Salvimar recently added the latest version of its famous Hero line to the catalog: the Nightmare. I open the package containing a 95; inside, it's housed in a semi-transparent hard plastic sleeve (I would prefer eco-friendly packaging materials). In addition to the speargun, the package contains everything needed for setup (nylon line, rivets, and user instructions), a stainless steel muzzle bridge, and a left-handed ergonomic cheek pad (the right-handed one is already installed on the handle). Salvimar does not include a reel as standard, as they want the user to select the model based on the type of fishing they will be doing.

One distinctive feature of this speargun is its significant mass, which I notice as soon as I take it out of the packaging. This is a deliberate and thoughtful decision by the company, aiming to offer a speargun with "the performance of a wooden model, but with greater durability and about half the price."

Starting with aesthetics, this version of the Hero has been "nightmarized," giving the speargun a matte black color throughout all its components (except for the stainless steel parts, which retain their metallic finish) and grey lettering printed on the barrel.

But beyond the visual appearance, the key difference in the Hero Nightmare (as with the previously tested Ares) is the setup. The Nightmare uses Salvimar by Primeline bands, a high-quality natural latex rubber produced by the U.S.-based Primeline Industries, ensuring top-tier performance. The natural latex rubber differs from those made from extruded or synthetic materials. Primeline uses a “continuous dipping process,” where the bands are built layer by layer, providing excellent physical properties with less than 50 micrograms of protein per gram. Extracted from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, it is processed in its original liquid form to achieve a uniformly distributed formula. The result is a product with superior physical properties, including greater tear resistance. The Hero is equipped with a pair of 16mm matte black bands, a formula designed to achieve an optimized elastic modulus, ensuring an excellent balance between loading effort and power output, making it suitable for all types of fishing.

The standard spear is a single-flopper type (mounted underneath); from size 75 to 95, it features the 7mm Capture, while from 105 to 125, it uses the 7.5mm Pacific. In the Hero Nightmare 95, the Capture spear is 130 centimeters long, with three shark-fin tabs made using MIM (Metal Injection Molding) technology, laser-welded.

The main components of the Hero Nightmare are the classic three: handle, barrel, and muzzle.

The handle is made from 30% glass-filled nylon in black, a highly durable and proven plastic material. The non-removable chest-loading pad curves without interfering with the hand, even seemingly wrapping around it, and ends with a soft black thermoplastic insert. The release mechanism is an engineering marvel, the well-known Heavy Metal 350 (certified for a 350-kilogram load), made entirely of 17/4 PH stainless steel. The release box is compact, and on the right side, we find the stainless steel line release, injection-molded, with smoothed and perfectly rounded edges for obvious reasons. The position of the line release is customizable, and it can even be moved to the left side if desired. The trigger is produced using a micro-fusion process, with MIM (Metal Injection Molding) technology, and features a wide skeletonized design with fully polished surfaces. The sensitivity can be adjusted via a screw located under the trigger guard. The ergonomic stock, with its handprint and thumb rest, strongly defines the speargun's design, comfortably accommodating the hand. The thermoplastic used is black, and the package includes a second cheek pad for left-handers. At the base of the stock, there’s a removable triangular stainless steel fixing hook, used to attach a carabiner or the float line. On both sides of the stock, there are two large wings to keep the line away from the sightline and the spearhead. The connection between the handle and the barrel is a known critical point, but Salvimar has addressed any potential issues by applying elliptical O-rings with calibrated housings, designed in-house, to ensure a secure fit.
The barrel has a reinforced elliptical shaft (in the lower part thanks to a thicker band compared to the thickness of the rest of the shaft), asymmetrical and made of aeronautical aluminum alloy; it is over a millimeter thick to ensure great robustness and rigidity. This shape allows for more air to be "stored" inside compared to an equivalent barrel of the same length but with a circular cross-section. This means that the Hero Nightmare has greater buoyancy and mass, allowing the use of thicker shafts paired with more powerful rubber bands. This translates into more power with a well-balanced speargun and good recoil control. Upon closer examination, additional parallel stiffening ribs are noticeable on the top and bottom. The shaft guide is made up of a series of inserts made of glass-filled Teflon, a material with a very low friction index and self-lubricating properties. The inserts are sequentially placed into the slotted groove of the barrel, forming a continuous line that runs along its entire length. The barrel of the 95 measures 47 millimeters in width and 32 millimeters in height.

The head is of the open type, molded (like the handle) from glass-filled nylon. It is compact and low-profile, with bilateral "spikes." It connects to the barrel via a cylindrical male joint with a double O-ring and is aesthetically finished to make it appear as one with the barrel. It does not have separate slots for the rubber bands but a single space where they are placed.

At sea

The day finally arrived for the first sea trial to properly "stress test" the Hero Nightmare. The water is starting to warm up, and with my friend Peppe, we decided to take the rubber boat out in search of some good grouper spots. After all the routine operations, we're already fishing near a known waypoint of ours, simply called "cigliodentex." From the name alone, you can guess the usual inhabitants of this ridge of rocks, about a hundred meters long, which runs parallel to the coast, resting on a seabed of mixed sand and posidonia. At the top, the depth is 14 meters, gently sloping southward, while it drops steeply to the north, reaching a depth of 19 meters.

Peppe lets me take the first dive, and once in the water, I arm my Hero Nightmare 95, loading the furthest Prime 16 rubber onto the penultimate notch, after threading it through the circular rubber without needing to pass it through the preloading fin; then it's time to pull the second rubber onto the last notch: the Nightmare is ready! I have to admit, this rubber band loads without too much difficulty, even though it's 16 millimeters. The rubber-coated stern pad does its job and doesn't bruise the chest even after a full day of fishing.

Before I start breathing up, I check that the line passes correctly through the line release and the trigger catch; then, I glance at the reel, the Salvimar Vertical Reel 70, and adjust the drag wheel so it's neither too tight nor too loose. I'm ready to start preparing for the dive. I relax, take the last few breaths, and down I go.

I hold the Hero close to my body, trying to conceal it; during the descent, I already spot a few small dentex circling in the distance, which gives me hope. I settle on the side of the rocky mass, which slopes gently, and spot the whole school. The dentex carousel begins, but they are all small, so I wait. My hand fits perfectly around the ergonomic grip, and the speargun's balance is almost neutral, except for a very slight buoyancy toward the head.
A movement in the Posidonia, at the base of the slope, catches my attention; I gently sweep the Nightmare, using my second hand for support since I need to turn about 180 degrees, and the weight of the rifle is noticeable. I focus on the target: it’s a nice grouper! Since I still have air, I give it a shot, though it doesn't seem to be cooperating. I take a chance, trying to make use of the rifle's range and characteristics. The fish is about 4 meters away, and I give myself a slight push with my supporting hand (to gain a few extra centimeters) and shoot on instinct. I barely notice that I've pulled the trigger due to the sensitivity with which it is calibrated, which also contributes to the weapon’s accuracy. The fish thrashes and ends up on the line. I see that it’s hit in the center of its body, so I calmly rise to detach it from the bottom to prevent it from retreating into a hole.

Once on the surface, I analyze the shot while I place the beautiful grouper on the stringer. Despite the Hero Nightmare 95 being armed with fairly "strong" equipment, I didn't feel any significant recoil; the credit goes to the substantial mass and the stiffness of the barrel. I fish all day, even in shallow water, to test the rifle’s maneuverability on elusive fish like mullets. I realize that vertical movement is more challenging than horizontal. That said, given its great power, if you want to optimize maneuverability, you can opt for a shorter model while still having superior performance compared to longer traditional spearguns.

In summary, I find this rifle undoubtedly suitable and designed for ambush fishing, for descending on large groupers, or for blue water hunting. And one thing is certain: once you get comfortable with the Hero Nightmare 95, you won't be able to do without it!

My ratings!

Construction technique: 10 The Hero project is already a guarantee from Salvimar, and with the Nightmare, they raise the bar even higher, thanks to details designed and developed by the Ligurian company. Every component is made from top-quality materials. It deserves the highest score.

Finish level: 9 It’s the details that make this speargun great: the Heavy Metal 350 release mechanism, the handle, the reinforced elliptical barrel, the additional stiffeners, the head, the rubber bands, and the shaft. It’s near perfection.

Balance: 8.5 When loaded, the Nightmare tends to be slightly buoyant at the head. This can be mitigated by removing the stainless-steel ring under the handle. The overall balance is more than good.

Maneuverability: 7 The significant mass is noticeable, and it’s obvious that movements, especially vertical ones, are affected. A bit of "experience" is needed to move it smoothly.

Performance: 9 The rifle has excellent range. When you pull the trigger, you almost don't notice it, thanks to the smoothness and sensitivity of the release. The 16 mm Primeline rubbers, paired with the 7 mm Capture shaft, guarantee great thrust and remarkable penetration at full range.