Options for additional weight w/ BP/W

[Flightlead]

Are you diving doubles or singles?

double x8 steel hp 119's (essentially the same as lp 95's for this discussion) with an 8lb steel backplate

 

[Flightlead]

Flightlead, why is the weight belt difficult to don?

Personally I found a standard webbing weight belt uncomfortable, but my soft pocketed weightbelt is the bee's knees. Add or remove, drop when I want to (good strong buckle), and it's all easily done based on what tank I'm taking or what suit I'm wearing..

I have found it difficult to don wearing the doubles, can light, dry suit etc. It is especially hard for me to get up up high enough over my hips and then to tighten it down while wearing all of that gear.

 

[Flightlead]

Huh . . . I found putting weight on a belt helped me deal with the head-heaviness of doubles, and made my trim better. I guess that's why this stuff is all very dependent on the combination of tank and diver.

actually, apparently like tsandm, because I've got floaty feet the position of the lead on my waist helped my trim (along with gaiters which I'd hoped to avoid).

 

[cool_hardware52]

double x8 steel hp 119's (essentially the same as lp 95's for this discussion) with an 8lb steel backplate

I'm repeating myself here a bit, but if you want to add a bit of ballast to your doubles rig, just take soft weight pouches (2-3 lbs bags) and lay them on top of your wing, between the upper and lower tank band bolts, then bolt on your plate.


With 8" dia tanks and a steeply bent back plate you may not have a lot of room, but you can likely get a few lbs in there. Cheap, adjustable, easy.

Tobin

 

[lowridersvt]

actually, apparently like tsandm, because I've got floaty feet the position of the lead on my waist helped my trim (along with gaiters which I'd hoped to avoid).

What fins are you using? mabe try a set of turtle fins or jets they are heavy and i wear gaitors with my suit also .
since your foot light with the x8-119 they have alot of but wiegth built into them might want to slide them down a little to move the weight down if you are fighting trim with you back arched moving the tanks might help ya out took a wile to get mine just ritght

 

[Flightlead]

What fins are you using? mabe try a set of turtle fins or jets they are heavy and i wear gaitors with my suit also .
since your foot light with the x8-119 they have alot of but wiegth built into them might want to slide them down a little to move the weight down if you are fighting trim with you back arched moving the tanks might help ya out took a wile to get mine just ritght

OMS slipstream.

I can't slide them down as the other problem I'm dealing with is reaching the valves

 

[willardj]

You can switch to SP Jets. They are heavier than the OMS Slipstreams. They should bring your feet down. I have to wear my jets with one suit and my Quatto's with another suit just to stay trim. Just a thaught.

 

[lowridersvt]

i second the jet's or turtles they ad allot of weight on you feet i love my slipstreams for my wet suit dives but the heavier turtles work best for a dry suit and if you need gaiters stay as far away from the oms ones as posible they suck bad lol get halcyon or golem gear ones they are good as for reaching you valves what suit and undies are you wearing a poor fitting suit and undies can really affect reaching valves i swapped out my dui 400g undies for fourth element arctics and made a huge diferrance your underwear could be your problem

 

[TravisD]

One other option is the DUI Weight and Trim. I love it, since I regrettably have no real "hips" to hold up a normal belt, especially one holding enough weight for my 6' 290lb self. The harness has shoulder straps so that you don't need to crank down the waist strap so much to hold the belt in place -- no issues with is slipping due to suit compression either. The shoulder straps allow you to move the belt up or down as necessary to adjust trim.

I also like that it has four individual velcro-closed pockets. When I'm only using a little bit of weight (one pocket on each side worth), I can use the other pockets for "stuff".

Distributing the weight onto your shoulders actually makes the weight "comfortable". More than once I've gotten out, taken off the BC (bp/w) and found that I'm still wearing the weights around - you sort of forget they're there.

 

[Dirkadiver]

I dive a DS, SS DR bp, double hp 130's & an 8# v-weight & Jets & am still a little foot heavy but can easily maintain perfect horizontal positioning. I agree w/ the above & go for the heavier fins & a v-weight.

I just got my 12# v weight in today to offset my new undergarment. I hope I can keep my trim w/ the extra lead on my back