Intergrated or belt?

[waynel]

I'm in running battle other local divers. What's better for weight distribution, intergrated BCD or the good old weight belt? Some say the distribution is better around the waist because it's right in the middle of your body. Others swear the weight must be closer to the BCD, ala intergrated. If that's not enough...we've got one diver that insists you should use BOTH! Please, we've already done the old school vs. new school. Got a good logical and/or scientific reason for your preference?

 

[String]

Depends where you are/what weight you take.

However i'd recommend a belt or weight harness NEVER weight integrated.

In areas where you need to carry a lot of weight i still havent seen a jacket that holds a lot of lead securely.

U/W dekit is also a pain with WI and if you lose grip on it you're screwed.

I've also found WI jackets very uncomfortable on my back.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Either. Both. Depends on what your gear configuration is and how much weight you need.

 

[Web Monkey]

I'm in running battle other local divers. What's better for weight distribution, intergrated BCD or the good old weight belt? Some say the distribution is better around the waist because it's right in the middle of your body. Others swear the weight must be closer to the BCD, ala intergrated. If that's not enough...we've got one diver that insists you should use BOTH! Please, we've already done the old school vs. new school. Got a good logical and/or scientific reason for your preference?

Well, here goes a differing opinion

If you use a WI BC, you now have one less chance of a major screwup if you're on a boat that requires you to hand up your BC before boarding. If you have a non-WI setup, hand up your BC, then lose your grip on the boat, you'll be dropping like a stone into the water with no air.

However, I wouldn't use a weight belt, regardless, since the accident reports are full of people that had their belt fall off or tried to adjust it and it dropped, or had it slide around so the buckle was in the back so they couldn't ditch it.

If you decide to use WI, that's great. If you don't, I'd suggest something like the DUI Weight and Trim harness, which will hold your weights forever, and drop them like a stone of you pull the rings to ditch it.

Terry

 

[Jon C]

Integrated was best for me...having no waist to support the belt, it was always slipping around.

Jon

 

[oly5050user]

Well, here goes a differing opinion

If you use a WI BC, you now have one less chance of a major screwup if you're on a boat that requires you to hand up your BC before boarding. If you have a non-WI setup, hand up your BC, then lose your grip on the boat, you'll be dropping like a stone into the water with no air.

However, I wouldn't use a weight belt, regardless, since the accident reports are full of people that had their belt fall off or tried to adjust it and it dropped, or had it slide around so the buckle was in the back so they couldn't ditch it.

If you decide to use WI, that's great. If you don't, I'd suggest something like the DUI Weight and Trim harness, which will hold your weights forever, and drop them like a stone of you pull the rings to ditch it.

Terry

if you sink after handing up a bcd/tank to the boat ,and leave a belt on,you have way too much lead on..Usually people are trained to hand up belt first also before taking bcd/tank off..recommendation on dui weight/trim a good one especially for dry suit divers who tend to need more weight..

 

[scarefaceDM]

BC integrated weight are nice..Zeagle has a nice rig...the weight if it is a pocket..is usually in the belly area/hips...not the ideal balance. Having your weight distributed properly calls for some figuring out.

How much weight do you use, Aluminium tank or steel, body size etc..

Now I will say it...Backplate and wing. You want a great way to balance the weight..this is the route to go. most if not all your weight is on your back. Evenly distributed.

You can add two distchable weight pockets or use a harness or a belt...This helps in balancing your rig. Weight on your back, some on your hips...

It all depends on how much weight you need and what is your type of diving, cold water, ocean diving, lake diving etc...

Wetsuit drysuit, steel or aluminium tanks...

Ya see what you started....

 

[DeputyDan]

I prefer integrated but to each their own preference.

 

[waynel]

This whole topic came up when I got back from Islamorada in Nov. We were diving a 110 ft. wreck. I was have a tiny bit of trouble equalizing and didn't check everything as we continued to compress. At about 80 ft. my belt was around my needs. Luckily I recovered. However, we did a short safety stop at 40 ft. before going up to the 15 ft. stop. Can you believe it? My wife lost her belt when the buckle rubbed against against the line. So..really that's why we went with the WI setup when we bought new BCD's for Christmas. My "old school" friends chastised me.

 

[Peter Deveugle]

Anything you like and makes you feel comfortable, while making sure you can ditch your weights in a matter of seconds in case it is needed and intended (although for deeper diving, ditching weights causes a whole lot of other problems ...).

Personally, I go with WI as a weight belt tends to kill my back. Even when wearing six pounds on a belt in tropical seas I get out of the water after an hour like a hunchback - no problem what so ever when I put it in the (ditchable) pockets of a BC. As for climbing back in a RIB, lead tends to sink pretty rapidly when you drop it -whether it is on a weight belt or in seperate pockets ...

Then again, a good heavy backplate with a nice and heavy canister light on the side is also a good choice for a weight system that goes easy on my back and allows for only the tiniest little bit of weight on a belt, so that it doesn't get in the way ...

Oh, and I love to wear a harness over my double seven mill in the Red Sea ..