Integrated weight system or weight belt???

[DI_Guy]

I am a new diver and I decided on integrated weights on the BCD. I went for the mares V1 MRS because my dive buddy had it. Unfortunately one of his integrated weight packs has released by itself three times. He has lost it now and it costs $140 Cad to replace them (as a pair) I hope I made a good choice... BTW he had 6 lbs in each pack. Has this hapened to anyone else ?

Bubblemaker

 

[bottomrunner]

everyones comments that i have read in this string likes intergrated systems
my question is; what if you have to take the bcd off underwater?
when you are in a wetsuit?
i make myself and suit neutral with weight belt,then add weight to bcd with empty tank make it neutral

 

[95yj]

No question here: Integrated all the way! Only time I've used weight belts is the first pool session in class a long time ago and if I dive without my own gear. I HATE a belt now.
I have an old Zeagle BC that just uses zippered pockets for storing the weights with a rip-cord that unlaces the bottom of the pockets for dumping the weight, so there is never a problem with unexpected dumping.
Only time a belt sounds good is in a small boat when you have to hand up your equipment before getting out of the water. It's easier to hand up the belt, then your bc/cylinder than the whole thing loaded up.
Any other time, it is just as easy to carry the weight separate from the bc until you are ready to jump in the water as it is to carry a weight belt. If the bc weighs too much loaded up for carrying, assembling, or whatever, take the weight out. (I carry my bc on my back weighted up and also carry my wife's weight in my hands to take some strain off of her.)
Bottomrunner: When I have to take my bc off under water, (only in class or practicing), don't let go of the bc. I usually use a 1mm suit, so I only carry 8lbs in salt, but at 15', we'd go in opposite directions. At about 40' or so, I can be neutral or negative without the weight by adjusting my breathing, so no problem here.

 

[String]

If you dive with lots of weight (ie cold water) or off RIBs avoid weight integrated like the plague.

(i) A lot of them arent designed for typical cold water type weight and have a habit of shedding them

(ii) Passing your BC up to someone on a RIB and you have weights in it will make you about as popular as anthrax.

(iii) I hate them as if i need to dekit underwater then i cant without becoming a polaris missile. This "hold onto the BC" idea is great in theory but useless in practice. If you need to push kit through a hole to get out of somewhere or need to get around it to cut off an entanglement that isnt an option. The consequences of accidentally losing your grip could be horrific as well - you dont get a second chance.


Go for a sensible halfway - get a weight harness.

 

[CuriousMe]

everyones comments that i have read in this string likes intergrated systems
my question is; what if you have to take the bcd off underwater?
when you are in a wetsuit?
i make myself and suit neutral with weight belt,then add weight to bcd with empty tank make it neutral

You just need to take it off and hang on to it....preferably keeping it above you. I don't run into the problems String mentions because I'm not going through holes or having to stuff my gear through anything. If I've gotten myself into a situation where I need to pull my gear off to push it through a hole....I've already messed up beyond words....I'm strictly an OW diver. A more likely scenario for me would be some kind of entanglement that for some reason I couldnt reach without taking my gear off.

I love my weight integrated Diva. I have the Velcro pouches....in close to 200 dives I've had the pockets fall out twice....both times I knew about it immediately. Both times I was on the surface. I was pulling myself in on a tag line behind the boat...there was a surface current. While pulling myself along the line, it caught one of my weight pouches. I'm now more aware of where the line is on my gear.

The only other problem I had was the Velcro pulling away from the BC....I sent it back to SeaQuest and they fixed it up like new for free.

Peace,
Cathie

 

[Jerryg]

I own a weight integrated Sherwood Avid, and so far I have really liked it, UNTIL a recent training experience convinced me to go back to a weight belt. I was doing my dry suit pool check out dives and needed to remove my Scuba Unit and replace it while at the bottom of the pool. .When I removed the BC I shot to the surface like a cork while my BC went to the bottom like a rock. Yes and the regulator was yanked out of my mouth. When I did my open water check out dives I balanced weight between my BCD and my weight belt. When I removed the unit on the open water dives I had no problems. My suggestion would be to have some weight in both places

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

I use the seaquest balance with the surlock system and love it,I wouldnt even think about a weight belt again.its easy enough to take the pockets out for entry into the boat or to put it on

I have a two year old Balance with the older velcro only pockets. I keep hearing how people have problems with losing pockets, but I've never had a problem.

I love that I can spread weight from the waist area up to back mounted pockets. It's really helped my trim, especially when I got a pair of bottom heavy neutrally buoyant AL80's.

Marc

 

[erichK]

I am a new diver and I decided on integrated weights on the BCD. I went for the mares V1 MRS because my dive buddy had it. Unfortunately one of his integrated weight packs has released by itself three times. He has lost it now and it costs $140 Cad to replace them (as a pair) I hope I made a good choice... BTW he had 6 lbs in each pack. Has this hapened to anyone else ?

Bubblemaker

It has happened to me several times with my Mares Synchro Powertech (well made, but as overengineered and overfeatured a BC as you'll find). And this is even after reducing the weight in the pouches from 15 to 8 pounds a side. To be fair, I was flailing through a lot of kelp the last time it happened (the one time it's better to swim, or rather crawl on your front is when going through this stuff on the surface!).

But the integrated weight system on mine is completely dependent on velcro. Isn't yours mechanical instead? The integrated weight system on my wife and my daughter's Ladyhawks have always worked perfectly, and never released accidentally.

 

[Wristshot]

Sounds like most people prefer Integrated Weights in most situations.

Remember that you can always use a weight belt with a WIBC, but you can't always integrate weight into a non-integrated weight BC. (Duh) It seems to me that it would be a good idea to buy a BC with the Integrated Weights as that would give you the most flexibility.
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When diving warm (3mm or .5mm), I put the weights from the boats (hard or soft) into my two rear non-dump pouches and the two front dumpable pouches.

When diving cold (two-piece 7mm), I do the same, but I also wear a (color coordinated) weight belt with 10-12 pounds of coated weights on it. Some on my hips, some in the BC. Belt and front pouches are dumpable. I can dump in increments if necessary. 12 pounds on a weight belt fits me comfortably. (30 lbs on a belt did not)

It all works great for me. Now I just need a real light-weight set up for traveling; like maybe an Aluminum BP.

NOTE: weight pouches on ScubaPro have latches, but not the new quicker releasing ones.
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My extremely bouyant buddy uses weights in BC when diving warm (1mm). Some front, some rear, one on tank strap. (????)

When diving Cold (two piece 7mm) , my buddy needs 40lbs (told you he was bouyant!) That is too much for his Zeagle Ranger, and he has no hips to hold up a weight belt. He got the DUI Weight & Trim System, and he loves it. As mentioned before, weight on shoulders, not hips. Various amounts can be dumped.

NOTE: He started with a Chute II and he lost a weight pouch at least twice on dives. Pouches (when full) were almost impossible to install while wearing the BC. It didn't seem like a real good design.

NOTE: Ranger allows for the weight pouches to be installed easily while standing or sitting.

Just a few random thoughts.


Wristshot

 

[miketsp]

It has happened to me several times with my Mares Synchro Powertech (well made, but as overengineered and overfeatured a BC as you'll find). And this is even after reducing the weight in the pouches from 15 to 8 pounds a side. To be fair, I was flailing through a lot of kelp the last time it happened (the one time it's better to swim, or rather crawl on your front is when going through this stuff on the surface!).

But the integrated weight system on mine is completely dependent on velcro. Isn't yours mechanical instead? The integrated weight system on my wife and my daughter's Ladyhawks have always worked perfectly, and never released accidentally.

I have a Mares Synchro Tec which I dive with 5kg per side (about 11lb/side) and there is no way these weights are going to fall out from the double overlapping velcro system. I know Mares went through a few design changes on these models until they got it right.