Not having dumpable weights on BPW

[JLRO22]

I am super close on clicking order on my BPW set up. But I'm starting to get skeptical on the weight set up.
I'm a small diver 5'2 and only 115 lbs. I dive temperate waters in California with a 7mm suit, 5/3 hood, 7mm boots etc. This is my current 'possible buy' list in terms of main weighting:

Backplates​

• Halcyon - Small Stainless Steel Backplate; 4.05 lbs
• Dive Rite - Short Stainless Steel XT Backplate; 5.41 lbs

STAs​

• Dive Rite - STA; 0.81lbs
• Halcyon - STA; 2.4 lbs
• Halcyon - STA w/ weight; 7.55 lbs

With my dive program, I have access to AL80s or Steel 85, 80, 100s but usually opt for a steel more often times than not. Its a bad day if I have to use an AL80 or there's no steels left and I need more air than what's in an 85.
Anyway my dilemma is what is correct configuration without it being dangerous of having too much non-dumpable weight on my body? Since I dive steels usually, if I run a set up that's heavy (DR plate w/ any of the STAs), I would barely have to put anything on a belt. And if I need to do an emergency ascent and I dump, I'll be dumping basically nothing and need to instead kick like hell. Yeah that means I'll means I'm probably overweighted, but is running 7 or even 12 lbs + a steel over kill for such a small diver. Is it safe to run all your weight on your back?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

FWIW, every single technical diver I know out here uses a weight belt...

That being said, on shorter people, it does introduce the possibility of cluttering the waist area, and if the rig is balanced, it's balanced. I still prefer weight belts, and that's after trying all the tricks outlined in this thread.

A lot of people run goofball stuff like rigs with no ditchable weight and fail to consider things like suit compression at depth. That 7mm is going to be thin as paper at 100fsw, and as such, not provide the lift it gave you at the surface. That's what gets so many people into trouble out here.

As lot of people do goofball things like put all their weight on their rigs because they read that crap on here, but they don't fully understand what "balanced rig" means. They go in with the old knowledge of how they were weighted in their OW class which in todays terms is usually about 10# too much. This is what's scary.
They need to do their homework first before they get brainwashed by a bunch of koolaiders talking about no ditchable weight.
Absolute madness!!!

 

[MB NZ]

They need to do their homework first before they get brainwashed by a bunch of koolaiders talking about no ditchable weight.

Lots of experienced divers like to dive without ditchable weight. Like me, they've probably worked it out for themselves without drinking the koolaid (is there a non-ditchable weight koolaid?). There is no need to be offensive. I don't care how you or anybody else dives, but I'm happy to share my experience. As I said in Post #4, the choice is yours.

 

[steinbil]

Ditchable weights are like snorkels, you may want them or not want them and whatever works for you is OK.

More like:
Ditchable weights are like snorkels, useless/dangerous under water.

Yes, I use a weight belt, for convenience, under the harness, never to be dropped at depth...

 

[Scared Silly]

What happens when you try to ditch a weight belt when wearing a harness with a crotch strap? Does it get hung up? That's my assumption, but I never tried.

If wearing a weight belt with backplate and crotch strap it is last thing put on, and the first thing taken off. That is SOP anything else is fubar.

 

[Tigerpaw]

Backplates while great for their simplicity, weight options are to some degree limited.

Manufacturers are actually getting better at it. Fantom Dive Systems have stainless steel backplates in 6, 10 and 15 pounds!

 

[Scared Silly]

Manufacturers are actually getting better at it. Fantom Dive Systems have stainless steel backplates in 6, 10 and 15 pounds!

Weight options, not in weight of the backplate but in the ability to add/remove weight as needed including weight that can be ditched. The latter being the topic a hand.