Weight type: bare lead vs coated vs lead shots

[eelnoraa]

I decided to get my own weight belt and weight. I think I am getting xs scuba 6 pocket belt. Is this a good choices? As for weight, what is the advantages of different type? uncoated lead seems to be the least expasive. Is there any reason go to for coated for lead shot? I have never used uncoated lead before, all the places I ever been go, eight for snorkeling, snuba, dive shops, they all gave me either coated for lead shot. So I wonder if they do it for a good reason.

 

[diversteve]

Lead shot banging together releases small amounts of lead dust into the water. In the bigger scheme of things, it's probably not much. But still potentially toxic to coral.

 

[it_mike]

By the same token, the aquarium won't allow us to dive with shot due to potential leakage and consumption by the fish.

 

[spectrum]

I prefer coated solid lead weights. The kind that you weave in and out of, not the ones you pass straight though. I find that the weaving style has the lead hanging from the belt where the pass though style gets bound more uncomfortably against you. The coating makes them slightly bigger so they are a little harder to fit into fully loaded pockets.

Bare solids are just as good but will tend to mar your suit over time with lead residue. Environmentally I would not worry about what sheds from these.

The lead shot bags are of course soft. The bags will not last forever. The lead shots provide lots of surface area and hold water. That means they need to ride home in some sort of tub. Not only will they be dripping but the drippings are lead laced. When you go to rinse them you will find they release a nasty cloud of lead and whatever else accumulated in those tea bags. The retention also means you are lugging that much more water with you when you exit the water. My wife is presently retiring her soft weights for most of these reasons.

Rigged well a weight belt of 20 + pounds need not be uncomfortable so save yourself some $$ with hard weights.

I have 3 weight systems that I use.

Belt 1 is a standard 2 inch webbed belt. On it I have 2 of the XS scuba weight pockets. This belt is for dives needing 2-8 pounds. I just add whatever hard weights are need and can quickly set it as needed. 4 keepers are used on the belt to keep the weight down in the lower half of my body. This keeps the actual weights from bearing down on me and it keeps my center of gravity low.

Belt 2 is also a standard 2 inch webbed belt. There is a 5 pound weight on each side. behind this is an XS scuba pocket on each side. This belt goes from 10 - 20 pounds just by adding any weight needed above 10 pounds. Same deal on the keepers.

System 3 is a DUI weight and trim. My system of choice when diving dry.

Where live I can use any number of these systems in a single day at this time of the year. Current conditions are water temperatures from the 70's down into the 40's so I can do a shallow pond dive in a shorty followed by a deeper dive into the 40's diving dry. Not needing to re-lace belts is a big plus.

The XS Scuba 6 pocket belt would be a nice Swiss Army knife solution if you will use most/all of the pockets most of the time. They easily swallow a 5 pound standard coated weight. I am talking about the common Sea Pearls brand hard weights.

Some of the home cast items have all of the draft in one direction and get very broad. The actual weight of home pours is also frequently out of control. They can also be pretty rough and hard on your suit & gear.

Pete

 

[Bonairetrip]

How much weight will be on your belt?

 

[eelnoraa]

How much weight will be on your belt?

I was using 20lb. That was with one piece 7mm wetsuit.

I got 4x 5lb lead shots for rental. The weight belt they rented me is a 5 pocket belt around the back type. I felt my back is heavy and constantly tent to roll up side down. I consider XS pocket belt because I can easily shift the pockets toward the front to counter my rolling effect. 6 pocket version just because in case I need more weight than 20lb (if I rented a John/jacket wetsuit).

It looks like hard weight is the way to go, right? As for coated for uncoated, it seelms uncoated is a lot cheaper. I found a uncoated lead for $1.25/lb if I buy in bulk, in any demonination of 2, 3, 4 and 5. Price is very attractive. But I also want to do things right the first time. I don't want to have to upgrade the weight later.

 

[bleeb]

Some people have also applied coating themselves to their uncoated solid weights. I can't remember where exactly but somewhere in one of the SB equipment forums people have offered tips on what coatings to use, how to do this, etc.

 

[bsumner]

Spectrum: good post - thanks!

 

[Bonairetrip]

I also prefer hard weights for the reasons Spectrum said. They are simple and clean. If you use lead, I prefer the type that spectrum references.

Just to confuse things further, I prefer to have a combo of ditchable and non-ditchable weight. For me, that means using a SS backplate with a DUI weight & trim. That is what works best for me -- that may or may not be the answer for you.

You are thinking about where you want to wear your weight and that is a good thing. Your idea is a solid one as are other options or combinations of options. These might include: DUI weight & trim, SeaSoft Seawolf harness, backplate, trim weights, weight integrated bc, steel rather than aluminum tanks, etc.

 

[eelnoraa]

Just to confuse things further, I prefer to have a combo of ditchable and non-ditchable weight. For me, that means using a SS backplate with a DUI weight & trim. That is what works best for me -- that may or may not be the answer for you.

A question on how you use DUI harness. Do you wear it inside or outside of your bp/w harness?

My guess it would be inside, right? If so, os the weight pocket above or below the bp/w harness weight strap? It seems to me there will be too many strap everywhere, on shoulder, chest, waist ... Can you enlighten me?