weight belts or integrated weights?
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jl_va_21
Contributor
I greatly prefer integrated weights. I think the weight belt is less comfortable, also I have a slight discomfort about the fact that all my weights have a single failure point (the buckle). Integrated just seems easier too - one less thing to don/doff.
Well, it really depends:
- warm water, AL80, 3mm, basic BCD: a couple of pound on a belt is no pb.
- cold water, AL80, 7mm or more wetsuit, large bulky BCD, >20pounds, then having all this on a belt would risk it to be ankle weights, especially a depth. So integrated weight on these BCDs are really useful to me.
- cold water, HP tank and BP/W: i used several trim pockets ditchable and not, but all on the harness or the tank.
- cold water, dry suit. Would certainly be different config again, don't know, havent done it yet.
what i dont like with the belt and the wetsuit is it gets loose at depth. With a harness, the fact it is not that easy to ditch in 2 steps when it hangs on your crotch strap, and then you have to slide it.
- warm water, AL80, 3mm, basic BCD: a couple of pound on a belt is no pb.
- cold water, AL80, 7mm or more wetsuit, large bulky BCD, >20pounds, then having all this on a belt would risk it to be ankle weights, especially a depth. So integrated weight on these BCDs are really useful to me.
- cold water, HP tank and BP/W: i used several trim pockets ditchable and not, but all on the harness or the tank.
- cold water, dry suit. Would certainly be different config again, don't know, havent done it yet.
what i dont like with the belt and the wetsuit is it gets loose at depth. With a harness, the fact it is not that easy to ditch in 2 steps when it hangs on your crotch strap, and then you have to slide it.
Both. I like to put a couple of weights into the integrated BC and enough weights on the belt so that dropping the belt will be effective in an emergency. This way, neither my BC or belt are loaded with weights and it distributes them quite evenly.
onemorefalcon
Contributor
I keep all my weight on my weight belt. That is mostly because I dive a BP and didn't want to fork out the money for a DUI Harness. Hmmm...maybe they will have another one of their factory clearances this summer and I can pick one up there.
For me, it came down to what kind of rig I was diving. I think for cold water So Cal diving a weight integrated BCD feels bulky with all of the lead you have to use. It is much easier for me to slap on a weight belt and my BP than it ever was to don a WI BCD. Now if I was in the tropics and only needed 4 lbs of lead, a weight integrated BCD seems like a much more viable option.
For me, it came down to what kind of rig I was diving. I think for cold water So Cal diving a weight integrated BCD feels bulky with all of the lead you have to use. It is much easier for me to slap on a weight belt and my BP than it ever was to don a WI BCD. Now if I was in the tropics and only needed 4 lbs of lead, a weight integrated BCD seems like a much more viable option.
tight rope walker
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I agree with walter,
Plus if you are wearing a full wetsuit, and for some unknown reason you have to drop that tank, what happens next?
I myself personally would rather keep the weight on my belt, then I am not putting all my apples in one barrel.
Plus if you are wearing a full wetsuit, and for some unknown reason you have to drop that tank, what happens next?
I myself personally would rather keep the weight on my belt, then I am not putting all my apples in one barrel.
mksmith713
Contributor
What about those of us who dive big steel tanks and don't need added weight?
so I still use a belt.
tight rope walker
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I dive a 95 ( 94.6 ) steel and I still use weights.
In the viking, I not only use more weight, but I also use ankle weights
In the viking, I not only use more weight, but I also use ankle weights
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