Do you use a weight belt or integrated pockets?

[Pullmyfinger]

I've had a lifetime of practice getting a belt like that off quickly. ;-)

It's a regular free diving weight belt.

 

[Nitro91]

i use weight belt, but with steel tank, i only use 1 3lb block so may just get a pocket to go onto harness

 

[Teller]

Weight belt made from some extra 2 inch webbing I had laying around and two SS belt buckles. Simple, strong and redundent. I dive either a BP/W or sidemount and dont like the clutter that weight pouches add to the rig.

 

[j2s]

When I dive open water I wear a jacket bc w/integrated pockets....When I use bp/w I'm diving w/steel tanks [usually doubles] and don't use either.....On the rare occasion I use a single steel tank w/bp/w.....I use a couple of weight pockets on the cam bands......

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I prefer my weight harness. Simply it allows me to adjust the weight up and down along my torso to find the perfect horizontal trim while I am diving and is comfortable. I have the option of dumping 1/2 my lead or even opening a pocket and dropping 3lbs off should the need every arise.

I have weight belts, they work fine but I have to add some extra lead to my cam band to trim out and I pretty much have to dial it in on a trial and error process. On the other hand, they practically bullet proof and cheap.

I have 2 BCD's with integrated weights and they are great for warm water diving. I simply don't trust them for cold water diving and the heavy weight required for that.

 

[jbomb001]

i have a int. bc but put weight in a dui weight and trim system
i dive dry so being able to lower my weight around my ars rather then my waste is good for trim and helps keep the feet down and i can dump the lead very easy

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Those of you that use a rubber weight belt, Is this the type of belt and buckle you would recommend?

I use several types of rubber belts for diving. I use that type of buckle mostly for freediving. I really like it for freediving, but to be honest, for scuba diving, that metal buckle is somewhat vulnerable to getting a line under it and then the bill can pop up and the belt will pop off. Also, that type of belt is a real pain to add weight to because generally you have to remove the buckle from the belt. I have rubber belts set up in 2 lb increments from 4 lbs up to 20 lbs I think, I just grab whatever belt has the right weight for my diving, so changing weights is a non issue for me.

Incidentally, if you do buy this kind of belt, there is a specially designed weight that you CAN slip on or off without removing the buckles:



http://www.makospearguns.com/category-s/40.htm

 

[dumpsterDiver]

that just looks like a normal belt. how quick can u get that off??

Yeah that is exactly what I thought when i saw this kind of belt, but it is NOT like a regular belt. When you pull the bill, the pin POPS over and releases, it has to do with the way the belt is elastic and the way the pin is under tension in the buckle.

I use this type of belt very frquently for scuba and freediving. It is comfortable and elastic and very secure. I like the elastic aspects of it so much that I have removed the cummerbund from several BC's and replaced with one of these rubber belts with this type of buckle.. I even did it on one of my BP/W.. having the waist belt automatically compensate for suit compression with depth is very nice.

In any regard don't worry about the functionality of the buckle, this type of belt is probably most popular with freedivers and if any diver really NEEDS to ditch a belt fast, it is a freediver.. So if it works safely for them, there is not an issue for scuba.

 

[Colliam7]

I was hoping to hear from everyone about what type of weight system they use and why. Also, why do you not like to use other weight systems?

I have used weight belts, integrated weight BCDs, a weight harness (DUI Weight and Trim), cam band weight pockets, and weights tie-wrapped to my BCD or threaded onto the shoulder straps. I also consider a stainless steel backplate, and a steel tank to be a form of 'weight system'. My personal bottom line: I prefer diving a SS BP, with HP steel tanks, and a web weight belt. My experience:

Belts - I have used webbing weight belts, and rubber weight belts with a wire buckle. My overall preferred weight system ends up being a standard web belt. Pros: inexpensive, easy to use, fully functional, reasonably easy to get weights on and off. Cons: puts most of my weight on my waist, therefore can contribute to foot-down trim. In a drysuit, I have to cinch the belt down pretty tight to make sure it stays on / doesn't slip down, and that can affect the movement of air in the suit. For, wetsuit diving, it is very simple, utilitarian and my prefered approach. Rubber weight belts are nice, wire buckle works fine for me in OW, standard weights are a pain to change (you need to set the belt up with the weight you need and keep it assembled). While the theoretical advantages are great (stretches at the surface, contracts as your neoprene compresses u/w, I don't find it much better than simple web belts. Based on comments in this thread I will also try a Rob Allen belt, to see if I like the buckle, and will probably pick up some of the Mako weights to see if that makes using a rubber belt easier.

Integrated - my first BCD was a weight-integrated unit (Zeagle Ranger). While I liked the Ranger, and initially thought WI was great, I ultimately decided that I did not like having a back-inflate, weight-integrated unit, when diving with a bouyant tank (e.g. AL) and/or thick exposure suit/drysuit, requiring a substantial amount of weight. Pros: alowed me to not have to use a belt (which I liked at first), easy to use soft weights (put them in the Zeagle weight bags, then put the weight bags into the BCD pockets before a dive, and take them out after the dive. Cons: under the conditions I mentioned above (bouyant tank, thick exposure suit), with the weight positioned in pockets essentially in front of me, and my lift (in the wing bladder) positioned behind me, it tended to push me face down at the surface. Underwater, it was fine. The oveall downside is that the BCD itself was positively bouyant, and added to my weight requirements, so I stopped using it.

Weight harness - I used this approach when diving drysuit, with an AL tank, and a weight-integrated BCD. I needed so much weight in that configuration, that I added the weight harness because the pockets in the BCD (Zeagle Ranger) were aproaching volume capacity. It is my least favorite weight system, more trouble than it was worth, and frankly too bulky / cumbersome - in that configuration. Pros: added a place to put weight, besides the integrated pockets on my BCD. Cons: generally put the weight lower on my body than I prefer (although that was not altogether bad early in my drysuit diving), expensive, cumbersome.

Cam band pockets - definite asset with AL tanks, and I like using them to adjust trim, since they can be placed 'above' my waist (on the upper cam band), as required. I don't use / need them with steel tanks. Pros: fairly easy to use, can be used with soft weights or hard weights, helps trim. Cons - definitely not ditchable; some pockets (Halcyon) may be a little pricey.

Weights tie-wrapped to my BCD - I use this approach with a soft BCD, where I need more weight to compensate for the inherent buoyancy of the unit, and I don't want to put all of it on my waist. So, I tie-wrap two 1- or 2-lb weights as high as I can on the back of the BCD, or thread them onto the shoulder straps if possible (I can do that with a Transpac), taking 4 lbs off my waist. Pros: easy to use, helps trim. Cons - definitely not ditchable.

Don't know if this will help you, it is just my personal experience.

 

[The Chairman]

I use DUI's Weight Harness. I simply love it.