Why weight pockets on the Cam Band?
- Thread starter dumpsterDiver
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LowDrag
Contributor
But...with that being said, if you did need to dump some extra weight for some reason then your buddy could pull that extra weight if you are using pockets vs threading hard weights onto your cam bands.
I use pockets too. It helps me trim out nicely when diving. I dive dry almost all of the time and having the extra weight up high makes trimmimg out easy. When I dove Cozumel last year I just put weights in my harness pockets and did not need to worry about trim weights on my cam band.
eelnoraa
Contributor
The amount of weight that can be thread onto waist harness is small. You may not want to have too much cluster in front, and some may have small waist, real estate is limited. Usually, I would say people already put what they feel confortable onto waist harness already, but still not enough, so the next best place is cam bands
In my case, I can only put about 2lb on my waist strap. No more real estate. I put 6lb or so on upper cam band. It also give me some adjustment for better trim
I put 2 small weight pockets on the shoulder straps of my harness. They can each hold about a 4 lb weight, although I generally just use a single 1 lb soft weight in each. I've done both the cam band and the weight belt on the tank and prefer my system. It's much faster to swap tanks on boat dives with the pockets on the shoulders.
I use cam band weight pockets on the BCs I have. Two on each cam band (4 total).
They are useful if diving during the colder months with aluminum tanks.
Often during the warmer months the pockets are empty, and I just keep the weight on my weight belt.
When diving dry with a single tank, the pockets are nice because it allows me to move some of the weight off of teh weight belt.
When I loan a rig to someone, the pockets are nice to help get them in trim.
I seldom use all 4 pockets; most often either the 2 upper pockets or the 2 lower pockets is sufficient.
However, I go ahead and put 4 pockets on every BP/W; then going forward, I don't have to worry about weight distribution.
I think of it along the same lines as a v-weight for doubles (Mine is 11 lbs.)
With a single tank rig while diving dry, the 4 pockets allow me to distribute 12 lbs. which keeps the weight belt lighter.
It's not often that I dive a singles rig in a drysuit. I usually just do one longer dive in doubles during the winter, as opposed to 2 single tank dives. But having 4 pockets gives me some nice weight placement options if needed.
During the summer, the pockets are empty, and I just use a weight belt.
For a travel BP/W, either a DSS Kydex backplate or a Dive Rite light weight backplate are nice to have. The 4 pockets can be filled once you arrive at your dive destination.
Cheers,
Mitch
I was given a couple of pieces of highly engineered Velcro (AWOP) which can attach weights to the cambands without unthreading the camband.
One reason not to thread the weights on is I can easily pull them from the XS pockets (also available with Velcro attach if desired) when toting the wing/BP around and packing for travel.
Another reason is quick adjustment of weight.
And threading cambands can be a PITA.
Because it is easier.
N
One reason not to thread the weights on is I can easily pull them from the XS pockets (also available with Velcro attach if desired) when toting the wing/BP around and packing for travel.
Another reason is quick adjustment of weight.
And threading cambands can be a PITA.
Because it is easier.
N
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