Configuring a weight belt

[leabre]

I've been quite happy with my Trident Comfort weight belt for years. I recently switched to drysuit and find that with the required tightness, it actually traps air. I'm always having to make it tight to enter the surf, loose it to dive, and tight it again when exiting (or I'll lose it) otherwise it is difficult to dump air. Not pleasant to have such issues when coming up from 100'.

Anyway, so I got a nylon belt and some weights. My old belt used soft weights 2x5lbs, and 2x3 lbs for the drysuit (and wetsuit is minus 2 lbs, and I'm neutral at 5' with 500 PSI and zero inflation). Those weight pouches were placed just about on each side of my hip.

For this belt I just got, I actually ended up with 4x4 lbs. So I'm trying to figure out where to place the weights (I'm wondering if I should just go pick up 2x5 to make it as it was). I can't figure out do I place 8 in the back, and 4 each side? Or should I place 8 lbs each side on not the back.

Does it matter if weight is evenly distributed?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

In most cases, it does help for the weight to be distributed symmetrically (with respect to right and left). If you are balancing 8 lbs. in the small of your back, it's going to have a tendency to migrate to the front when you achieve a horizontal position in the water...so putting 8 lbs. on each side would probably be preferable to the 4 on each side plus 8 in the back.

However, you might want to consider making some of that weight non-ditchable. IMO, 16 lbs. is too much to manage easily on a weight belt. Try mounting about 8 lbs. of the 16 lbs. on your BCD somewhere -- in integrated weight pockets or weight pockets mounted on tank cambands. An 8 lb. weight belt is easier to manage and won't have as much of a tendency to cause air-trapping in your drysuit. Just a thought.

 

[ron_cooper]

I found that I was having the same problem with having to add so much weight the belt was almost unmanagable. Correct it I went to a SS backplate to reduce the ammount of weight needed and what weight I do need goes into a shoulder suppoerted weight belt. DUI - Weight & Trim Systems With this I can add or remove weight depending on the amount of thermal protection I need at the time and the waist belt is left just tight enough to prevent slipping around, the air in the suit moves around quite freely.

 

[spectrum]

You don't want anything up on your back, that will raise you center of gravity and have hardness bearing down on you. Also on dead center it probably interferes with your cylinder.

I like to start with 2 weight keepers to reserve 6-10 inches of clear space on the back. Then load the weights to each side and retstrain them with another pair of keepers. Finally trim the free end and lace the buckle for a front and center position.

I don't see where the nylon belt solves your original problem. It sounds like you'd be happier, safer and more comfortable with something like a DUI weight & trim harness.

The notion of needing to loosen the belt mid dive so much that it may fall off when exiting to prevent air entrapment is a prescription for disaster. The harness will provide a safe and positive carry.

I don't see any issue with a 16 pound belt in general. I would only integrate to your BC weight needed on your upper body to attain trim

Pete

 

[TSandM]

I do the same thing Pete does: two weights on each side, with a clear space in the back. My doubles weight belt is 4 x 3 lbs, and my singles belt is two 10lb curved weights. I have no problems with the belt restricting air movement in the suit, but then again, even in my undergarments, I still have a waist and hips, so the belt doesn't have to be cinched horrendously tight.

It does make the belt a little less cumbersome, if you take some of the weight and put it up on the cambands or in trim weight pockets. But it's been my experience with OW students that, to my surprise, most of them have floaty feet in dry suits, with the light fins they use, so that might not be a good option for balance.

 

[leabre]

Thanks. I'll try to even the weights to 5 + 3 on each side, how I have it today. I'm alredy using SS BP/w with a -2.9 lbs tank on 500 PSI. When I switched to drysuit I only needed to add 2 lbs. When I dive doubles, I have 10 lb v-weight and I'm exactly neutral at 5 ft. on 500 PSI (AL80's) (I know because I swim to shore and can hold at 5 ft for the swim very easily when not moving (or when doing 6 minute ascents drills).

I'll look into the DUI weight harness, I spent the same amount of money on these new hard weights as I would on the harness and I already had weights for the harness. (I can return the weights and get the harness). I dive in horizontal position at all times so the loose belt only seems to affect me at the surface (I've nearly and have lost it many times). Plus, I keep losing weight on my waist and my old belt is nearly not adjustable anymore to shorter (I took of about 4 inches from my waist in past year and still taking off.

 

[Crush]

I asked a similar question about the DUI weight harness system some time ago. Some responded suggesting getting a pair of weight belt suspenders to add to my weight belt - see Aqua Weight Belt Suspenders for one example.

I just ordered a pair of suspenders today. I will give them a try when the ice melts.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

If shifting weight to your rig messes with your horizontal trim (makes you head heavy-feet light), you can try putting some weight on the top tank camband and counter it with some weight on the bottom camband. I typically put 3 lbs. on each camband. My weight pockets are located on opposite sides of the tank to maintain right-left symmetry. There's also the option of getting more negatively buoyant fins.

For shore dives in a drysuit, the DUI Weight & Trim is an excellent choice. The ditching mechanism is not prone to accidental ditching. Where the weight rides can be moved up and down the hip area to optimize trim. The shoulder straps distribute the weight nicely over the shoulders.

I'm not a big fan of putting a lot of weight on a weight belt. I find it slides off my hips too easily on land, and this is kind of an issue for the surf entries that I do.

 

[TSandM]

I find it slides off my hips too easily on land, and this is kind of an issue for the surf entries that I do.

This is where being female is an advantage! Hips are handy on occasion