Are Weight Belts Obsolete?

[String]

Not seen nitrox directly responsible for rocket ascents from depth.
I have seen WI BCDs responsible for it.

 

[jeckyll]

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Weight harnesses are a nice idea but for most shape people a belt does the job just as well.

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I've not found that to be true for drysuit diving. Neither have a large number of folks around here, harnesses seem to be replacing weight belts especially once you have to start carrying more lead due to cold water...

Just my local experience.

Bjorn

 

[String]

I know a few (ok 2) people with harnesses here and theres nothing wrong with them. The 2 i can think of though are lets just say rather round in shape (and i have serious doubt over one of them fitness to dive!). All others i know use weight belts (and 100% of divers here are drysuit).

Both the above solutions work, weight integrated is dangerous in my view there. None are designed or secure enough for the amount of weight a typical diver here needs and are often seen dropping pouches.

 

[nymbus]

The problem that I have with harnesses is that not all of them have a single release, and they can be difficult to near impossible to remove from a diver in distress on the surface. It is important that any buddy know how to get these off, while with a weight belt, you can make a pretty general guess about how to do that. The weight belt will probably not go away, simply because it fits both training, safety concerns, and are another way to trim out.
The early versions of weight integrated pockets had awful velcro connections, which are quickly being replaced by things like sure-locks or clips. This makes them one step harder to remove, but solve the problem of losing weight while at depth.
As a female- I like diving a little bit of lead around my waist- it makes it easier to lift and deal with gear, as well as acting a bit like a stopping point for huge amounts of air filling my feet every time I invert in my bag suit. (And yes, I understand the arguements that this can act like a trap, but it hasn't been my experience thus far...) I also like the mix of pockets and belt because it moves weight from off my hips and other easily bruised areas... while making it so that I can still lift my cold-water gear myself.
I have a feeling that the preferance for harnesses is like a lot of things that are inherantly different between DIR, recreational, student and instructor type diving: we are all trying to do different things and in order to sucessfully do those different tasks and types of diving, we need different gear and different levels of safety simplicity.
Hmm...

 

[Peter_C]

If you use a DUI Weight and Trim for instance, you do NOT need a weight belt. And yes, I believe that for dry suit diving, a harness system is much superior to a belt.

So Jeckyll, why do you say the harness is superior?

I have both a DUI harness and a very nice Sea Soft weight belt, so I can speak about my own experiences. I also have a Knighthawk, that is no longer used. For me the harness is a pain in the backside, because the straps are always falling off my shoulders and getting in the way when donning and doffing my BP/W with a HOG harness. The straps also have caused a bruise from being under my HOG harness. When freediving the harness rides up big time, which does not happen as much with a weight belt. Especially if it is a rubber strap (Only used for freediving).

My backplate does have a 4 pound non ditchable lead wedge mounted to it.

The ability of being able to dump only half the weight at a time using a harness is excellent, much like a weight integrated BCD. Of course it could be done with a weight belt, if you have the time and focus to cut it in half. The other negative side of a DUI harness is you can easily snag the yellow releases for the harness and loose your weight pocket. I know someone on here heavily modified their DUI harness, cutting the straps down, and taping them into position, along with securing the releases, more securely.

FWIW one of my friends just switched to a BP/W because her weight integrated Ladyhawk was causing bruises on her petite shoulders and ribs.

 

[jeckyll]

So Jeckyll, why do you say the harness is superior?

I have both a DUI harness and a very nice Sea Soft weight belt, so I can speak about my own experiences. I also have a Knighthawk, that is no longer used. For me the harness is a pain in the backside, because the straps are always falling off my shoulders and getting in the way when donning and doffing my BP/W with a HOG harness. The straps also have caused a bruise from being under my HOG harness. When freediving the harness rides up big time, which does not happen as much with a weight belt. Especially if it is a rubber strap (Only used for freediving).

I used a Seasoft belt for a number of dives. No matter how much I synched the thing tight on land, every now and then it ended up held on only by my crotch strap at the end of the dive.

I'm 6'1, 195. I dive a bag suit and guess I don't have hips large enough to hold the belt up. I also dive with a BP/W and I've never had a strap slip off my shoulders.

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The other negative side of a DUI harness is you can easily snag the yellow releases for the harness and loose your weight pocket. I know someone on here heavily modified their DUI harness, cutting the straps down, and taping them into position, along with securing the releases, more securely.

What kind of diving are you doing and how is your buoyancy? I've never snagged anything ... on anything. I'm not penetrating wrecks at this point, perhaps If I do I'll change my mind, but so far I don't see an issue with the handles. Neither have the buddies of mine who use them (DUI and others).

The problem that I have with harnesses is that not all of them have a single release, and they can be difficult to near impossible to remove from a diver in distress on the surface....

You and Peter_C should chat. One says that the harness system makes it too difficult to remove the weight, the other that there is such a danger of losing the weight that the harness needs to be modified...

 

[Nemrod]

Nitrox aside, the superior, modular, flexible and multi purpose wing/BP/weight belt will rise up to slay the puffy, cumberbund integrated weight BC units. They simply are unsuited for anything beyond limited recreational, tropical diving.

So the real question is will the wing/BP/weight belt relegate the integrated, expensive BC units to the dust bin of history? N

 

[String]

Doubt it. I dive a wing but still enjoy a BC for gentle and teaching.

 

[Peter_C]

I used a Seasoft belt for a number of dives. No matter how much I synched the thing tight on land, every now and then it ended up held on only by my crotch strap at the end of the dive.

I'm 6'1, 195. I dive a bag suit and guess I don't have hips large enough to hold the belt up. I also dive with a BP/W and I've never had a strap slip off my shoulders.

So what you are really saying is the harness works best for YOU.

I do not have a problem with my weight belt slipping off. My hips are 32" and my stomach area is much smaller, so no problems here. With my harness, the shoulder straps slipped off pretty much every time I took my BP/W off. Getting my BP/W on was a hassle and often required my buddy to help get all the straps in line. No longer the case since I switched to a weight belt. Works for ME

What kind of diving are you doing and how is your buoyancy? I've never snagged anything ... on anything. I'm not penetrating wrecks at this point, perhaps If I do I'll change my mind, but so far I don't see an issue with the handles. Neither have the buddies of mine who use them (DUI and others).

My buoyancy is fine thank you. I use the coral reefs to keep me off the bottom. :11: :laughing: :satanlook I look like this when I dive 95% of my diving is the colder water off the North Coast of :california:. I wear a CF200, so it is pretty trim to me. Our wrecks are disintegrated into pretty much nothing, so wreck diving to us is kinda like looking at our version of a reef. I have snagged kelp many a time, but that is part of diving here. Never any solid objects. Personally I never worried about having my weight cut loose.

Often our diving requires us to hike a decent amount. It is not so bad going down, but back up a cliff is when I need to breath, and do not want all my weight on my shoulders. Most of our dives are pretty shallow at above 55' for those thinking about a DCS hit.

You and Peter_C should chat. One says that the harness system makes it too difficult to remove the weight, the other that there is such a danger of losing the weight that the harness needs to be modified...

I am not the one worried about loosing my weight, so not me! The harness system from DUI has a pretty nice weight dropping system. There are others out there though, that feel it is possible to snag the release buckles. I should have been more clear, that was not my opinion.

In conclusion, it really does come down to what each individual wants and needs. Our opinions are just that, opinions...:14:

 

[cowboyneal]

I do just fine with 4 lbs. in (2 in ea. side pocket) my WI Zeagle Ranger and either 2, 3 or 4 lbs. in the small of my back in a pocket weight belt depending on what I ate last night (ha) or the conditions or what makes me comfortable that day. If I ever had to "drop half my weight" I would lose the belt first.

Most people are overweighted, way overweighted actually.

I have dove (dived, diven?) with BP/W and with a BC w/harness: I still like my Ranger with a belt as stated above. K.I.S.S. principles always work best for me. I wouldn't use a BP/W while teaching, only probably because I am used to using my Ranger for everything. I don't even know if my inflator works...I never use it or needed it for anything.

In the end, one should use what equipment makes them comfortable, no one set up is better than another: it all depends on personal preference.