Pblazer
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Has anyone used them before and what do you think of them?
Cheers,
Patrick
Cheers,
Patrick
Weight Belt Suspenders
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covediver
Contributor
if you are talking about a suspender, weight pocket system with a weight release for emergencies they are great. I have used one for eight years and really like it. Some have individual pockets that release weight, others use a dual "ripchord" system with variations. if you refer to a web harness that a weight belt threads through without a mechanism for releasing weight, I would not use it. If you have to fumble for release clasps on the suspenders under a bc, it does not work.
I agree with cove diver.
A harness such as a DUI weight & trim is great. It can't slip off your hips and carries 40 pounds with relative ease. It lets you carry weight below your natural hips and that helps with a buoyant lower body such as when diving dry. They also allow for rapid and incremental weight ditching.
A pair of suspenders added to a common weight belt meets some of the same needs but the implmentations I have seen do not ditch elegantly.
Pete
A harness such as a DUI weight & trim is great. It can't slip off your hips and carries 40 pounds with relative ease. It lets you carry weight below your natural hips and that helps with a buoyant lower body such as when diving dry. They also allow for rapid and incremental weight ditching.
A pair of suspenders added to a common weight belt meets some of the same needs but the implmentations I have seen do not ditch elegantly.
Pete
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I use them and I like them. I have soft weights and each weight is in a pocket. Unfortunately, I have too many pockets and can't get the belt quite small enough with the suspenders, so I need to cut a pocket out.
About the ditching.........
Quite frankly, I don't want a weight system where ditching weight could be almost 20 pounds at a crack like the DUI harness. Talk about a rocket ride to the surface! My weight belt will not come off easily. I can take weights out one pocket at a time, or I can pull my knife out and cut the belt. Properly weighted, I just can't see any reason why I would need to ditch weights. I can swim to the surface. In a drysuit, I could have a suit failure, but then I have my wing available for bouyancy. Quick ditching just seems like a recipe for DCS to me and I'm perfectly happy with my weightbelt and suspenders combo that cost me less than $50 total.
About the ditching.........
Quite frankly, I don't want a weight system where ditching weight could be almost 20 pounds at a crack like the DUI harness. Talk about a rocket ride to the surface! My weight belt will not come off easily. I can take weights out one pocket at a time, or I can pull my knife out and cut the belt. Properly weighted, I just can't see any reason why I would need to ditch weights. I can swim to the surface. In a drysuit, I could have a suit failure, but then I have my wing available for bouyancy. Quick ditching just seems like a recipe for DCS to me and I'm perfectly happy with my weightbelt and suspenders combo that cost me less than $50 total.
I really like the DUI weight system it packs up easier than the Oxycheq unit. The only thing I don't like is that it twists up easily.
I have been using a DUI harness for the last three years and have found it very user friendly. The model I have has 4 pouches which I can open independantly in the water as well as the rip cord system for a real emergency.
I used to use the DUI weight harnass and really liked it. I have to be cautious with my back, and taking the weight off my hips really helped.
My LDS also carries the SeaSoft version which looks even more comfortable: Seasoft Seawolf Weight Harness
My LDS also carries the SeaSoft version which looks even more comfortable: Seasoft Seawolf Weight Harness
Bonairetrip
Contributor
Over the years, I have used all manner of weight belts (standard, with pockets, non-ditch harness, a ditchable velcro style harness, seasoft neoprene belts, DUI classic, standard with pockets, several kinds of buckles, etc.) and prefer, by far, the DUI classic.
Hypertech: I disagree. First, the DUI has two pockets (and one rip cord) on each side. That means one could, using your method, easily drop less than 20 pounds at a time. Second, one can configure their weighting in any number of ways (backplate, bold-on weights, trim weights, etc.) so that the belt is holding less than 40 pounds. That means you could easily configure the belt so that you could drop less.
All of that said, I also think some of your concerns are misplaced. First observation: treating the bends is easier than treating drowning. Second observation: IMHO, the best way to stabilize a diver thrashing at the surface (where many problems occur) is to make them positive (and, ideally, very positive). The easiest way is to dump weights. Third observation: assume you are negative and are not able to take appropriate action (injury, panic, etc.). This could be at the surface or at depth. It could be with the diver thrashing or the diver immobile.
What is easier: pulling a ripcord or pulling individual weights out of pockets or using a cutting tool?
Hypertech: I disagree. First, the DUI has two pockets (and one rip cord) on each side. That means one could, using your method, easily drop less than 20 pounds at a time. Second, one can configure their weighting in any number of ways (backplate, bold-on weights, trim weights, etc.) so that the belt is holding less than 40 pounds. That means you could easily configure the belt so that you could drop less.
All of that said, I also think some of your concerns are misplaced. First observation: treating the bends is easier than treating drowning. Second observation: IMHO, the best way to stabilize a diver thrashing at the surface (where many problems occur) is to make them positive (and, ideally, very positive). The easiest way is to dump weights. Third observation: assume you are negative and are not able to take appropriate action (injury, panic, etc.). This could be at the surface or at depth. It could be with the diver thrashing or the diver immobile.
What is easier: pulling a ripcord or pulling individual weights out of pockets or using a cutting tool?
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I said up to 20 pounds. I hope your not carrying 40 pounds in it, but its possible. I do use bolt on weights and keep 12-20 pounds on the belt depending on what exposure suit and tank I'm using.
After doing the rescue class, I don't care what system you are using - the chance of me being able to figure out how to work it while you are thrashing around is zero. I'm grabbing your tank, making us both positive, and then once you settle down, you can drop your weights if it is still warranted, someone helping can pull your weights, or if you are still panicking, I may make an attempt at figuring out your weight system, but most likely the shears are coming out if your weights need to come off and I can't figure it out almost immediately.
There are just too many weight systems out there to expect someone who discovers you to have any idea how yours works. For example, when I don't use the suspenders, how many blue water divers are going to realize that if they release my belt, its just going to get stuck on the crotch strap? Most of them have probably never even seen one. I'm sticking with my opinion that the necessity of ditching weights is really not the issue it is often made out to be.
Get whatever you are comfortable using. The DUI system and those other systems do look nice, and I'd probably toss my belt/suspenders if you gave me one. But, for a lot less money, I'm happy with what I have.
After doing the rescue class, I don't care what system you are using - the chance of me being able to figure out how to work it while you are thrashing around is zero. I'm grabbing your tank, making us both positive, and then once you settle down, you can drop your weights if it is still warranted, someone helping can pull your weights, or if you are still panicking, I may make an attempt at figuring out your weight system, but most likely the shears are coming out if your weights need to come off and I can't figure it out almost immediately.
There are just too many weight systems out there to expect someone who discovers you to have any idea how yours works. For example, when I don't use the suspenders, how many blue water divers are going to realize that if they release my belt, its just going to get stuck on the crotch strap? Most of them have probably never even seen one. I'm sticking with my opinion that the necessity of ditching weights is really not the issue it is often made out to be.
Get whatever you are comfortable using. The DUI system and those other systems do look nice, and I'd probably toss my belt/suspenders if you gave me one. But, for a lot less money, I'm happy with what I have.
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