Additional Weights for Thicker Suit?

[labaum]

Thanks to everyone for your quick and helpful responses. I often tell people that the last vestige of gentlemen (and ladies) rests with divers, people who are quick to assist and respond, offer thoughtful advice and counsel, and look out for one another....Larry


I dive with 10 pounds with my standard config which includes a 3mm Henderson Gold Core suit. Holding all other gear equal save a thicker suit and hood is there a rule of thumb as to how much add'l weight one adds? The new suit is a 7/5mm Henderson Gold Core as well as a Henderson Hood (finding somone who wants to get rid of their gear, priceless).
Much thanks.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

You don't use much weight to begin with do you? That's good. I'd add 4 pounds but bring down a couple of extra 2's with you just in case you don't stay down with the extra 4. I'll weight myself at the end of a dive so air volumn isn't such a factor.

 

[dkktsunami]

I dive with 10 pounds with my standard config which includes a 3mm Henderson Gold Core suit. Holding all other gear equal save a thicker suit and hood is there a rule of thumb as to how much add'l weight one adds? The new suit is a 7/5mm Henderson Gold Core as well as a Henderson Hood (finding somone who wants to get rid of their gear, priceless).
Much thanks.

4 to 6 lbs. estimated additional weight. Experiment.

 

[redacted]

Measure the bouyancy of each piece of neoprene in you closet and record the results in your log book. Then you can make all the necessary adjustments without having to resort to trial and error.

You need a pool or some larger body of water, a net bag that you can fasten to each piece you want to "weigh", and a assortment of lead weights. Attach the bag to the suit in such a manner that the suit will readily expel any trapped air as it sinks. Float it in the pool and add lead incrementally until it sinks. Each time you add an increment of lead, shake the suit to dislodge any trapped air. After it sinks, make sure no trapped air pockets remain and then remove lead in small increments until it wants to float again. Add that last pound back in, verify that it sinks, and record. As neoprene ages, it may loose some of its insulating quality along with some of its bouyancy, so repeat every few years.

Be prepared for some surprises. I'd have never guessed that a 7mm 2-piece could require 30 lb.

 

[dirthead]

With my 3mil fullsuit, ss bp, 30#wing, I need 2 lbs of weight in warm fresh water. With my 7mil fullsuit, 5mil hood, 6.5mil booties, heavy gloves, and same bp/w, I need 16 lbs. And with that it is sometimes a bit of a struggle to get down the first 10 feet.

 

[2psquared]

I dive with the exact same config 7/5 henderson with hood and use 24#. With my 3 mil I use 16#. I am 219 # so your bondy weight will certainly effect this. I would think start out at extra 6# and see how that goes.

 

[Charlie99]

With my 3mil fullsuit,.. I need 2 lbs of weight in warm fresh water. With my 7mil fullsuit, ...I need 16 lbs. ...

14 added pounds for 4 mm extra thickness is just under 3 pounds per added mm. I add 8 pounds going from a 3/2 to a 5mil XL size wetsuit --- also around 3 pounds per mil of added thickness.

 

[docmartin]

2-3 lbs per extra mil is a rule of thumb

 

[lostplanetairman]

Add 6 to 8 and bring a couple extra 2s because new neoprene has extra air, takes about 5 to 6 dives to break in. If possible do that buoyancy check thing in water to deep to stand in.

 

[Super]

I was certified using a 5 mil suit. When I purchased my own suit, it was a 6.5. Needless to say, being new to diving, when I tried to go under with my regular 14 lbs (I weigh 195), it just wasn't happening!! Luckily, I had an extra 4 lbs and put them in the pockets on the back of the BC and everything was fine.