Weight ideas for BP/W, dry suit, salt water (up to 40 lbs)

[nexion]

Hey guys,

With a bunch of research, I've put together a nice set of gear, but there is one area of uncertainty: how to distribute the weight. According to my logbook, diving dry in saltwater involved using 40 lbs of weight. Does that sound about right? I'm 6'1", 200 lbs.

I'll be getting a BP/W (HOG 32lb wing). probably with this harness and crotch strap:

Dive Rite Basic Harness discounts on sale Dive Rite
Dive Rite 1 and 2 Inch Crotch Strap W/Scooter Ring discounts on sale Dive Rite (2 inch)

I was advised to get 2 slide-on weight pockets (XS Scuba Weight Pocket discounts on sale XS Scuba) to put on the TOP tank strap and 2 more somewhere at the front of the harness. This seems fine, although it doesn't give me all the weight I need:

6 lbs stainless steel backplate + 4 * 5lb = 26 lb, which is 14lb short of the 40 goal.

I want to be able to take the wing set with me on a plane, so ideally no extra weights aside from the 6 lbs SS BP. The dry suit and all other weights would stay at home. Empty weight pockets would come with.

I was thinking of adding 2 more weight pockets on the BOTTOM tank strap (or would this result in more rolling since there'd be a lot of weight above me instead of below when I'm horizontal?)

... and 2 x 2 lb = 4 lb ankle weights

What can you guys recommend? I'm not a fan of weight belts, especially with the risk of having it accidentally fall off, but I'd consider it. I haven't bought the harness/crotch strap or any weights/pockets yet, so this is all up for suggestion.

Goals:
- Avoid having to waste energy trying to stay horizontal
- Be streamlined
- Not have the weight shifting around
- Not have a tight weight belt block air from travelling between the top and bottom of the dry suit.
- Overall comfort

Thanks in advance!
-nexion

 

[eelnoraa]

First, I would advice you to do a proper weight check. 40lb just doesn't sound right. Might me asking your location, your drysuit model and undergarmet, tank use?

If you indeed need 40lb, I will advice again putting all weight on your rig. Think about it, your wing has only 32lb of lift. If you ever need to take your rig off in water or on surface, your rig will sink like a stone. And you will shoot straight to the surface. You should split the weight between your rig and yourself. If the idea of weight belt is really that bad to you, consider product like DUI weight harness.

 

[nexion]

Does 40lb seem too high? This was with a neoprene dry suit (rental, so I don't remember the details) in Puget Sound near Seattle, WA. The tank was a steel 80, if I recall correctly.

Interesting point about the rig sinking if taken off. I suppose if I need to do this, I'd want to put some weight on myself to be less positively buoyant, and the rest can go on the rig, which should be less than its lift capacity. When would one want to get out of their rig while floating though? Note also that I could drop 2 of the 5 lb weights and have it float (40 - 4 (ankle weights) = 36 lb, 36 - 10 = 26; 26 < 32) prior to removing the rig.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I agree with eelnoraa, keep if off your rig. 40lbs is on the high end. It depends not only on your size, but how much loft your undergarments have. Most likely you will be in the low 30's unless you have unusually thick garments.

As for how to distribute it, I am a big fan of a weight harness (DUI) when you talk about weight >20lbs. With a weight harness, you have straps to move the weights up or down along your torso so you can trim out. You can incrementally move one thing to adjust trim, not futz around with weights all over the place. Adjusting all those weights become a major task. No need to make it any more complicated than it needs to be.

I would also wait before trying ankle weights. I had a little problem with floaty feet diving dry and gators fixed it up. For me it was a simpler solution than adding weight to my ankles and increasing the effort needed to propel myself.

Oops, just read you had a neoprene d/s, that can increase your lead. I think some are crushed neoprene which is not so bad.

 

[nexion]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I'm thinking about the DUI harness or just a weight belt. Am I right to understand that the DUI harness is basically a weight belt with shoulder straps and two weight release handles? So all the weight is still around your waist? Something like that I could be okay with as long as the handles aren't easily pullable by accident. That would mean I don't need to put weight on tank straps or the BP harness, so the entire 34 lbs (40 - 6 SS BP) can go in the weight harness, except possibly ankle weights if I end up with floaty feet. How does that sound?

Do you guys wear the DUI harness over or under your BP harness? I wonder if having 2 harnesses causes any minor problems?

I see there's a Weight & Trim "Classic" and also "II". Is "II" supposed to be an improved model?

 

[eelnoraa]

I will go as far to say 40lb is extremely high espeically when you are diving steel 80. what is your undergarment? what else you are using that is postively buoyant? Did you take a drysuit class? Can you call up the instructor and ask for a proper weight check?

If you really need lots of weight, I would suggest DSS over DR. DSS offers bolt on 8lb weight plates, making the backplate 14lb. DUI harness goes under the bp harness. I like classic better, but it is personal preference.

 

[esears]

To give you a quick comparison, I use 2 kg with a summer (~100g) undergarment, two backup lights, a can light, and a Halycon backplate (3kg). I'd probably re-look at how much weight you are carrying.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I'm thinking about the DUI harness or just a weight belt. Am I right to understand that the DUI harness is basically a weight belt with shoulder straps and two weight release handles? So all the weight is still around your waist? Something like that I could be okay with as long as the handles aren't easily pullable by accident. That would mean I don't need to put weight on tank straps or the BP harness, so the entire 34 lbs (40 - 6 SS BP) can go in the weight harness, except possibly ankle weights if I end up with floaty feet. How does that sound?

Do you guys wear the DUI harness over or under your BP harness? I wonder if having 2 harnesses causes any minor problems?

I see there's a Weight & Trim "Classic" and also "II". Is "II" supposed to be an improved model?

The Classic is heavy duty with full sized webbing straps and belt, but slightly bulkier as a result. Built to last a lifetime. The II is still made well, but uses fabric straps and belt instead. Its more compact, ligther and less bulky, but a couple of people have complained about wearing it out after extended periods of heavy use.

The weight when you are on land is distributed between shoulders and waist. It depends on how tight you adjust the belt and your build (do you have a waist?). The difference is underwater. The shoulder straps keep things from moving and screwing with your trim once you have it dialed in. The adjustments on the straps can be made underwater while diving, a big plus.

The handles are not easy to pull by accident. They have velcro retainers that don't play a roll in holding the weight, but insure you have to really give them a solid pull to release. Harder than I expected, but not too hard (yes, I drill myself on weight release so I know exactly what to expect). The weights are held by a zip cord like a parachute system (similar to Zeagle) and is excellent.

As for your weight, since you were just renting I doubt you had time to dial it in. Even a weight check only gives you a starting point and being under weighted on a dry suit can be very unpleasant to to squeeze. Expect to mes around for 6-8 dives minimum to dial it in. Doing your first few divers over weight is part of the learning experience, along with re learning buoyancy and trim. A steel BP will drop 5-6lbs of lead and proper under garments and dialing in just the right amount of air can drop another 5-6lbs. Neoprene D/S are tough to predict, some like the bottom half of mine are crushed and don't add buoyancy. Others are not and work like a wet suite, but supposedly require less undergarments.

Bottom line, I ended up with 3 of these units (1 classic, 2 II) because they are an excellent solution for those of us with significant ballast needs. My belts are used for warm water diving where I don't need more then 12lbs.

 

[Linedog]

I'm 5'11" and weigh 225, I dive a neoprene drysuit, HP steel 130, and I'm a bit over weighted at 32 pounds. I normally don't wear much undergarments as my suit keeps me pretty warm. I also dive a Hollis ATS BCD, I melted lead to form fit the pouches at 28 pounds (14 pounds each) I have 2 XS Scuba tank pouches but don't use them as I find myself getting head heavy at the end of my dive. I have been using a 4 pound weight that I clip on my tail with a boltsnap to shift my trim. I still feel I'm about 2-4 pounds heavy. I also dive in Puget Sound, hope this helps.

 

[boulderjohn]

A lot of your weight requirements depend upon your underwear and tank choices. I am about your size. When I am diving dry in salt water with my lighter (but not lightest) underwear, a SS backplate and steel 108 doubles, I don't need any extra weight whatsoever. I am even OK after I have mostly emptied aluminum stage and deco tanks, at which point they float.

In contrast, when diving in Puget Sound with a SS back plate, a single tank, and my fluffiest underwear, I was shocked by how much added weight I needed. I don't recall how much it was and don't have my log book with me, but it was not anywhere remotely close to 40 ponds.

(BTW, that underwear was overkill--after a 60 minute night dive, I was sweating.)