Harness weight belt systems tested

[JJ1]

I'm in the process of building a DIY weight belt harness......... H style (two straps with a strap across the middle of my back)

I have a straight piece with no breaks on my right hand shoulderwith a 1 sided quick release on my left hand side (like the weight belt Q/R but plastic - that way the strap can pull through under my BC without snagging on anything. Likewise on the right hand side I have no clips or anything so it will pop off the loose end of the weight belt and go under my BC without snagging...... from the right front to the middle back I am also going to add an crotch strap with a snap buckle on it - this way I can dive with my belt looser than normal and not have to worry about it falling off.......

I'll post pictures when I'm done.

 

[rickyd]

I'm in the process of building a DIY weight belt harness......... H style (two straps with a strap across the middle of my back)

I have a straight piece with no breaks on my right hand shoulderwith a 1 sided quick release on my left hand side (like the weight belt Q/R but plastic - that way the strap can pull through under my BC without snagging on anything. Likewise on the right hand side I have no clips or anything so it will pop off the loose end of the weight belt and go under my BC without snagging...... from the right front to the middle back I am also going to add an crotch strap with a snap buckle on it - this way I can dive with my belt looser than normal and not have to worry about it falling off.......

I'll post pictures when I'm done.

Hey JJ1. I was thinking of building a harness. Did you ever take any pictures?

 

[JJ1]

no. but I can. it doesn't work as good as I wanted it to......

I guess I should just go and work on a 6pack so I have hips again. LOL

in terms of it being effective - it works great.....but it is kinda wierd/uncomfortable and when you pull the quick release it takes a couple of seconds for the straps to pull out from under the BC.

Oh - and I didn't do the crotch strap.......

 

[String]

Im looking at buying a harness and also shopping around.

I most definately do NOT want one that relies on velcro to hold the weights (beaver for example). Im not TOO fussed with easy to jettison underwater (read, easy to detach by accident. See my other threads on this but i can never envisage ANY situation underwater where i want someone to dump my weights). However i do need to be able to detach the weights on the surface to pass them up to the boat before i get onboard.

Northern Diver, Poisedon and Scubapro all make them and i cant decide between at the moment.

 

[d33ps1x]

I'm starting to sound like an old man or something but I have this fancy dancy weight belt that works really good with a bp/wing

 

[Bob3]

... Northern Diver, Poisedon and Scubapro all make them and i cant decide between at the moment.

My vote is with the Poseidon, though the ND does come with a couple of spiffy detachable thigh pockets that could get ebayed & cover most of the cost of the harness.
ND uses velcro & you have an inner pocket you can pass off.
Poseidon doesn't have the "casual dump" feature for passing just the weights aboard.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I have a new Andy's but I haven't dove with it yet. You ditch the weights individually by pulling down on the flap of each "pocket." Hopefully this will solve my drysuit problems, the shop said it would.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[hex92]

I got a brand new DUI weight and Trim II for $79.40 (free shipping). It looks like the seller (dolphin_scuba) puts them up on a regular basis. It should be here sometime this week.

Hopefully I can get out to the quarry next weekend with the new tanks and harness and fine tune my weighting one last time before hitting the deep blue in my new dry suit :dazzler1:

 

[mjnansen]

I have a weight belt harness and usually dive with it. It is much more comfortable for me. I bought it on e-bay from a place that sells them regularly and then took it to an alterations shop to get it sewn so it fits really well (only cost me a few dollars and allowed me to cut off a lot of extra strap so I don't get tangled). The hardest part about them is boat diving with someone new and having to explain that you have to take off the bc before you take off the harness- and if you dive in the tropics, a lot of people will check out your harness, as they have never seen one! :11ztongue

 

[AmyJ]

And I didn't have to do it... I found this thread through a search and didn't realize until the end it had been given new life....

I will apologize right off for the stupid questions...

I have been (for about 24 hours) thinking about getting my own weight belt. I am a newbie diver starting my AOW next week. I rent my euipment and have been told we will use weight belts (which also goes for vacation rentals).

I have a terrible time with them.... I really don't know why, but I can make a few guesses. First, I end up needing quite a bit of weight (particularly in salt water). My body gives new defintion to bouancy!

And... as you may or may not know...The extra padding.... (ok, FAT!!!) does not hold a belt like muscle, which does not move around under water. When I'm in the boat, I have my belt cinched as tight as I can get it... but by the time I've been in the water for a bit, it is falling off (redistribution of body due to natural bouancy) It is constantly having to be shifted and readjusted... (including adjustments from instructors and my husband, so it's not just my incompetence). Half of the time I swim like I'm narced becuase my weights are rolling around.

So... I hear you talking about a harness... can someone tell me a bit more? it sounds like it might be just the thing for me... can it be worn with any BC (since I rent, I don't have a lot of choices). It goes under the bc?? Can the weights be ditched? Where are they available and what are some of the differences?? Thanks so so much!!

I weeble and I wobble, but I certainly don't sink!