Integrated weights versus weight belt

[gNats]

Hi everyone,

I've seen a few postings regarding weights and would like to hear what everyone else prefers.

I have a weight integrated BC. 2 dump pockets on the hips and 2 trim pockets on the back.

Which do you prefer? Integrated soft weights or a weight belt? If you prefer the weight belt, do you use the hard or soft weights?

From what I have read in the other postings, it appears if moving the weights to a belt helps distribute the weight more evenly on the body. Is this true? Does it help with trim and boyancy or does the weight belt merely make the BC more manageable?

Thanks!

 

[rstofer]

You have overlooked the third choice: a weight harness. In all probability, a weight belt will carry the weight a little lower on the body than integrated weights. But the harness will carry the weights even farther down. For the DUI harness, the recommended location for the top of the weight pouches is even with the top of the hip bone. That's pretty low.

With the belt, you commonly have weight behind your back. I'm not certain that is a good thing. I kind of like having the weight at my sides. With the majority of the weight (belt and tank) behind you, if you start to roll over, you will continue to roll. I always thought it was a little awkward. Of course, you could rig your weight belt to avoid this and it would be worthwhile to do so. I had one of those fabric weight belts and the vast majority of the weight was behind me.

As you can imagine, I am a fan of the weight harness. I don't have hips and I am old and fat.

Now, there is another issue: if you need a whole lot of weight and you use a negative tank, can your BC float at the surface. Just something to check. Most BCs have about 38# of buoyancy and if you carry 30# of weight and have a steel HP 100, the rig will sink because the tank starts 10.5# negative.

The way around this is to do both. Wear some weight on a belt/harness and the rest as integrated. You get the best of both worlds.

Over in Eqeuipment -> BCs ... there is a spreadsheet for evaluating buoyancy configurations. It's very useful!

Oh, and I use soft weights for everything. All of my solid weights are on a shelf - pretty much museum pieces.

Richard

 

[miketrance84]

Well I have weight intigration but its kinda crappy. When your diving with a dry suit or a 7mm in cold water you need alot of weight. It really maxes out at around 20 lbs. Depending on your BC you could still put it in your other pockets but its kind of a pain

 

[gNats]

Thanks Richard.

I don't know much about the harnesses. I am going to start researching them now.

I should say that I am currently diving with 20 lbs. I weigh 115 lbs. and wear a drysuit. I have an 80AL tank.

I did a pre-dive check 4 weeks ago and found that my weight was dialed in at 16 lbs at the start of the dive. I needed about 3-4 more lbs added to give me the proper weight at the end of the dive.

 

[NudeDiver]

I had always used integrated weights. For my rescue class, he made us use a weight belt. All I can say is man - what a pain in the ass. No way would I want to use one. I'm glad I have integrated weights.

As for a weight harness, I have a DUI System 40 for sale if you want to buy one.

As for weight limitation with integrated weights - I think it depends a lot on the BC. I have a black diamond - it can hold a LOT of weight. I use soft weights with it. It will easily take 46 pounds - and maybe 2 more if you wanted to try to stuff it in.

 

[garyfotodiver]

I used a weight belt for 35 years (and tried a harness to carry 30+ pounds when diving in a 7mm farmer john suit). Now I have weight-integrated BCs and love them. Maximum of 20 pounds at the waist, 10 pounds trim. If I need more, I use a steel tank or I can add more weight on a belt.

However, I believe new divers should learn to use a belt. An integrated pocket might break, or only pocket-less BCs are available. One never knows...

 

[Thalassamania]

Integrated weight systems are basically accidents waiting to happen. It's one thing to be in the tropics with a skinny suit and 8 lbs in your BC, it's another to have 20 in your BC and blunder into a gill net that requires removing your rig to get clear. I wear a weightbelt or a harness ... even in the tropics with eight lbs.

 

[CamG]

Greetings gNats good question with lots of opinions and solutions. In the end it really depends what works best for you. I have dove both and find the belt easier for me personally. Several reasons; it makes donning and doffing BC easier, it is easier to ditch if need be, it is cheaper "a little", I like the flexibility to add or subtract, it takes the pressure off my BC "pocket in particular", etc.. These are my reasons and my best advice would be to dive both and make up your own mind.
Both options are able to serve you well it is up personal preference. Have fun trying both out. While you are at it try a back floatation BC to, I did and learned for me I loved it! Just my experience though, go and discover for yourself. That is the fun of it, discovering new ways to dive / new things to try! Cool stuff!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[NudeDiver]

Integrated weight systems are basically accidents waiting to happen. It's one thing to be in the tropics with a skinny suit and 8 lbs in your BC, it's another to have 20 in your BC and blunder into a gill net that requires removing your rig to get clear.

That dog don't hunt.

 

[Teamcasa]

The choice of using the integrated weight pockets or a weight belt has more to do with you BC and the total amount you use. If you need over twenty or so pounds I'd suggest that you sell the BC and get a backplate system (hard plate or harness system) and wear a weight belt. Using a weight belt and a BC that has integrated weight pockets is clumsy and not much fun.

I use an Apeks WTX harness and wing with a ScubaPro soft weight pocket belt. It is very comfortable, stable and secure.