weighting and dry suits

[diverrick]

O.k the next question in a long string of them....
I have finally got all the gear for my dry suit, everthing is adjusted except the weights. Thanks to BOB3 for all his assistance, as well as all the advice from everyone to date.
Now I am going to get wet for the first time (Hopefully stay dry) and adjust my weights, but I am getting conflicting info on the use of ankle weights, as well as using my non itegrated BC. Of course, the LDS wants me to use ankle weights, and buy a new BC that's Intigrated. They say it make me more balanced, and help prevent the boots up issue. On the other hand, I have heard both arguements here on this BB I was wondering what the general consensus was for Ankle weights, and WI BC's compared to just a belt when it comes to dry suits. I know what the LDS says, I must take with a grain of salt, as they are trying to sell me more gear. But spreading out the weight seems like a reasonable idea. Will my feet be that much more bouyant in a DS that I'll be needing the extra weight down there?

 

[theskull]

For most new dry divers, ankle weights are a good idea. Consider them training wheels to keep you from inverting while learning. As you get more confident and proficient you will probably not need them. The good news: some divers continue to prefer them even once highly skilled; but even if you don't, ankle weights make excellent trim weights--they can be attached to the tank valve, D-rings, shoved in pockets, stuffed in weight belt--ankle weights are a good investment.

Integrated vs. weight belt is a personal issue. I've done both independently and mixed the two. All work, so start where you want to. A note of caution: some divers need substantial weight to dive dry (20+ lbs.) and some weight belts don't want to stay on some waists with a slick dry suit on--if there is a chance YOUR belt will slip off your waist while at depth, that would be a bad thing. Another good option is the DUI Weight & Trim II, which is a weight belt with suspenders--very secure, and still has a quick release.

Enjoy your new world of diving dry. I love it!

theskull

 

[WreckWriter]

I disagree. I think ankle weights are an un-needed crutch. A little practice is a much better option. A weight-integrated BC will probably make your life easier but skip the ankle weights.

WW

 

[Laser]

O.k the next question in a long string of them....
I have finally got all the gear for my dry suit, everthing is adjusted except the weights. Thanks to BOB3 for all his assistance, as well as all the advice from everyone to date.
Now I am going to get wet for the first time (Hopefully stay dry) and adjust my weights, but I am getting conflicting info on the use of ankle weights, as well as using my non itegrated BC. Of course, the LDS wants me to use ankle weights, and buy a new BC that's Intigrated. They say it make me more balanced, and help prevent the boots up issue. On the other hand, I have heard both arguements here on this BB I was wondering what the general consensus was for Ankle weights, and WI BC's compared to just a belt when it comes to dry suits. I know what the LDS says, I must take with a grain of salt, as they are trying to sell me more gear. But spreading out the weight seems like a reasonable idea. Will my feet be that much more bouyant in a DS that I'll be needing the extra weight down there?

Ankle weights are not needed. If yer feet are buoyant, ya have too much gas in the suit. Use the suit for warmth, and the BC for buoyancy. Using ankle weights is just adding elements to correct problems that need not be there in the first place. If your suit is baggy, use gators, but even those are a crutch.

 

[IzzyTahil]

Many divers use ankle weights for trim and to avoid boots up situations. Except for 1 pool session when I dis my dry suit class, I haven't put on ankle weights again. My fins and boots provide enought neg boyancy. In time, you will be able to position your legs in the water column in such a way that your horizontal trim follows the positioning. Try ankle weights, and if they help your trim and weight distribution, stick with them, and if not get rid of them.

As far as weighting for dry suits I will not wear a weight belt. At depth, the suit compresses and can make the weights go lower to your hips and even spin around, messing up your carefully placed weights on the belt As the skull says, there is a chance it will slip off. (Many drysuit divers use double buckles to eliminate slippage.) Its happened to me and others I know, so I personally will not recommend it. Instead of a weight belt, I used a weight harness (DUI weight and trim II) and it took the worry out of losing a belt and improved my trim.

Regarding a WI BC, thats a personal preference. I've gone the backplate route (b/p come in different weights, 6lbs the most common) and have an alum. and steel b/p and interchage depending on the dive. My personal goal is to get rid of any ditchable weight (this is an issue that causes debate so lets not rehash here!)

 

[bwerb]

I'm with WW...skip the ankle weights. One of the big "issues" with new drysuit divers is getting air in the feet. Part of this stems from the learning curve of "how much air do I need in this thing" and unfortunately, part of it can also stem from IMHO, really poor design of the boots and lower legs on many many drysuits which just adds to the problem.
My wife has tiny feet but she is really tall (small wheelbase). We have had to go with as small a foot as possible on her suits...(word of advise, Bare suits have HUGE feet). She had a problem with air filling her feet simply because even with small boots, her feet didn't fill them up. She now wears two pairs of socks (polarfleece) to fill the boots which has helped tremendously. "Fin keepers" are also a great option for sinching down the extra material around the ankles. Some people like diving "gaiters" to reduce the air transfer to the feet...I've never tried a pair so I can't comment.

The last thing is adding a pair of Jet Fins (with spring straps even better)...this combination adds a nice piece of negative weight to the feet.

As you start drysuit diving...be aware of the "bubble of air" inside and where it is. It will take some practice and some really funny underwater disco moves at first, but keep with it and you'll learn to control your drysuit so you dive it, it doesn't dive you.

 

[bwerb]

As far as weighting for dry suits I will not wear a weight belt. At depth, the suit compresses and can make the weights go lower to your hips and even spin around, messing up your carefully placed weights on the belt As the skull says, there is a chance it will slip off. (Many drysuit divers use double buckles to eliminate slippage.)

It depends on the suit material...my trilam doesn't compress at all at depth and I wear a weight belt exclusively. I've never had it slip or anything. I have a very high quality stainless buckle which is totally bombproof and I wear it underneath my Backplate crotch strap in case of some bizarre planetary alignment.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Whn I first started using a drysuit, I was told I would need ankle weights as well. I used them for a while, and then ditched them. They are not needed if you have a good fitting suit. Secondly, I use a BP&W and I use a weight belt for any lead that I need. I used to use a weight integrated BC when I was teaching. As far as weight integ. vs NOn wt integ., thats personal preference...

Good Luck...

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Fit is an important factor in the ankle weight debate. I have really muscular calves and both my dry suits are very snug in the legs. No ankle weights are needed as there is no potential for excessive air in the legs or boots.

But if you got chicken sticks, then a snug set of ankle weights can help control the situation and can help hold your feet in the boots if you do invert.

I am, as I usually am, middle of the road on the issue. If I were a new drysuit diver, I'd start with a pair and re-assess what is required as my skilsl develop. As pointed out above, they can be convenient trim weights.

The weight belt versus integrated weight question is more of a trim issue. I have used both at different points in my career as one, the other, or a combination of the two offerred an ideal trim situation for my various configurations over the years. There is no right or wrong answer - it all depends on what works best for you.

That said, a weight belt can be a pain with a neoprene suit due to suit compression and resulting slippage and it can be a pain with a trilam as the suit material is fairly slick and the belt can rotate if the weight is not properly balanced on the belt.

 

[IndigoBlue]

O.k the next question in a long string of them....
I have finally got all the gear for my dry suit, everthing is adjusted except the weights. Thanks to BOB3 for all his assistance, as well as all the advice from everyone to date.
Now I am going to get wet for the first time (Hopefully stay dry) and adjust my weights, but I am getting conflicting info on the use of ankle weights, as well as using my non itegrated BC. Of course, the LDS wants me to use ankle weights, and buy a new BC that's Intigrated. They say it make me more balanced, and help prevent the boots up issue. On the other hand, I have heard both arguements here on this BB I was wondering what the general consensus was for Ankle weights, and WI BC's compared to just a belt when it comes to dry suits. I know what the LDS says, I must take with a grain of salt, as they are trying to sell me more gear. But spreading out the weight seems like a reasonable idea. Will my feet be that much more bouyant in a DS that I'll be needing the extra weight down there?

Welcome to the new world of drysuit weighting!

Ankle weights, as others have said in this thread, are a crutch. However, stores love to clamp them onto new drysuit owners because it helps prevent them from turning arse-over-teakettle. If you choose to go that route, look to the day when you can unshackle yourself.

Integrated B/Cs are the wave of the future. The weights are all supported by your B/C and air bladder (whether jacket style or wing) and therefore not on your lower back. You will avoid backaches with W/I B/Cs.

[The backplate and wing is another mini-wave of the future. I am seeing more and more of these on non-tech divers. 6 lbs of the weight is on your back, and the rest goes onto your belt. I have heard but not seen that you can get weight pouches for the harness as well, but I am not sure. My student divemaster dives with a backplate and wing and her single tank, so I will quiz her all about that system when she begins my D/M class. Suspendered weight belts would work well with a backplate and harness system as well.]

Since you are in Sacramento (I believe), you are going to be diving really cold waters (Eastern Pacific and Lake Tahoe). Therefore you are going to be wearing around 20 to 30 lbs. It is difficult to get 15 lbs into a weight pouch. You may need to split your weights between the B/C (say20 lbs total) and a belt (say 10 to 12 lbs max).

I like pouch weight belts with soft weights, on a belt.

Even so, any kind of weight belt is going to have a tendancy to slip off a trilam drysuit. Unless you choose a weight system with suspenders, which I have not done yet. Those who I know have them really like them.

If you love your current B/C, and it can hold up your weights plus your steel tank, then I would go for a suspender-ed weight belt, and just put all your weight onto that, rather than buy a whole new B/C.

When your current B/C finally wears out, then you can decide whether or not to go for an integrated B/C.

I believe I mentioned most of your choices.