BP/Wings -- better solution than weightbelt?

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raposarose once bubbled...
Marc Hall made the same suggestion to me, but I was a little unclear about it. It would be great to see a photo example, Robertphillips5. Do you know a good place to purchase those pockets in San Diego or Southern California?

Thanks for your response! I appreciate all of the other responses too.

I think that was the same post I got the idea from. I'll post the pics tomorrow. I got mine at Sports Chalet for like $4.99 of $5.99 apiece.
 
You could also use a pair of Dive Rite Clipper pockets on the harness waist strap for some weight. OMS makes similar pockets too.
 
To what the others have mentioned. Another method would be to use the BP with a heavy STA like Koplin or FredT sells. This will take additional weight off the belt, but still leave you with a bit for ditchable if you like.
I like the soft weight belt and weights. They are "much more" comfortable than the hard weight belts. Plus you don't get the weights sliding around. And if you travel, the soft belt can be used with the hard weights as well.
 
I picked up 4 of those at sports chalet today. The price seems to have gone up -- $7.99 each. I am going to try 6 pounds in a pocket on either side of the harness and two 5 pound pockets on the tanks. Maybe I'll put all 10 pounds on the bottom strap (or is that a bad idea?).

I'll report back and say how it works and if I have the problem of the pockets slipping off of the harness.
 
Here are the pics, as promised:

Right side:
 
Left side:
 
They have XS weight pouches at LeisurePro.

They are 5.95 each.

They sound like a good idea.

To trim weight there is another option: get skinny-if you can.


The skinnier you are the less weight you'll need-a lot less.
 
Raposa, how much do you weigh? I am just asking because 22lbs of lead seems like a lot of weight to need with a SS backplate, but of course, I am using a one piece wetsuit. How thick is your wetsuit?
Also remember that the weight you are puting on the cambands will act as your trim weight. Your upper body will be more bouyant in a two-peice suit than a one piece. If you put 10lbs on the bottom strap, like you said, you will most likely end up with your feet down and struggling to maintain a horizontal position.
With a one piece I use 5lbs on the top strap and 4lbs on the bottom strap. It keeps me in a sleight heads down position, wich is ideal.
Play with it for a couple of dives until you get it to where it feels right. For me its better to have the bulk of my weight on my waist straps (one pound more doesnt seem like much, but it is.) The weight on my camstraps is to keep me in the proper position in the water column. The other weight is to get me slightly negative to compensate for the bouyancy characteristics of my tank and wetsuit.
Feel free to PM me, if you want.
 
If you're looking for them at LP, that's the "key code" :)
 
since you asked... with an al80 tank i use two pockets with 5lb each on the bottom cam strap. i tried one on the top and one on the bottom but my feet ended up way too high. al80 tanks tend to float the butt end when you breathe them down.
 

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