size fits all and has 75 Newtons of buoyancy conforming to the ISO 12402/5 safety standard. The manual release handle is located near the buckle so it's easy to find when you need it. Once the ALTO is inflated, the tube from the waist pack supports the user under the arms and around the chest. The ALTO can be stored easily in a rucksack or a small boat locker. Being a horseshoe, the ALTO can also be used to throw to someone in the water, then inflated.
"The ALTO is not designed to replace a lifejacket, or a fixed foam PFD because they all have different benefits and uses. However, there are situations where the ALTO would be more beneficial, due to its price, size and functionality.
"It's currently been very popular overseas where it's mandatory to wear a flotation aid even when you're paddleboarding. For the UK, we have several new markets to explore and learn about, so 2019 is going to be an exciting year!", explained Ash.
Once again, Spinlock have gone back to basics, looking for solutions to problems and innovating with new products.
Find out more at www.spinlock.co.uk