Knighthawk weight release?

[reefugee]

I have a Knighthawk and my fiancee has the LadyHawk. I had no problem with ditching my own weights. However, it would take a little longer for me to ditch my fiancee's weight because I can't see the buckle easily underwater. If the buckle was orange or red, it would be much easier to see underwater.

BTW - I really like the Knighthawk. Only complaint is that there isn't enough pocket. But then again - if it had pockets, I might complain it was too bulky.

Minh

 

[Damselfish]

I'm also more worried about losing weights when I don't want to (more likely overall to cause a problem) than needing to ditch them. I have a Ladyhawk and find the weight release reliable at holding weights in when you want them in - and very easy to release when you want them out. If you happen to be forward of upright at all they'll practically ditch thenselves once unbuckled, it not you've now got a length of webbing with a buckle on the end that's easy to grab. I tried another mechanical release system that was one pull - maybe surelock? - and didn't like it as much. Seemed I couldn't really be sure when it was in, and they were harder to pull out than squeezing the buckle on the Scubapro.

Definitely skip velcro, there's good reasons manufacturers are moving away from it. A friend has a BC with velcro pockets and they have gone diving on their own far too often.

I do miss having pockets. And making the buckles a bright color wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[RS]

I actually tried a weight belt on vacation, and liked it better than my integrated weights. you could look into that option, too. I used a seasoft soft weight belt, no the blocks.

I've just decided to get back into diving after a long break, and not only do I need more weight, but the weight belt doesn't stay on the hips anymore. I just picked up a Knighthawk. It is more comfortable, and sans weightbelt, I don't feel like a kid with his pants falling down now! I did try it without the integrated weights, using the weightbelt. Without the weights, it felt like I didn't have the BC adjusted correctly and it rode up on my neck.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I used a Knighthawk prior to switching to a BP/W.

One of the reasons I bought it was specifically for the integrated weight systems. Many divers, myself included, are constatly changing weighting because of different conditions and suits; changes from cold water to warm, wetsuits to dry, etc. I looked at other BCs that seemed to have far more complicated integrated weights, so every change of weighting would entail unthreading and rethreading or some other complex action.

The fact is, you remove your integrated weights everytime you remove the BC. Either before getting on the boat, right after getting on the boat, or once ashore from a shore dive. You don't want to hang up the BC with the weights in, heck, you don't want to be fooling around with getting the BC on or off the tank with the weights in.

You will have plenty of practice getting those weights out in a split second. Personally, I think they are easier than getting a weight belt off.

The Knighthawk is a terrific BC. Several of the staff at our dive shop have purchased them and they are a favorite of several divers I know.

Don't worry about the weight system, it works like a charm, easy to load up and even easier to remove but very secure when in place.

Just make sure you give your dive buddy a chance to practice getting them out, it's not hard, just requires one or two practices.

Jeff

(I am in no way affiliated sith ScubaPro.)