To weight integrate, or not to weight integrate... that is the question

[KimmieR]

Ok, so what is does the jury say on weight integration (I apologize if I am rehashing an old topic.) What are the advantages and disadvantages?

If I told you I was a new diver who dives in Florida (so warm to temperatue waters) what would you recommend? I'd like to hear lots of opinions and I thank you in advance for your help.

 

[sky50960]

Weight integration

For putting some weight in my BC meaning more confort when diving.
When i put all the weignt on my belt my back hurts a little after a dive because of hyperextension.

The only thing is be sure to be able to dump easilly the weights if needed

Just relating my experience!!!!!

I you buy a weight integrated BC you don't have to put weight into the weight pockts.

I put 4 Kg in my BC and the rest on my weight Belt.


Fa

 

[TwoBitTxn]

First get a BC that you are comfortable with. You may not find an integrated BC that you are comfortable in. If you find a non-integrated BC that is more comfy to you then that is what you should go with.

Second.. Weight integration is really nice. It allows you to move weight around, get it off your belt, and acheive a more efficient swimming posture. This includes ankle weight, tank weight, and weight in the BC pockets.

Third... see the first point...

Wish I was you...living in Fl

Tom

 

[TexasMike]

Tom said pretty much what I was going to say (that's why I enjoy diving with him! we think alike!)

I like weight integrated for it's simplicity. My Zeagle Ranger makes it simple to toss the weight pouches into the proper pockets after I slip on the BC/Tank. But I can see situations where eventually I might carry some weight on a belt.

But Tom's point regarding comfort cannot be stressed enough. The BC should fit you so that once in the water, you forget that it's there and can concentrate on enjoying the dive versus fiddling with the fit.

One thing that I was going to do with my weight situation was to try to find a 2-3 pound weight that will fit into my tank boot. That will shift a few pounds out of my pockets, and help with my hovering trim.

 

[herman]

I gotta go with the rest. I like my intergrated BC as well. The weights don't slide around and stay put. WI was a God send to my wife. We could not find a BC that would not slip up on her. Imagine her BC pulled up to her armpits and the weight belt pulling the opposite direction, needless to say bouyancy control was almost impossible. With WI, the BC and weights act as one unit and work against itself instead of pulling on you in different directions so the BC no longer rides up like before. And besides, you can always use a belt instead of the WI system. Having said all that, fit and comfort is still the main thing.

Mike, I found some add on pockets that you can hook under the bladder straps on the Ranger and put up to several pounds in each. They ride close to the tank and stay with the BC when you change tanks. They work great.

 

[TexasMike]

Herman: Send me details/photos of those pockets if you can. I'd like to check that out.

Kimmie... As you can see, many of us are fans of the weight integrated BC's. You can use the small bags of shot weights, or you can throw the traditional weight belt weights in there. Like Herman said, it can help with streamlining and it helps with the overall fit/comfort of the BC. Stop by your LDS and see if they will let you borrow one for a pool dive.

And keep asking us questions as you think of them. We love sharing our knowledge! (quickly hides the soapbox)

For the Zeagle Ranger owners out there: if you haven't already got them, I can highly recommend the yellow weight pouches that Zeagle sells. Now that I've got my weighting worked out to where I am just fine tuning (some my remember my question on weights a few months back), I just keep the correct amount of weight in the yellow pouches all the time. And then when I'm ready to dive, just slip them in the Ranger's weight pockets as pretty as your please. Plus these pouches have velcro inside of them to keep the shot pouches from "sloshing" around inside the pocket as you dive.

 

[Fishkiller]

I use an WI BC, and as mentioned before the WI BC allows for weight trimming I have two pouches up front and two in the back. After two dives of working on bouyancy, I now have great balance. For saltwater dives I just change a couple of shot weight pouches and am ready.


The things I have noticed about belts is: 1) can forget it on shore. 2) hangs too low on waist 3) rubs when not wearing wetsuit

 

[KimmieR]

Originally posted by herman
WI was a God send to my wife. We could not find a BC that would not slip up on her. Imagine her BC pulled up to her armpits and the weight belt pulling the opposite direction, needless to say bouyancy control was almost impossible.

That was my problem in class. I couldn't get my lower BC strap to stay anywhere near my stomach. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to start trying on some BC's. Thanks everyone.

Kimmie

 

[sactomags]

Since most of my diving is cooler waters (Monterey, Catalina and some So. Cal), I use my SeaQuest Diva weight-integrated BC and then have 10 pounds on my weight belt.

When we're diving tropical, we just use the weight-integration in the BC.

My husband and I both do this (he's got a Chute 2), and have practiced dumping the weight belt. Of course, we hope we never have to do so, but it is better to be prepared.

 

[AmysOnline]

Like Sactomags, I dive in cool waters only in New England. Since I wear a 7mm wetsuit, boots, gloves and hood, it takes up to 22 pounds to get me down. I put 12 pounds in my BC and the rest on a belt. It evens me out well and I am very conformable. Having by BC overloaded with weights makes the fit too tight when my BC in fully inflated. Being a woman, I got hips to keep the weight belt from slipping off. Unlike my husband, he wears all his weight in his BC because he has no A$$ to keep things from slipping off! Last time he wore that much weight on a belt, he got out of the water and his belt was hanging down like a wet diaper! Wish I had the camera!

So Bottom Line - We both love our WI BCs. I have the Mares Frontier Vera - It makes me VERY happy.