The Great 'Ankle-weights Debate'.

[Gareth Burrows]

Originally Posted by W Wilberforce

Flippers are for swimming with-
heavier jet fins are short, stubby and poor for getting around under water,
compared to, say, some Mares quattro's or any other full-size flipper out there.
Get some cheap chinese generic flippers (e.g. typhoon or beaver offerings), typically for alot less than jetfins, and add weight if you feel you are floating up.
Also, heavier fins will wear out the fin-straps quicker, making them more likely to come off under water- thus you lose a flipper AND some weight, double bummer.

Why do people hate ankle weights so much?

hahahah


what, seriously?

[Darren555]

Originally Posted by blueboy758

i've used them for the last 13 years and i think they are excellent and i've never had a problem with them falling off. They do exactly what they are supposed to do. if in doubt try them!

Have you still got stabilisers on your bike too?

[Paul Oliver]

Cannot be bothered to read all the posts as there was some rubbish early on, but for me:-

1. I've used ankle weights for over 10 years with dry suits and i am very happy with them.
2. I have never lost one or both.
3. I have never been on a boat where any have been lost.
4. My feet are probably my highest point in the water, if i want to get air out of them i make them my lowest point this usually happens about once on a dive when i am wearing a winter under layer.
5. I doubt they add any fatigue factor, i have certainly not noticed it.
6. Heavier fins is fine, but i don't use ankle weights with a semi-dry or shortie, so would need separate lighter holiday fins
7. They are generally adjustable, so if they slip down they are not adjusted right, however if they slip down they soon meet my manly calf's so don't go too far.
7. They do exactly what i am after when in a drysuit and they do it well, so well worth giving them a try

[leoc]

Originally Posted by nickb

Maybe Will's on about the ND jetfins, they ARE short, stubby and poor for getting around under water.

I've read this on a few threads now, are the SP ones really that much better in the water (I've had the ND ones for a couple of years now)? Is this why I never see XL SP jets for sale s/h? I'll have to see if someone can lend me some SPs to try out.

[GLOC]

Originally Posted by leoc

I've read this on a few threads now, are the SP ones really that much better in the water (I've had the ND ones for a couple of years now)? Is this why I never see XL SP jets for sale s/h? I'll have to see if someone can lend me some SPs to try out.

Yes, both Garf and I had ND JFs and after trying some SP JFs, I immediately sold the ND ones. Pretty much the same for Garf.

[Snapper]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Cannot be bothered to read all the posts as there was some rubbish early on, but for me:-

1. I've used ankle weights for over 10 years with dry suits and i am very happy with them.
2. I have never lost one or both.
3. I have never been on a boat where any have been lost.
4. My feet are probably my highest point in the water, if i want to get air out of them i make them my lowest point this usually happens about once on a dive when i am wearing a winter under layer.
5. I doubt they add any fatigue factor, i have certainly not noticed it.
6. Heavier fins is fine, but i don't use ankle weights with a semi-dry or shortie, so would need separate lighter holiday fins
7. They are generally adjustable, so if they slip down they are not adjusted right, however if they slip down they soon meet my manly calf's so don't go too far.
7. They do exactly what i am after when in a drysuit and they do it well, so well worth giving them a try

I completely agree with all the above. I do have one further comment.

Early on, when first diving in a dry suit (about 10th dive in one) I left my ankle weights at home - tried to dive without and couldn't get my trim right. Recently I forgot to put them on and didn't struggle too much. I have since deliberately dived without them as I lent them to another diver (fairly new in drysuit diving) who was struggling - it made all the difference to them and they really enjoyed their dive.

Moral of the story - ankle weights can make all the difference when first diving in a dry suit. As you get better/more expereinced the need does drop off ...

[Dive Clive]

Just to add an novices two peneth to the debate.
I had my first outing in a dry suit a couple of weeks ago and started off using ankle weights. Once I got used to the dry suit keeping trim was no real problem.
After the dive I purged my cylinder down to 40bar to do a weight check and tried it without the ankle weights on. I had to spend the entire time fighting to keep my legs down. No matter what I tried I couldn't relax because as soon as I did my feet started to rise. I'm no expert so if anyone can tell me how to get round this I'll give it a go because if I didn't need thewm it would be one less thing to worry about (using the KISS principle because I qualify as stupid ). But from the way I see it if it means I can relax and enjoy the dive without fighting to stay above my bl**dy feet all the time then they must be a good thing??
Or am I missing some dark secret ?

Regards to all
Clive

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Dive Clive

I see it if it means I can relax and enjoy the dive without fighting to stay above my bl**dy feet all the time then they must be a good thing??
Or am I missing some dark secret ?

Regards to all
Clive

Nice weightly fins - Scubapro Jetfins should do the trick

[Dive Clive]

As I have a nice pair of fins and some ankle weights why would I bother buying another pair of fins? Apart from the kiss principle but that's a lot of money to save me from doing up two more clips before I leap in :-)
Think I'll experiment a bit more and see how I get on before taking any great leaps in either direction.
For what my opinion is worth I think it's all down to personal choice and comfort.
I guess some people just have more buoyant feet than others ;-)

Regards
Clive

[Ding Dang Doo]

Originally Posted by Dive Clive

As I have a nice pair of fins and some ankle weights why would I bother buying another pair of fins? Apart from the kiss principle but that's a lot of money to save me from doing up two more clips before I leap in :-)
Think I'll experiment a bit more and see how I get on before taking any great leaps in either direction.
For what my opinion is worth I think it's all down to personal choice and comfort.
I guess some people just have more buoyant feet than others ;-)

Regards
Clive

What undersuit are you using? I had problems with air distribution in my drysuit, I was using a Weezle Extream at the time - very warm, but also very restrictive for the air. I improved it by placing elastic bands at various points up and down my legs and arms, this did help, but it made me feel like a trussed up chicken.

I changed my undersuit to some Xerotherm Artics (sp), and life just became a whole lot easier!

Oh, and I still use ankle weights.

Pete