Weight questions

[SkipperJohn]

I just purchased a BC that has integrated weights. Having read all the stuff about loosing your weights I thought perhaps it would be better to incorporate both the integrated weights as well as a weight belt.
What do you guys think about this idea?
Also there's the question of what if I need more weight than the jacket can carry? (it looks like the jacket will carry around 20 pounds ditch-able and another 8 non-ditch-able)
So, back to the belt...

Now, I've purchased some soft weights. So far 38 pounds.
4x 5-pounds
2x 4-pounds
2x 3-pounds
2x 2-pounds
2x 1-pounds

Does anyone make any sort of reliable pouch to use on a standard weight belt so I can use the soft weights? The only thing I've seen is a pouch to add weight to your tank belt. Or do I need to buy an assortment of hard weights now?
My limited dive experience I dove 12 to 20 pounds in only a bathing suit and 30 pounds in a 7 mil suit.

 

[Teamcasa]

I chose the ScubaPro padded weight belt. Mine came with a plastic buckle that I changed to SS but other than that, I like it very well.

 

[elan]

I use both the belt and the pockets, the belt has my dry suit weights and the pockets have the rest. Why would you want to put soft weights on the belt with some pouches, you can just put the hard weights. Also keep in mind that during winter times if you dive if the temp is below 0 soft weights are not comfortable as they tend to freeze in the form they were laying in your bag

 

[csaba]

Total weight is one thing, where to place those weights to establish perfect trim is another.

The first thing to do is to find the total weight you'll need to get down. That is easy, get in the water with a nearly empty tank (500psi) and do buoyancy checks, until you can get down. You can even hold the weight in your hand if you'd like.

To establish perfect trim, you'll need to play with positioning the weights ... some you'll put in the weight pockets of your BC, others may go into the back if you have non-ditchable pockets or you can use some ankle weights to put on your tank or your ankle. Most good BCs are designed to give pretty good trim with the pockets available, but some of us don't have the perfect body, so it takes some playing with the weights to find the right combination to get horizontal in the water.
Best place to do this is in a pool, move the weights around and play around with your set up. When you go diving, remember to compensate for salt water or heavier wetsuits.

Good luck.

 

[SkipperJohn]

in all likelihood I will NEVER dive below freezing. Heck I don't even walk the dog when it's that cold (I let him walk himself).
I like the scubapro belt. Do those pockets move/slide?
I have a metal buckle I purchased and have the strap too, which I can easily discard-it was cheap.

 

[Teamcasa]

in all likelihood I will NEVER dive below freezing. Heck I don't even walk the dog when it's that cold (I let him walk himself).

Me either!

I like the scubapro belt. Do those pockets move/slide?
I have a metal buckle I purchased and have the strap too, which I can easily discard-it was cheap.

No, they are fixed. However the pockets vary in size depending on the size belt you buy. It took a dive or two to get the weights placed correctly in the different pockets to assure good trim. (Back and front pockets are larger and the side pockets are smaller.)

Inside of the belt is a softer rubber lining 1" wide. It helps keep the belt from slipping, even if is not all that tight.

 

[diver 85]

I keep my weight(s) in both places ie 2 3's one in each back side of my BC(see pic) & the rest on a wt. belt------very comfortable that way & I'm not putting all my eggs into one basket, let's say....Now when I dive my BP/W(brand new to me btw, have 2 dives with it), I go back to the old fashioned way ie all my wt. on a belt, also very comfortable.......

 

[Diver560]

I might be of some help here. I would not use hard weights in these vest pouches. It seems they slide around and can gain enough momentum within the pouch itself to auto-eject the whole pouch right from the vest!

This happened to me at the end of a drift dive in Cozumel and i spent my deco time steadily kicking upside down to maintain 15ft. I did buy a new pouch (@ $38) and found the hard weights could do this in a pool when ever I performed a roll (horizontally to the surface).

I've not used soft weights in my vest pouches, so perhaps they will work fine. I would test them out in a pool.

For CA/Wet suite diving, I now have 24lbs of hard weights (16lbs on a belt and 8lbs distributed in 2 separate 4lbs tank strap pouches). Sadly, the vest pouches to my BC are left ashore-unused.

I'm curious about getting a back plate instead of having my tank straps due such double duty (especially as some shore entry/exits tend to move the tank around a bit).

Other quick tips include:
- When using +20lbs of weight, I don't put all on my belt as an accidental belt drop at depth would render me VERY buoyant and hard to counter an uncontrolled accent.
- I like the stainless steel metal belt clips better to the plastic variety (it just feels more secure though I'ld watch out to ensure the belt itself isn't getting soft fromthe fraying that can occur from the metal teeth wearing down/cutting some of the fabric)
- I check that my belt alignment is straight each time I close the belt clip and ensure all teeth are gripping properly on the belt.
- I try to remember my training to only put on & adjust my belt while facing bottom so that my back is supporting the weight (vs. relying on my grip of the belt to bear the blunt of the weight ...Note: in a separate thread I mention loosing my belt by forgetting this, but I thank God it was at the surface and not during a dive.)

I hope this helps and/or generates others to comment on any ways to best answer your concern.

 

[eponym]

Does anyone make any sort of reliable pouch to use on a standard weight belt so I can use the soft weights?

I bought these cloth weight pockets maybe four years ago online, can't remember what outfit but I think it was a female-owned enterprise, if that helps. They slide snugly onto a weight belt or a tank band.

-Bryan

 

[SkipperJohn]

I bought these cloth weight pockets maybe four years ago online, can't remember what outfit but I think it was a female-owned enterprise, if that helps. They slide snugly onto a weight belt or a tank band.

-Bryan

That's EXACTLY what I had in mind!

femail-owned enterprise... well that narrows it down.