How long to leave the free end of webbing on BP harness waist belt and weight belt?

[elgoog]

Hi all -

I think I've got my BP harness pretty well adjusted at this point and am trimming the webbing so it doesn't flop around. Right now, on the harness, I've cut the webbing to a length such that after tightening the buckle and passing the free end through the crotch strap loop, it's long enough to reach my left hip D ring. I also pass it through the loop of my knife sheath which keeps this length from dangling as well. I have a DSS rig so the harness is webbing is pretty stiff and stays in place quite well if I use the 2 loops mentioned above. The reason I left it this long is in case I have to make any adjustments to it in the future.
Is what I have described too long? I'm curious what other divers are doing for the length - where does the free end of your waist belt usually end up after the buckle's been cinched?
The same goes for the weight belts. I assembled them myself using 2" webbing but haven't trimmed the free ends yet. I don't want to leave it too long in case I end up with a tangle of webbing at my waist.

Thanks in advance,
elgoog

 

[tbone1004]

I make sure it stays long enough to hit the left D-ring to keep it in place, any shorter and it can flop around and you don't have any room for adjustment if you change exposure protection.

 

[PfcAJ]

I tuck my free end under a rubber band then under my knife.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

Cutting your webbing is a significant emotional event for most people. We were having a conversation last week at the cave about it. My advice, if you want it shorter, is to put on your biggest exposure protection (drysuit with thick undergarment) and make sure you have some excess in that. That way you know it will fit whatever you're diving.

If you screw things up buying another 15 - 17' of webbing is only $10 or $12.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I leave about a hand width of webbing beyond the buckle.As mentioned above, the excess gets tucked under the knife.-M

 

[elgoog]

Cutting your webbing is a significant emotional event for most people.

That it was, for sure.

I have mine and my wife-buddy's straps cut to just barely get to the left hip D ring when we're in our wetsuits. Both of us have a DIR style knife and an EZCut in sheaths on the left of the crotch strap - having two sheaths to use as loops helps a lot. I figured that even in the occasional drysuit dives we'll end up doing, it'll still be sufficiently long.

Thanks to all for the feedback,
elgoog

 

[LiteHedded]

leave it long enough to gain a few pounds...

 

[Lorenzoid]

I left mine about as long as I picture yours being from your description, until after my Primer instructor had looked it over. If you're going the GUE route as you mentioned in another thread, at least have another GUE diver look it over. My instructor made minor adjustments to mine. Actually, I will admit I had rigged something quite majorly incorrectly--twisted webbing--and he quickly pointed that out.

 

[kathydee]

I had to replace webbing several times due to new adjustments. Lorenziod offers good advice, if you plan to head towards GUE, leave quite a bit extra or have the instructor look it over before you cut.

I left mine about as long as I picture yours being from your description, until after my Primer instructor had looked it over. If you're going the GUE route as you mentioned in another thread, at least have another GUE diver look it over. My instructor made minor adjustments to mine. Actually, I will admit I had rigged something quite majorly incorrectly--twisted webbing--and he quickly pointed that out.

 

[WhiteSands]

If you have a drysuit, put it on with the thickest undergarment you're going to dive with.
Loop the excess under the crotch strap and under the knife sheath loop.
I prefer to cut it off about 2" beyond the knife sheath loop, so everything's tucked away neatly.