Side Mount Aluminum 80s, setup with no weights?

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I dive sidemount using AL80s in both a Hollis SMS75 and SMS100. I don't use weights on the tanks. I use fixed D rings on the waist straps instead of the rails for my tanks. I tried using the rails/doorknobs with AL80s at the start of the dive (then move them to the D rings as they become more buoyant), but found it impossible to achieve proper trim, so I start with the tanks on the D rings. Most will say the rails are for steel tanks and I agree, at least for me. I believe there are a few threads here arguing for and against weights on the tanks. Although you will find a vast majority against the practice, and doesn't appear to be the best solution, some have their reasons to do it, and it seems to work for them...

How did you set up the D rings on your sms 100? I just bought one and based on how the waist strap comes around I'd imagine that clipping tanks off there would almost cause them to move to front-mounted tanks.
 
How did you set up the D rings on your sms 100? I just bought one and based on how the waist strap comes around I'd imagine that clipping tanks off there would almost cause them to move to front-mounted tanks.

I've actually moved to steel tanks now, but...

I bought my SMS used. It already had the "Edd Mods" and waist D rings installed, but here's their placement if it helps...

15916617857647308901355092906459.jpg

15916618579214566490214612726324.jpg

It's been a while since I've used AL80s in SM and at the time, I probably THOUGHT they trimmed out better than they actually did.
 
Remember that with AL tanks you need 2 sets of D rings per side (or sliding D ring). Also I recommend doing with low profile D rings instead of the big one as shown above. Your tank trim will thank you for it.
 
Just went through this exercise and ended up adding these: Titanium Sliding D-Ring for sliding rings. They were a little tight on the harness strap so I had to open them up a bit but they seem to slide fine with AL80s now.

I have them too, they're way too tight on the stock belt of an SMS 100, but they slide nicely on the SMS75 and SMS50 belts

Sometimes the truth is rough. If you’re putting weights on 80s you dont know what you’re doing. I’d even go as far as to say you shouldnt be diving sidemount

because mocking people is always more fun than helping them improve
 
I'm just curious - would it work for the Hollis SMS or Nomad? I have seen these only shortly in a shop. It seemed like the bottoms of the cylinders are ment to be clipped on some rail. I asked, how can a diver trim out the aluminum cylinders with this system? They answered that one should install weights on the bottoms or dive steels...


I have friends that use the SMS 75. You just have to add D rings in the front to clip to when the tanks get light.


Edit: Fooled by the Zombie Thread
 
How did you set up the D rings on your sms 100? I just bought one and based on how the waist strap comes around I'd imagine that clipping tanks off there would almost cause them to move to front-mounted tanks.
Not 80s once they are partially used.
Clip to the rear rail when they are full (as long as there's no helium in them)
Move the clip forward once the tails get light. Same as with a razor/xdeep
 
A screen shot from 3 years ago before I knew what I was doing. Left side is a full AL80 with 21/35 - you can even see the lead on my waist behind it. It's stupid not to put it someplace useful. Al80 of EAN50 on the right side is hanging low because it pulls the whole buttplate over to the right 2"

0fe68c31200487c46c40f12b5a860feb.png


2019 version: Full Al80 of 15/55 with 2lbs on the cam band riding properly. Same CCR, same DR buttplate. Can't even see the AL80 of EAN50 because its perfectly aligned with my thigh
IMG_20190730_222503_699.jpg
 
I've actually moved to steel tanks now, but...

I bought my SMS used. It already had the "Edd Mods" and waist D rings installed, but here's their placement if it helps...

It's been a while since I've used AL80s in SM and at the time, I probably THOUGHT they trimmed out better than they actually did.

It helped a lot thank you!
 
Not 80s once they are partially used.
Clip to the rear rail when they are full (as long as there's no helium in them)
Move the clip forward once the tails get light. Same as with a razor/xdeep

Thanks!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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