I am very positively buoyant person. The last time I checked, just wearing swim trunks & a SS rash guard it took 22lbs (10kg) to neutral out. With my BP/W I am using about 23-26lbs (11-12kg). If I wear a 3mm wetsuit or use my BDC I am using about 28lbs (13kgs). Since I too suffer from a diminishing butt condition along with diminutive hip syndrome. Wearing this much weight on a belt is very heavy, hard to put on while on dry land or a boat and all too often slides down until I re-adjust in the horizontal position while in the water. So integrated weights for both my BP/W and BCD are what I use.
The main drawback I have found is orientation while on the surface. With the type of BCD I have my weights are more forward then centered of my central vertical axis and the BDC is a back inflate style. Thus on the surface it takes some effort to keep from floating face down. To help correct this I have cut down on the weight I put into my integrated weight pockets and wear a belt with at least half the weight centered in the small of my back.
With my BP/W my weight packets are to the rear of my central vertical axis and I have found that I am much more comfortable on the surface. So this has become my equipment setup of choice. The only drawback is when I travel. Often I find a dive shop and take a 2-tank dive trip impulsively (schedule permitting). I now travel with my mask, C-Cards & log book and dive computer, unless the trip is a dive expedition, thus I rarely have my full kit with me. So I use rentals a lot. That means back to BCDs (often without integrated weights). I will use their belt weights and also stuff some of the weight in the pockets. My underwater orientation is a little sloppy, but anytine I can get into the water I am a happy camper.
What I want to do is take some time in a confined water space and work with different trim and weight configurations.
I know it should be different for each BCD and BP/W and with and without a wet suit. Plus it will be different when I venture into the realm of drysuits. I am thinking that trim pockets on the cam band might be a good fit for me; plus they are light and small and I take them regardless of my travel plans.
The other thing for me is Fat Boy is losing weight (12 lbs in the last 2 months and that includes 3 weeks in Italy). Less fat = less buoyant = less lead. :glad:
:focus: +1 for integrated weights supplemented with a weight belt.
~ME~