Do you use a weight belt or integrated pockets?

[ijdod]

Started with an IW BCD, but used a standard belt. Started using both IW and belt when switching to a drysuit ment more weight. In warm water the IW had clearly better trim compared to the belt, so used that in those conditions. I've since switches to a BP/W, and have the weight integrated, either as V-weight with doubles or weighted STA and camband pockets with singles. Might wear a small amount on a belt to compensate for salt water.

 

[socaljohn]

YES, I use both. Seems to help my trim and as I wear a 7mm with booties and hood, I need about 26 lbs (trying to get down to 24 but still a little light at the end) with my steel 72. I would not like hiking up and down the cliffs or stairs in So Cal with that weight in my BC.

 

[Divealpha]

I use a pocket weight belt, + trimpockets on the upper camband. Helps on trim with any suit I use, shorty,5mm full or drysuit. Much easier to put weights in pockets when you rent tanks& weights abroad, and handy when you need to lend the DM xtra weights for his students...
Experienced that a weight fell out when I was lying heads down(Whites Drysuit..) in a drift dive, but I think that the boat crew may have been near the pocket when they filled the tank between dives, because it has never happened before.(my responsibilty to check..)
Diving Mach V 40 BP/W, and I will never ever use a BCD with integrated pockets again...far to clumsy and heavy, so it was a real pain in the a** to get in/out of the water with 12kg in integrated pockets doing cold water diving...

 

[freshie24]

The good Lord did not feel it necessary to issue me hips or an a$$.

Ever since I started diving dry, I HATE my weight belt.

Will be trying the integrated route on Friday.

 

[mathauck0814]

Belt with singles, no weight required with doubles. The plate+tanks are sufficient.

 

[The Chairman]

Ever since I started diving dry, I HATE my weight belt.

DUI makes a rather nice weight harness. I love mine when I am diving anything that does not have integrated weights.

 

[BVickery]

DUI makes a rather nice weight harness. I love mine when I am diving anything that does not have integrated weights.

Same here. When I was going for my OW C-card one of the instructors came over to me and told me flat out he would not pass me due to buoyancy issues (no hips so belt kept slipping off). Got the harness, spent some extra money on a pool session with another diver and actually went over skills w/ the harness. Got my C-card and the instructor was shocked that for a very novice diver I def. had a good grasp of buoyancy/trim and that just with practice I should have it down no time.

 

[freshie24]

DUI makes a rather nice weight harness. I love mine when I am diving anything that does not have integrated weights.

I'll have to give it a try. Does it tend to change your body position a little compared to a weight belt?

 

[rongoodman]

I use a BP/W and if I'm diving single tank recreational dives, I have a pair of the XS Scuba single weight pockets on the belt.

 

[Lorenzoid]

For years after OW cert, I used rental gear that included a belt ... and couldn't wait for the day when I could afford all my own gear, including a modern BC with integrated weight release like all the cool kids had. Guess what? After acquiring my own gear, I went back to using a belt. I suspect I might be dangerously reluctant to dump my own weight pouches and likely lose them. I wouldn't hesitate to dump a rented weight belt. I'm also not confident in any of the integrated release mechanisms I've seen. Would they work easily in an emergency? Might they release prematurely? A traditional weight belt buckle seems like a simple foolproof mechanism and seems unlikely to release prematurely. A traditional weight belt puts my mind at ease.