Your thoughts on a practical weight belt for travel and comfort

[EL Pistoffo]

I'll need to purchase a couple of weight belts for me and the wife soon. We dive only warm waters and travel sometimes. Usually only use a 3mm shorty or bare. Travel style BC. I was considering a simple rubber weight belt or a pocketed weight belt. I like the idea of the pocket belt because you don't have go through the hassle of threading weights. I saw one belt in particular that is a little pricey but I don't know if its overkill: Pinnacle Comfo Belt at LeisurePro
The rubber belts are comfortable and don't slip all over.

Any better ideas?

 

[ronscuba]

How much weight do you and your wife use ?

 

[agilis]

I use a neoprene pocket weight belt when traveling. Very soft, very comfortable, can be used without anything but a bathing suit.

 

[Colliam7]

I'll need to purchase a couple of weight belts for me and the wife soon. We dive only warm waters and travel sometimes. Usually only use a 3mm shorty or bare. Travel style BC. I was considering a simple rubber weight belt or a pocketed weight belt. I like the idea of the pocket belt because you don't have go through the hassle of threading weights. I saw one belt in particular that is a little pricey but I don't know if its overkill: Pinnacle Comfo Belt at LeisurePro
The rubber belts are comfortable and don't slip all over.

I am not sure I understand your reasoning - not disputing it, just saying I don't understand it. Here is what I think you are saying.

You want a belt you can travel with. OK. You don't like belts with which the weights 'slip all over'. Makes sense. You don't like to thread your weights (multiple times). I added the parenthetical expression because I sense that is part of the issue. I can buy that.

So, a question: do you change your weight configuration while at your travel destination? If not, I don't see the advantage of a pocket belt, other than doing a weight check and adjusting your weight easily at the beginning of the trip. Beyond that, . . . . ??

If not, then you have to thread weights 1 time, maybe you need to adjust their position, but you only thread them once. If your concern is that the weights slip, use a plastic weight keeper (Scuba Diving Plastic Weight Belt Webbing Keeper Retainer Blue | eBay) - $0.99 each, available almost everywhere. I carry a handful of them when I travel - very light.

Rubber belts are great - I have 3 different ones - a Trident Wire Buckle rubber belt, a Cressi, and a Mako. I still have to thread them, at least once, when I travel. I love the Mako weights that don't require threading - I have yet to see any resorts that have them, when I am traveling.

The Pinnacle belt is fine if you want to pay the price. Why you would want to, for a travel belt, is beyond me. But, it is your money, spend it as you wish.

 

[redacted]

That pinnacle belt is stupid. You really only need pockets in the front. You don't want weights in the back. the XS Scuba belt is a better design but still a bit pricey (XS Scuba Weight Belt at LeisurePro). I got one cheaper on ebay but my wife decided it was her's. I'm happy with simple pockets with a zipper (Aqua Mesh Weight Belt with Zipper Pockets at LeisurePro). But make sure you get one where the two end pockets are forward of your hips. Don't just go by waist size. With the XS Scuba design, the is adjustable.

 

[buddhasummer]

I'm guessing in a 3mm or bare you're not using a whole lot of lead in which case I wouldn't have thought threading a couple of weights was a big issue. I always travel with my own weight belt, simple webbing with metal buckle, as often when traveling the dive ops have weight belts with plastic buckles and I don't like plastic buckles. Unless you buy a belt with pockets you re going to be threading. As Colium7 posted you can use weight keepers to stop your weights from slipping but again you're till threading. I twist my belt at the point of the weight and that stops it slipping.

 

[Damselfish]

I'm a fan of pocket style belts. I don't use mine anymore since I got a WI BC, but my husband still does. Much easier to load and change - sure you may not change your belt often once you get it set up, but once in awhile you do, and it may as well be convenient even if it's just at the beginning and end of a week. Also, I think they're much more comfortable. I do think a mesh type belt is a better idea than that pinnacle one though, which besides being bulky and expensive looks like it would take forever to dry - not a good travel feature. I don't think you need padding, the plain mesh/fabric style takes enough of the edge off the weights.

I disagree with there only being a need for pockets in front. For some people and their particular gear, that may be the best way to set things up. But not the same for everyone.

 

[fisheater]

I use a rubber belt. It takes less than 5 minutes to thread a rubber belt. Not a big deal.


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[TSandM]

I love my rubber weight belt, but I have been to places where they only had soft weights, which won't work. So I take my XS Scuba pocketed belt on trips instead.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

How much weight do you and your wife use ?

I use maybe 14-16lbs tops. The wife maybe 12lbs tops.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 08:44 PM ----------

So, a question: do you change your weight configuration while at your travel destination? If not, I don't see the advantage of a pocket belt, other than doing a weight check and adjusting your weight easily at the beginning of the trip. Beyond that, . . . . ??

There are circumstances where I have changed weights during travel. On a cruise, at just about every port I will book a dive. Another is moving from one dive Resort at a location to another Resort in different part of island or other nearby island.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 08:45 PM ----------

That pinnacle belt is stupid. You really only need pockets in the front. You don't want weights in the back. the XS Scuba belt is a better design but still a bit pricey (XS Scuba Weight Belt at LeisurePro). I got one cheaper on ebay but my wife decided it was her's. I'm happy with simple pockets with a zipper (Aqua Mesh Weight Belt with Zipper Pockets at LeisurePro). But make sure you get one where the two end pockets are forward of your hips. Don't just go by waist size. With the XS Scuba design, the is adjustable.

That belt looks like another possible choice, but not crazy about plastic buckle and not as comfortable as rubber.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 08:48 PM ----------

I do think a mesh type belt is a better idea than that pinnacle one though, which besides being bulky and expensive looks like it would take forever to dry - not a good travel feature. I don't think you need padding, the plain mesh/fabric style takes enough of the edge off the weights.

The same thing crossed my mind as far as drying time goes. Wet gear sucks for traveling=heavy.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 08:49 PM ----------

I love my rubber weight belt, but I have been to places where they only had soft weights, which won't work. So I take my XS Scuba pocketed belt on trips instead.

I considered the same scenario.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 08:51 PM ----------

So rubber belt is the cheapest and lightest option. Pockets, possibly more comfort and flexibility with weight types.

I could just go with rubber belt, steel buckle and a few single quick attach weight pockets and I've got it all. Take off pockets for threading weights, put on pockets for soft weight or quick use.