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ok so i have a bp/w setup (hollis solo harness-Dive rite al bp- and dive rite rec exp wing) i have on order my drysuit, a bare trialam tech dry and with a drysuit and bp/w what do people prefer for a weighting system, pockets or a weight belt and what are the benifits of each setup?? I only dive fresh cold water, and i have tried both systems out in the past but am stuck on a decision please help
may want to switch to a SS backplate, that'll help a bit. I despise weight belts... I really do... For the dives I do ditch-able weight is rather dangerous and I'd rather be stuck on the bottom for an extra 10 mins then be bent coming up from 100 ft. As such I have heavy steel tanks and weight myself with them and what not to where I don't need a weight belt. If you're doing cold water, it may just be worth it to switch to doubles... Or at least heavy steels. The Faber Mid-Pressures that everyone hates because they're so heavy may be good for you diving cold water with a drysuit if you're only doing singles.
A wise man once told me "best to wear your weight belt inside the dry suit and avoid the accidental ditching... So, I wear a weigh belt inside and additional weigh on the cam straps...
May not work for others but it does work for me...
lee
edit, that's with a bp/w (steel plate) and steel 100 and anything else that will keep me from having to carry to much weight!!!
Weight belt under crotch strap so you don't loose it. It is easy to ditch the weight belt when needed, but stays low on your body for trim. Plus if you need to ditch your gear underwater the weight is still with you. The scuba gear weighs less since you are carrying some of the lead.
I use both, I have 2 pockets on my harness and I wear a weight belt as well, Usually add 10lbs to the weight pockets (5 each) and that takes some of the weight off the belt which keeps it from falling as easily off my skinny hips. 15 lbs is about the max I can take on a weight belt before it will start to slide no matter how tight i make it so I adjust the weight between the pockets and belt (and occasionally tank cam strap)accordingly.
(Edit: If you click on my profile in that picture you can see a 5lb weight on the harness, a 6lb weight on the belt and a 4lb weight on the cam strap. as an example)
First things first, SS plate and steel cylinder(s)
You don't want to make your BC into monster that has a hard time floating it's self. The BC should only carry weight needed on the upper body to achieve trim.
As for the rest I like a DUI weight & rim harness.
1) It's secure on you. A drysuit and cold water garments won't do anything to help your hops hold a belt. the suspenders of the harness will.
2) It's comfortable and carries up to 40 pounds.
3) Emergency ditching is in 50&% increments.
4) You can hang it lower than your natural hips should you chose. Being able to balance the weight placement that way can help avoid messing with ankle weights.
I use weight pockets on the cambands for trim; you could consider that, since you're using a light plate.
Weight pockets that thread onto the harness use up a lot of real estate. If you are using D-rings to clip your pressure gauge, or if you are using a canister light, it can get rather busy on the waistband.
I use, and don't mind a weight belt (20 lbs) but I'm female and have a waist and hips to hold it up. I know a lot of guys don't like them, because they slip. My husband uses the DUI Weight & Trim weight harness, and that works very well for him.
You don't need a SS BP - the AL one will work fine.
I used to wear a weight belt when I had a BP - I got used to it and it worked well. The key to the fit was that I was able to cinch the BP belt above the weight belt.
When I began to dive a BP&W I found that that a weight belt no longer worked well since the crotch strap forced the BP belt to sit over my weight belt. I bought three sets of trim weight pockets - two for the top cam strap, two for the bottom cam strap, and two for the BP belt. By distributing the weights you can achieve good weighting and trim. I am not worried about needing to ditch my weight as my drysuit provides redundant lift. Also, I can reach the weight pouches on my belt and dump those weights if needs be.
I use a contraption called a "weighted vest" for my weight system. It is a harness with ditchable pouches on the waist band but also includes a thin shot filled pad that is sewn into the back between the shoulder webbings. One advantage of this system is that no extra weight resides on the scuba rig at all except for the SS plate therefore it is much easier to handle on the surface when dressing. changing tanks etc. The weight sewn into the back mimics the weights that some divers add to trim pouches around their tanks so it eliminates those pieces of kit. I find the system to be very comfortable and I do not have to use up any real estate on the waist band of my rig.
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