Hard Weights = Weight Integration Damage?

[simbrooks]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience of hard weights (solid, not the pouches) causing damage due to wear on WI pockets? I have all hard weights for my weight belt and most the BC's i am considering have WI - if i use that option then i was wondering if the hard weights would wear thru the fabric. I couldnt find this on a search for "hard+weight+integration", so dont say i didnt try!

Thanks, Simon

 

[oversea]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience of hard weights (solid, not the pouches) causing damage due to wear on WI pockets? I have all hard weights for my weight belt and most the BC's i am considering have WI - if i use that option then i was wondering if the hard weights would wear thru the fabric. I couldnt find this on a search for "hard+weight+integration", so dont say i didnt try!

Thanks, Simon

I use the soft, but my brother did not want to spend the extra $ so he got hard weights. His bc is WI and has had no problems. I personally like the soft weight but dove both in my bc and made no difference.

 

[Charlie99]

I've used both hard and soft weights in my Seaquest Pro QD velcro WI pockets. No problem at all with wear from hard weights.

Hard weights do slide back and forth more than soft ones, particularly if you have only 1 hard weight in a pocket that is really designed to fit 2 hard weights end to end. To reduce the possibility of a single weight banging the pocket loose, I use 2 hard weight blocks per pocket whenever possible. Soft weights seem to stay in place better.

The only disadvantage to soft weights is that they are bulkier ---- this might be important to cold water divers that are approaching the weight limits of the WI pockets.

Charlie

 

[iflyprops]

I used hard weights in my weight integrated zeagle and I think they were easier to deal with than the pouches with the soft weights that I usually use. they were the type that were "curved" to fit your body shape and they fit in the bc very very well. I don't see a problem as long as the weights do not have any sharp or rough edges/surfaces.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I use standard square shaped dive weights in mine. My pockets will accomodate 3 weights of that lenght and using 3 smaller 2-3 lb weights to fill the space keeps them from shifting. I hammer flat any sharp edges after casting and have had zero problems in the last 10 years with two different ypes of WI pockets.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

I used to use a Balance BC with WI, and I always had hard lead in it. No problems...

 

[RICHinNC]

One thing I have seen with hard weights is them being dropped while on a less than steady boat. In a pouch or not...that dang thing hurts when it lands on your foot.

If you want to save some money....and will work with soft pouches....go to a gun store and buy some shotgun shot....a 20 lb bag goes for $15 to $18 and then head over to the cloth store. I made my own weights in the weight increments "I" wanted and saved a small fortune.
just a though....

 

[Toolbox-13]

I use hard weights in my pockets and have had no problem with wear

 

[nwdiver2]

I bag a mix of soft 5lb and hard 2.2 lb weights into a mesh bag then put 14 lb in each pocket of my zeagle. It works great and I have seen no wear from the hard weights in the bags. I had a Oceanic travel Bc that the weight pockets were made to take 2 lb bullet weights. I never saw any problem with that setup either.

Hard weights take up less volume but are not as easy to handle.

 

[ReefTrekker]

Same here, I use whatever is available.......have done so in several styles of WI BCD's. Haven't noticed any wear as a result.