Side Pinch Buckle on Weight Belt ?

[John Dickerson]

Both my daughter and granddaughter have had weight belts come off at depth in the last few years. Both of them kept their heads about them and kicked down hard and grabbed onto their buddy. One had a plastic buckle and one a metal buckle. I am thinking about switching all 3 of us to the side pinch buckles like you see on camping equipment, and putting weight pockets on our belts. I think these may be more secure than the normal quick release buckles normally used on weight belts. Anyone tried this ? I've seen enough people loose weights from integrated weight BCs entering the water from boats that we do not want to try this option I know this may make ditching weights slightly more difficult, but in more than 30 years of diving, I have never needed to drop my weights nor have I ever seen anyone else need to drop their weights.

 

[rhwestfall]

I've seen the squeeze buckles fail in too many instances to make me want to use them as a weight belt....

50+ diving years combined with my wife and me, and the only weight belt issue was one sliding off the hips, never opening.... I'd look at things like too long of a "tail" facilitating ease of opening. No issues with metal or "plastic" buckles.

YMMV

 

[W W Meixner]

Both my daughter and granddaughter have had weight belts come off at depth in the last few years. Both of them kept their heads about them and kicked down hard and grabbed onto their buddy. One had a plastic buckle and one a metal buckle. I am thinking about switching all 3 of us to the side pinch buckles like you see on camping equipment, and putting weight pockets on our belts. I think these may be more secure than the normal quick release buckles normally used on weight belts. Anyone tried this ? I've seen enough people loose weights from integrated weight BCs entering the water from boats that we do not want to try this option I know this may make ditching weights slightly more difficult, but in more than 30 years of diving, I have never needed to drop my weights nor have I ever seen anyone else need to drop their weights.

John...ditch the weight belts in favor of BCD's with integrated weight systems...Avoid the systems that have pockets with snap in assemblies...because they will...as you have stated...unintentionally drop out when swimming horizontal...especially if the buckles are worn...or over-loaded which is a common practice ...shop for systems where the diver actually has to perform a function such as opening Velcro closures...or physically compressing a ''buckle'' system to get it to release...
A proper integrated weight system will instill confidence in both of your girls...it will make it easier for them to reduce ballast as their skills improve...it will help them to achieve peak performance buoyancy much easier...it won't rob their confidence worrying about a rapid ascent should they lose their weight belt...and it's far more comfortable...not mention...purposely designed equipment for scuba diving has built in safety factors and is designed to a specific set of standards...where other ''substitute'' equipment may not have been given that same ''safety factor'' consideration...
Weight belts may still have a place in scuba diving in certain circumstances...but for the most part they're technology from another era...there is a better mouse trap...which is far safer...
Two current generation BCD's are considerably more expensive than two new weight belts...but if you an your wife have been at odds as to what to get your girls for Christmas...your problem has just been solved...
Safe Diving...Warren

 

[Akimbo]

I have never been a fan for cam-style buckles on weight belts. For recreational diving, I use freediving weight belts, which also have the advantage of staying put wherever you want them due to their elastic properties.

Example: https://www.makospearguns.com/Freedive-Weight-Belt-p/mfdwb.htm

Commercial and military (non-Scuba) divers usually use much more reliable and robust buckles, but are not nearly as convenient for changing weights on the belt.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Second the MAKO belt! I have 4 of them and recommend them to everyone.

I hate weight integrated BC's. Not because of the times the pockets fall out or fail (which they do, some brands are notorious for this), but because divers are not trained to use them properly. I have a WI BC and only use it in the pool. If diving a single tank I use a backplate and wing with a MAKO belt under the crotch strap.

Divers don't use weight integrated BC's properly. They load all the weight in the removable pockets and maybe put some in the trim pockets. If one of the pockets falls out or is accidentally released the diver loses 1/3 to 1/2 their lead and is on an express ride to the surface. They also make the BC unnecessarily heavy.

The real solution is to be weighted properly and distribute the weight among multiple systems so that the loss of any part allows the diver to remain in control of the ascent.

As an example before I switched to a BPW. Drysuit with steel HP 80 and Oceanic probe jacket BC. I needed 28 lbs of lead in addition to the steel tank. 4 lbs went in each BC pocket, 5 lbs in the non-dumpable trim pockets, 10 lbs on a belt with individual pockets that I could access the front two on easily. I made sure the belt was very secure.

Switched to a BPW. Now needed 22 lbs of lead because I did not have the inherent buoyancy of the useless padding and trapped amount of air in the jacket. 6 lbs was now in the form of the steel plate, plus I bolted two 4 lb stainless steel plates to it. so 14 lbs there, the remaining 8 was split between cam band pouches and that same pocket belt. The belt had 4 lbs in it which in the event of a failure of the wing or drysuit is enough to let go of and start to get positive.
The rest was not coming off because it didn't need to.

 

[Bob DBF]

Did the belt come off because the buckle failed, or the weightbelt was not re-tightened at depth to make up for compression?


Bob

 

[John Dickerson]

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess this isn't the best idea I've ever had !! I think I'm going to try one of the Mako belts, and if I like it buy a couple mare.

 

[John Dickerson]

Both of them had their buckle come loose on warm water dives with no wetsuit so compression wasn't the issue.

 

[Akimbo]

I have noticed that the is some variability between cam buckles, even the same brand. This is understandable given the potential of bending from rough handling and webbing thickness tolerances. IMO, they are fine for cylinder harness belly-bands or weight harnesses with suspenders, but are not the best option of a weight belt.

 

[John Dickerson]

I 100% agree with you. After witnessing love ones in situations with potentially catastrophic outcomes, I started thinking about the design of the normal weight belt buckle that depends on tension and friction to stay latched. I seem to remember my uncle and cousin diving on our family vacations to Pompano Beach when I was too young for diving. I seem to remember them having a wire bale that went over a cam type buckle that had a notch for the bail on their belts. This had to be back in the early 60's. I wonder if something like that is still around or maybe there's a reason they aren't I'm probably just way overthinking this, but I'm retired and have time.