XS Scuba Weight Belt Pouches Removable?

[jim T.]

So, b.p./wing users. If you use either of these XS pouches/belts which do you prefer? Separate pockets divided up on your harness belt or a separate weight belt? I was hoping to get rid of a weight belt but I can see advantages such as handing up to boat crews or allowing you to use your harness belt for other longer/deepr pockets that can dangle down over the weight belt giving more options. On the other hand it seems easy enough to pull weights from pouches on one's harness belt and hand 'em up separately as long as one doesn't drop one.

What's the consensus?

Thanks, Jim

 

[*Floater*]

So, b.p./wing users. If you use either of these XS pouches/belts which do you prefer? Separate pockets divided up on your harness belt or a separate weight belt? I was hoping to get rid of a weight belt but I can see advantages such as handing up to boat crews or allowing you to use your harness belt for other longer/deepr pockets that can dangle down over the weight belt giving more options. On the other hand it seems easy enough to pull weights from pouches on one's harness belt and hand 'em up separately as long as one doesn't drop one.

What's the consensus?

Thanks, Jim

Put them on you harness belt or around the tank(s) depending where you need the extra weight. For other stuff I prefer thigh pockets.

 

[*Floater*]

On the other hand it seems easy enough to pull weights from pouches on one's harness belt and hand 'em up separately as long as one doesn't drop one.

I just hand the whole rig to the the boat crew with weights in pouches. I use two of them held in place by keepers - one on each side next to the plate. I place the pockets upside down so that it's easier to dump the weights, though I'm not really sure whether that's a plus.

 

[jim T.]

I just now tentatively ordered a six pocket XS weight belt. (30lbs.) and one separate pocket for cam band mounting. I figure I'll keep 20lbs. on the belt, 5 in the b.p. and 5 in the cam band pouch for now and see how it goes. I'll also use two 2lb. ankle weights for a total of 34lbs. for my cold water/drysuit diving.

I'll have one extra pouch/pocket on each side of the belt for small objects like a compass, car keys, whatever... I may transfer them to the harness belt but the 3 pockets in one unit thing may be too long to allow this...?

Guess if I eventually go with DSS bolt on weight plates, I can still use the weight belt "empty" for storage of items or warm water trips if I don't travel with the b.p./wing.

It's so hard to predict where one will end up gearwise until one tries stuff out.

I ordered now because I want to be ready when my rig arrives mid week and can experiment further.

Would still like to know what most of you b.p./wing users with XS weight pouches do.
The accouts on other threads of weights on the harness belt eventually wearing and tearing the harness at the plate slots gave me pause using that method. Although perhaps with the plastic slot inserts on the DSS plate that might not be an issue?

Thanks floater for your account of what you do.

 

[cummings66]

I have 2 of the XS Scuba pouches on my cam bands, one up high and the other down low so the weight is basically centered on my BP. Then I got 2 more of them and keep the weights in it on the harness next to the plate, i.e. it's the horizontal portion that acts like a weight belt.

I am not wearing a weight belt. I can remove some of the lead if I have to in order to lighten the rig to hand it off, but I typically do not remove my gear in the water because I shore dive mostly and the boats I've been on are tough enough to support me coming up with it on.

However, I only have a total weight of 25 lbs for my drysuit, that extra 9 lbs would be heavy to me of course. I only carry 12 lbs of lead for what it's worth, the rest is in the BP and the weight plate attached to it.

 

[jim T.]

Matt, did you choose to keep weights on your harness because you dislike weight belts?
I was hoping to avoid using one but we'll see. The whole idea of the Hog. harness for me was to simplify and do away with extra buckles and layers of gear.

Do you think it likely I'd be able to fit 3 pouches per side on a harness belt if I took them off the weight belt? or would D rings, clipped lights,slung pony, etc. prevent the use of more than one or two?

Wish I could do with only 25lbs. I imagine you mostly dive fresh water being from MO.

 

[cummings66]

Yup, fresh water. I found that sometimes when I get the weight belt too tight or have just a thin undergarment under my drysuit that the air gets trapped below the waist and it takes a tug of the weight belt to get the air up to my arm for venting.

I prefer not to do that so by avoiding the weight belt it solves that issue for me. I don't think you could do 3 pouches per side very easily for what it's worth. The issue would be one of not having room for your items you want, and the buckle would be in the way as well.

In your case using 35 lbs here's how you might be able to do it. BP & weight plate for 13 lbs. 4 lbs in each pocket on cam band for 8 lbs and a total on the back of 21 lbs. Now we need 13 more lbs and if you continue to need 4 lbs on the ankles that leaves 9 lbs left. I'd put either 2 4's or 2 5's in one pouch next to the BP. Chances are as you use the drysuit you'll be able to lose the ankle weights, I lost them on the second dive because I didn't need them after I got the air figured out.

The benefit of the pouches is that it's ditchable weight as well and you can leave them out until you need it, hand them up etc...

 

[jim T.]

Thanks Matt,
I'll ponder all of that. I had some second thoughts about the 3 pouch per side belt. I may end up returning it for separate pockets once I see how things fit. I AM attracted to the DSS weight plates but both Tobin and my future mentor said to try things out before trying the plates.They both use a weight belt so I was thinking, at least for my initial lessons/bouyancy checks I'd go with what my mentor is using... I suppose keeping the belt is an option for using on only certain boat/drift dives where climbing a ladder would be made easier or traveling to tropical dives and I'd only be out 32 bucks or so in the end. I'm just so darn thrifty, I hate wasting money on the "wrong" choices. ;-) Hey, I can always use it as a utility belt as Batman on Halloween!

 

[TSandM]

Jim, I use an XS Scuba weight belt with the two attached pockets on either side. That gives me 20 lbs possible on my waist, and I then use two camband pockets, and distribute 28 lbs as follows: 18 on belt, 6 with backplate, 4 on cambands. That trims me out just right with my LP 95s.

I could not put the weight pockets on my harness waistband and still have room for my can light. Plus, I like separating the two masses of weight so I only have to handle one of them at a time. It also makes the 18 pounds very easily ditchable if that were ever necessary. Yes, you can get the weights out of the pouches, but it's quicker to pop the weight belt buckle. Of course, diving dry in the Sound, it's unlikely to need to ditch weights. But it keeps the options open!

 

[jim T.]

TSandM,
Hi, Thanks. That helps. Even though I was still thinking of switching my order I think I'll just go ahead and try the belt first. When I dove in the '70s and in '85 before my 20 yr. break, I never seemed to mind a belt, but lately I've enjoyed not having one with rental jacket b.c.s

I also just now finished perusing a British forum: "Yorkshire Divers" and read several accounts of divers ditching or removing their b.p. rigs and letting them go without adequate weight on a belt to keep them from dangerously ascending/rocketing. That made me think that having some on the belt, some on the rig/b.p. was a good idea after all.

Our weighting is similar even though you're now using doubles and a cannister light. I'm single tanking with a steel 92... so your breakdown of where you've placed your weights sounds at least, somewhat similar to my needs.

I think my latest dislike of weight belts came from using softweight belts as rentals a couple of times and the dang thing just kept trying to roll down below my hips. I imagine solid weights will hug me much better. I'll be SO glad to have my own rig and gear so things are always the same!
Thanks.

By the way, I own a boat in the same marina as the Deep Sea Charter boat. If you think it wouldn't be too crazy with everything going on, I'd like to swing by and say hi, put names to faces, etc. (edit: Oops, just read on Orca Bait Forum that you're not going to be there as you're just returning from a vacation...some other time then.)

Jim