Your views on weighting systems?

[mikehammer66]

As a newly convert to cold water diving I've got my dry suit, but am yet to buy a weight system. What are your views on harnesses vs belts vs integrated?
Mika

[Dominic]

Belts are horrible

Harnesses are better

Integrated are POTENTIALLY the best, but can be awful as well.

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Guess who Mika !

Well personally I find intergrated does not work too well with a drysuit due to the amount of weight required. &nbsp;Also it is quite a lot of weight to get on in one go, when you consider your jacket, cylinder and weights as one lump.

Weightbelts again can be uncomfortable and cause back ache with the amount of weight that is required.

Harness. &nbsp;The weight is distributed across your shoulders when walking and I found mine to be very comfortable and much easier than a weightbelt.

I can bring mine along to Anglesey if you want to try before you buy ! &nbsp;(I might even flog mine as I don't use it anymore).

Daz

[Dominic]

Bear in mind, integrated can include the backplate &amp; wing arrangement where the weight is all made up by the steel plate and the P &amp; V weights..

The nice thing about using an integrated BCD is, if you use that BCD for your bouyancy control, you put yourself under less strain:
Diver with 10kg on belt + 3kg lift in BCD = total strain 13kg
Diver with 10kg integrated + 3kg lift in BCD = total strain 7kg

A rave against weight belts

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dominic @ June 18 2003,13:34)]Bear in mind, integrated can include the backplate &amp; wing arrangement where the weight is all made up by the steel plate and the P &amp; V weights..

<font color='#000080'>Can't argue with that Dom &nbsp; &nbsp;(That's why my weight harness is not used anymore).

I found that integrated BCD's when filled with weights can make the pockets more restrictive (Not important anyway as they are bloody difficult to use anyway &nbsp; ).

Daz

[Dominic]

Yeah, I can't say I'm convinced by the whole integrated jacket thing.

But, an integrated wing, I'm all for And a combination of integrated jacket AND harness (or belt), and you've got a fairly secure system that'll hold all the lead you could ever want...

May not be popular for RIB dives tho

[mikehammer66]

Seems belt is out. I liked your link, Dom. The strain theory appeals to me a lot.

I am a bit lost regarding integrated though. If you don't carry it in the BCD how does it then work? Do you swap the backplate for a heavier one or what?

Thanks for the offer of trying your harness in Angelsey, Daz.

[peter k]

I started diving with a shotbelt and it was reasonably comfy as I didn't have the big lead bricks digging in to my sides and then I got a harness and have never looked back. Apart from the comfort level of the weight distribution being over your shoulders I also reckon they are safer as, 1- If you lose weight then the chances are you will only lose half of it. This is still bad news, though you might have that second longer to react before you go ballistic, 2- You always see divers saying during a buddy check &quot;My weight belt is under that clip and my cummerbund&quot;. That's alright until I need to release it tout suite. A harness if lengthened correctly will sit immediately beneath your BC pockets where the pouches are easier to get hold of in a time of crisis.
&nbsp;So altogether I cannot recommend anything more than a harness.

Peter

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Basically the backplate/wing replaces the BCD in it's entirety.

The backplates are usually stainless steel, &nbsp;and the shape of the backplate makes it possible to mold custom weights that fit in a groove in the backplate or between twin cylinders etc..

My backplate is about 2kg and my custom weight that fits on the backplate is about 4kg and depending on cylinders and whether it is fresh or salt water, &nbsp;I need either no additional weight or maybe a kg.

Daz

[mikehammer66]

Peter , I get the picture. I went through a buddy check last Sunday and got exactly what you say. To me it basically meant that I started to think about how I access all releases of my buddy's BC. A big argument for a harness.

Daz, I am really keen 2 see your setup. It seems very straight forward, although I'm interested 2 figure out how I fit more weight within such a setup as I experienced a very tight suit during one of my dives on last weekend =&gt; water was sucked into my suit.

Mika