Weight locations with BP/W

[thomasj1107]

My wife and I got out BP/W setups, dive rite transplate, and got the 20lb weight pockets that mount just next to the plate on the waist strap. If more weight was needed than this do you all resort to a weight belt or place additional pockets somewhere or what?

 

[Cthippo]

I run a separate weight harness with detachable pockets than hang below the weight pockets on my BP/W. In a standing position the harness weights are immediately below the integrated weight pockets and can be ditched seperately. I run 10 lbs each side in the harness and 5 lbs each side in the wing pockets, plus the 6 lbs of the backplate itself.

I've been told that you can't really do a weight belt if you have a crotch strap on your BP/W because the strap will be through the weight belt and get hung up.

 

[MichaelMc]

My wife and I got out BP/W setups, dive rite transplate, and got the 20lb weight pockets that mount just next to the plate on the waist strap. If more weight was needed than this do you all resort to a weight belt or place additional pockets somewhere or what?

The best is to get four 2 to 3 pound trim pockets per rig and put them on the upper and lower cam bands. If you fill those 20lb hip pockets with lead you are very likely to be leg heavy, which makes swimming around harder.

The trim pockets will allow you to distribute some up higher so that you have a balanced weight distribution that will allow you to easily hold whatever orientation you want in the water.

Having your legs naturally pointing down mean kicking sends you up and forward, which expands the air in your BC and makes you more buoyant, sending you further up. It is much easier to move if your legs naturally point and kick horizontally behind you, then kicking just moves you forward, without changing your depth.

 

[inquisit]

I've been told that you can't really do a weight belt if you have a crotch strap on your BP/W because the strap will be through the weight belt and get hung up.

Weightbelt is fine with a crotch strap. If your weightbelt accidentally came lose, with any luck the crotch strap would catch it, preventing a rapid ascent. At the surface if buoyancy is lacking, it's easy to intentionally remove the weightbelt while the crotch strap is still buckled.

 

[The Ruttmeister]

I also use trip pockets on the cam bands. Works really well. And there are quick release style pockets out there if you don't want to use a belt (that's what I use too).

 

[Centrals]

I've been told that you can't really do a weight belt if you have a crotch strap on your BP/W because the strap will be through the weight belt and get hung up.

Not an issue.
Wear it under the crotch strap.
How difficult to release the waist harness?

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

When using a weight belt with my BPW, I wear it beneath my crotch strap. I don't really worry about removing it in an emergency as I can easily swim up with the weight. If I was unconscious, a couple burps on my inflator would make be plenty buoyant. Just don't use too much weight.

Usually, however, I use little 5 lb. pockets on the waist belt pushed back close to the plate. In addition, I have a couple 5lb pockets on the top cam band for trim weight. The weights on the cam straps can be a pain in the ass to finagle when the tank is clamped into that omega looking thing to keep them from tipping over, especially if you have them threaded onto the bottom band. I've tried to mount small 1 or 2 lb. weights to the shoulder straps where they come out of the backplate (behind my head, close to the first stage) but have not had any luck.

Ultimately the best place for your weights is the backplate itself. Your lungs are your buoyancy device when it comes to trim and vertical adjustment in the water column (not your BCD); then the weight should be centered over your lungs.

 

[Eric802]

When using a weight belt with my BPW, I wear it beneath my crotch strap. I don't really worry about removing it in an emergency as I can easily swim up with the weight. If I was unconscious, a couple burps on my inflator would make be plenty buoyant. Just don't use too much weight.

Usually, however, I use little 5 lb. pockets on the waist belt pushed back close to the plate. In addition, I have a couple 5lb pockets on the top cam band for trim weight. The weights on the cam straps can be a pain in the ass to finagle when the tank is clamped into that omega looking thing to keep them from tipping over, especially if you have them threaded onto the bottom band. I've tried to mount small 1 or 2 lb. weights to the shoulder straps where they come out of the backplate (behind my head, close to the first stage) but have not had any luck.

Ultimately the best place for your weights is the backplate itself. Your lungs are your buoyancy device when it comes to trim and vertical adjustment in the water column (not your BCD); then the weight should be centered over your lungs.

So the goal would be to get as much weight as practical into the trim pockets, along with a SS backplate? I'm going to be working on a similar bp/w set up. I figure with a 6lb backplate and a couple small trim pockets for the cam straps, I'll be able to get most of the weight I'll need on my back and not have to put too much in the weight pockets.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I run a separate weight harness with detachable pockets than hang below the weight pockets on my BP/W. In a standing position the harness weights are immediately below the integrated weight pockets and can be ditched seperately. I run 10 lbs each side in the harness and 5 lbs each side in the wing pockets, plus the 6 lbs of the backplate itself.

I've been told that you can't really do a weight belt if you have a crotch strap on your BP/W because the strap will be through the weight belt and get hung up.

Whoever told you that doesn't understand diving with a plate and wing. Weight belt always goes under the crotch strap. Accidentally losing the belt is more of a risk factor than the split second it takes to pull the waist belt and weight belt buckles should you need to ditch weight.
If you are properly weighted, you should be on the surface and slightly positive, even if you have to kick a little, before you should need to dump the belt.
Too many divers and instructors don't understand the concept of distributing lead among several systems so they perpetuate the fallacy of weight belts with BPW's and crotch straps as being a problem and too complicated.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

So the goal would be to get as much weight as practical into the trim pockets, along with a SS backplate? I'm going to be working on a similar bp/w set up. I figure with a 6lb backplate and a couple small trim pockets for the cam straps, I'll be able to get most of the weight I'll need on my back and not have to put too much in the weight pockets.

yup. keep your weight center mass.