Weight Belt?

[ABQdiver]

I'm in the process in changing my kit from a Ranager with integral soft weights to the infamous Backplate and Wing. The BP&W has been purchaced, and in my hand. I, now have to consider a weight belt of some sort. I know I want a SS buckle on the belt instead of those cheap plastic ones.

I like to utilize my existing soft weight packs (since I have them already) and am considering a soft weight belt with pouches. Is this an appropriate step or should I just get standard lead weights for the belt.

The other question, is who has the nicest belt based on the above question?

 

[ladycute1]

I vote to re-use the soft weight in a belt -- it's much more comfortable than the hard weight -- fewer bruises!!!

In terms of a weight belt -- I have one that zips up and is made of heavy duty mesh. Works well, doesn't "look" very snazzy. I have seen sharper looking soft weight belts where the pockets seem to be made of neoprene (or something similar) -- looks more attractive and probably provides more padding -- but I'm not sure how quickly they dry compared to the mesh belts.

Liz

 

[Dryglove]

ABQdiver once bubbled...
I'm in the process in changing my kit from a Ranager with integral soft weights to the infamous Backplate and Wing. The BP&W has been purchaced, and in my hand. I, now have to consider a weight belt of some sort. I know I want a SS buckle on the belt instead of those cheap plastic ones.

I like to utilize my existing soft weight packs (since I have them already) and am considering a soft weight belt with pouches. Is this an appropriate step or should I just get standard lead weights for the belt.

The other question, is who has the nicest belt based on the above question?

One of our members here makes a great weight belt that a lot of us use.He goes by the user name of heath74.His website is http://www.idsewing.com/ Heath is a great guy and is very helpful.

Here are some threads on his belts

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14612

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16925

 

[cyklon_300]

Simple, cheap, unbreakable, doesn't weigh much, and takes up little space. Never had any discomfort with hard wts.

I don't care for neoprene pouches as they add cost, buoyancy, and are bulky...all negatives IMO.

 

[crazyc]

If you are moving to a BP and harness, if the BP is stainless steel it is going to weigh between 6 and 9 pounds depending on which one you purchased. If you are going from a single tank rig to doubles, that changes things even more. What I'm trying to say, is before you purchase a new weight belt or weight system, borrow one...set up the rig you plan to dive...dump the tank/tanks to 500 psi and then see how much weight you need to have to safely conduct yourself at 20 to 10 feet to the surface and still have control.

Then go back and depending on how much weight you need, figure out where you need to wear it. Some folks find they need only a few pounds of v-weight stuck between their BP and tanks, some purchase weight pockets that attach to the harness and BP, some just throw a few pounds in a weightbelt and wear it. But just keep in mind, that a weight belt and a harness wind up getting confused if you are trying to streamline your system.

 

[ABQdiver]

For the replies,

I vote to re-use the soft weight in a belt -- it's much more comfortable than the hard weight -- fewer bruises!!!

I understand, I thought they might be more comfortable. I'm not prone to bruising, so don't know whether or not that would make a difference.

One of our members here makes a great weight belt that a lot of us use.He goes by the user name of heath74.His website is http://www.idsewing.com/ Heath is a great guy and is very helpful.

Thanks, lal7176 the links were helpful.

If you are moving to a BP and harness, if the BP is stainless steel it is going to weigh between 6 and 9 pounds depending on which one you purchased. If you are going from a single tank rig to doubles, that changes things even more. What I'm trying to say, is before you purchase a new weight belt or weight system, borrow one...set up the rig you plan to dive...dump the tank/tanks to 500 psi and then see how much weight you need to have to safely conduct yourself at 20 to 10 feet to the surface and still have control.

Then go back and depending on how much weight you need, figure out where you need to wear it. Some folks find they need only a few pounds of v-weight stuck between their BP and tanks, some purchase weight pockets that attach to the harness and BP, some just throw a few pounds in a weight-belt and wear it. But just keep in mind, that a weight belt and a harness wind up getting confused if you are trying to streamline your system.

I understand about the weighting difference. I have the SS with STA (non-weighted) and I'm using a 7mm farmer john wetsuit, diving single AL80s at the moment. I figure I will need about 14-16 on the belt since at the present I need about 26 to offset everything so far.
I'm hoping with the BP&W the difference will be a more balance approach and I can retire some of the weight to the storage shelf.
Right now, with a double layer of 7mm suit around the torso, and the integral weights of the Ranger I'm very feet heavy. I plan on checking the weighting in the pool with the BP&W and possible adding some more at the plate if needed to remove the belt additions.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Dryglove]

ABQdiver once bubbled...
For the replies,



I understand, I thought they might be more comfortable. I'm not prone to bruising, so don't know whether or not that would make a difference.


Thanks, lal7176 the links were helpful.


I understand about the weighting difference. I have the SS with STA (non-weighted) and I'm using a 7mm farmer john wetsuit, diving single AL80s at the moment. I figure I will need about 14-16 on the belt since at the present I need about 26 to offset everything so far.
I'm hoping with the BP&W the difference will be a more balance approach and I can retire some of the weight to the storage shelf.
Right now, with a double layer of 7mm suit around the torso, and the integral weights of the Ranger I'm very feet heavy. I plan on checking the weighting in the pool with the BP&W and possible adding some more at the plate if needed to remove the belt additions.

Thanks for all your help.

If you need a link for making your own channel weight let me know and ill dig it up.Pug recently posted a picture of a channel weight he made that fits under the straps for a single tank set up with no sta.I recently purchased a heavy plate from fredt with one of his custom molded channel weights that bolts to his light 2 piece sta.That should take about 10-12 more pounds off of my belt. I cant wait to get it and try it out

 

[ABQdiver]

That would be great lal7176.
I might need the extra plate weight to balance the rig.

 

[Dryglove]

ABQdiver once bubbled...
That would be great lal7176.
I might need the extra plate weight to balance the rig.

Here is the thread that shows Pugs channel weight(page1) and how he makes it (page 2) http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20998&perpage=15&display=&pagenumber=1

Here is the link on how to make a channel weight http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/vweight/pweight.htm

 

[ABQdiver]

lal7176 once bubbled...


Here is the thread ....

Thanks a lot. Great information!!