Weight-integrated BCD or belt?

[Charlie99]

Like some others that have posted, I prefer integrated weights because weight belts tend to slip. No hips, no butt, and a hint of a beer belly aren't all that compatible with a weightbelt.

Having said that, one disadvantge to integrated weights is that it leaves you and your wetsuit buoyant if you need to remove your BCD at depth. (For example, to re-secure a tank that has come out of the camband; or to extricate yourself from a net).

While this isn't a big problem with either my 3/2 or 5mm wetsuits, I could see it becoming a problem with a double 7mm. Thick wetsuits will also force you to load up the BCD pockets with lots more weight, making them more prone to accidental release.

Integrated is great for the small amounts I wear for tropical diving, but with a heavy wetsuit, I'll reluctantly wear some of the weight on a belt.

 

[Notso_Ken]

IMO it's simple.
If you are dry or have 5+mm coveing your body you want to have ost of your weight on your person in case you need to get out of your rig at depth.

Pete

Good point, I hadn't thought about that situation. Doing most of my diving in a 2 piece 7mm suit (14mm over most of my body, 41 degree water is a bit cool), I do need a fair bit of weight, and have some on a belt, and some in the BC. Maybe I'll re-think the distribution of it and shift some more to the belt.

Thanks!
Now, having read the post just before this one - what he said! Thanks Charlie99! And just Saturday I did have one of the aforementioned accidental releases. A pouch with 8lbs came off, I suddenly became buoyant, but got it under control fairly quickly, and got back down. The safety stop was a bit of a bear, tho. Afterwards, my dive buddy told me that just before I started up, he saw something rectangular separate from me. I never realized it till I was gearing up for the next dive and discovered the pouch missing. If there had been much more weight in the pouch, I wouldn't have been able to stay down, I'm sure.

Ken

 

[shoupart]

I like integrated, mostly for comfort. I have to wear about 22 lbs of weight here in Cali and that really is not comfortable on my hips, especially if I'm doing a beach dive and need to do some walking.
So the integrated weight BC is way better for me, and I can split up the distribution- 8 lb in each pocket, and a 3 lb weight in each armpit pocket. And if I ever have to ditch weight in an emergency, I can just drop one pouch, as opposed to a weight belt where I'd be forced to lose the majority of it. (I was thinking more about the benefits of having to ditch weight underwater and not have a rocket sled ascent, like the guy above mentioned, too).

 

[wallacm]

i use integrated weights, i know the new zeagles have trim pockets added so you can distribute some of the weight

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Try a rubber weight belt, really, problem solved.
There are alternatives to the crappy buckles most divers use. For a web belt the "SeaQuest" style buckle gives you something that is easy to tighten during the dive, has a posive release, and can be removed in a flash. It is a great design and is still sold by Trident. The rubber blet mentioned above uses a wire buckle that is also a positive closing device and flips to open without having to unthread a long tongue.

I now use only rubber belts. They are so much more comfortable and secure that the difference is amazing, especially when wearing a suit that experiences significant compression. The elasticity of the belt is self adjusting and allows me to wear the weight low over the butt cheeks which is often less stressful on the low back. Nearly 100% ofl free divers use rubber, because it works.

I use a couple of different designs but the wire buckle is not my favorite for scuba diving, especially if there is a lot of weight on it. It is very easily popped open particularly when wrestling with lobsters on the bottom. It is great for freediving however, where loss of a weight belt at depth is a relatively minor problem.

I have never liked weight integrated BC's, but have put about 6 lbs of non-ditchable lead on the BC to re-distribute weight so that the weight belt stays under about 24 lbs.

 

[Fastmarc]

I went intergrated.
Comfort and trim.

 

[glugo357]

I find that integrated is much better. One less piece of equipment to worry about and not having to worry about having weights down to your feet. Removing the equipment is also easier when using integrated bc. Good luck.

 

[TheTrickster]

When I started diving it was a weight belt, but now I'm fully converted to intergrated. For a start its much much more comfortable! - my bcd fits better and I'm finding my trim is also better!

 

[Spongebobscubasteve]

I currently use a weight belt, I have never used an intergrated BC, I personally hate the belt, it hurts my hips and always slips round, no matter how tight I make it. I am hoping to get an intergrated BC this weekend but I have to see what is available at the second hand store. I think I would also split, so maybe 2 kg in the pockets and 3 on a belt.

 

[victor]

Does anyone here prefer a weight-integrated BCD over a normal weight belt or vice versa? Why? I'm a bit unclear about the advantages and disadvantages of them.

I think you should have enough weight on a weight belt to allow a rescuer to release it so that you have positive buoyancy.

There are multiple different integrated systems, A DM or rescuer cannot be expected to know how to release them all.

If you have at least some weight on a belt everyone knows how to release saving precious seconds as they try and save your life.