The Great 'Ankle-weights Debate'.

[Gareth J]

Here's my tuppence worth.

I do believe ankel weights are pshycological. They often help people when they initially start using a drysuit.

I started off in a membrane many years ago, initially using ankel weights. I removed the ankel weights after a year or so. When I switched to a crushed Neoprene suit, the ankel weights went back on for about 5 dives.

The fins I use are Force fins, which are certainly not heavy, I used to use Quatros. I don't beleive it makes any difference which fin type I use (in terms of the drysuits). I normally dive twin 12's, & use the suit for bouyancy.

I have noticed that women tend to suffer more from 'floaty ankels' compared with men - don't ask me why!

Originally Posted by Gareth J

I have noticed that women tend to suffer more from 'floaty ankels' compared with men - don't ask me why!

I tend to suffer with 'floaty ankles' at certain times of the month.
Could possibly be increased water retention, not sure.

Corinne

[Clare Gledhill]

Originally Posted by Gareth J

Here's my tuppence worth.

I do believe ankel weights are pshycological. They often help people when they initially start using a drysuit.

My first dive in a dry suit - in a pool - was started off with - "Here's a pair of ankle weights - you'll need them in a dry suit"

I got rid of them between the second dive and third dive at Stoney on the YD gig in February (couldn't stand the way And looked at them )- can't say I noticed any difference at all

[dry suit diver]

dived with them and without and prefer with them , plus it also distributes my weight evenly around my body and helps with my trim (as taught on Peak Performance Buoyancy).
some people need them some don't even if you dont need them but psycologically feel better with them why remove them, Placebo effect I believe.

[andy_chesney]

I used to always dive ankle weights but after once arriving to dive the Kyarra and suddenly realising I had left them in the house about 200 mile away I went in with out them. Surfice to say I have never used them sinse. As said in an earlier post the stitching came undone on mine and I also lost some of the lead.

[JohnK]

I use ankle weights in winter - the extra kilo allows a bit more air in the drysuit - thus a bit warmer - particularly on those safety stops

[Allan Carr]

Originally Posted by String

FWIW i have a Weezle Extreme (not plus) and i DO get cold with it and i DO feel warmer wearing a thin cotton top underneath it and, towards the beginning of the season, some track suit bottoms.

Try getting a 100% polypropylene t-shirt. BHS sell these as winter thermals for around a fiver. You probably can't get them at this time of year but they should be in stock in the winter time. I find these far better than anything containing cotton.

[CatB]

I had a real problem keeping my feet down on the first couple of dives in a drysuit (was taught how to correct an inversion on the first dive, had to practise it on the second - not much fun!). Despite mild dissaproval from my club I resorted to ankleweights but I have the advantage that my drysuit has built in ankle pockets for lead shot so they are a) very secure, b) well hidden! and c) infinitely adjustable.
I admire/envy anyone who doesn't need them but I am so afraid of making a feet first rapid ascent without them that I end up swimming with my feet well below me and kicking up the bottom so I am probably a better diver with them.
(I have just realised that with less than 10 posts I am already saying controversial things - I am going to shh for a bit now! )

[gunsentry]

You do not need ankle weights.

All they do is fix a problem that should not exist in the first place, air migration to your boot.

This means your boots are to big for your feet in two ways.

1. Boots are to big - change them for smaller size.

2. Boots are to wide at the ankle area. Get narrower fitting boots.

Fix these prblems and your floaty feet will be sorted.

I had same problem with my first MTM suit, got the boots changed as above and problem was resolved.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Lou

Please, please, please will someone explain to me what is the nett difference between ankle weights and heavier fins - apart from "cool" factor?

You are adding weight to the end of your legs in both cases
This affects your trim almost equally in both cases (although heavier fins would have a greater moment about your CoG for equal bouyancy offset).

The weight you add at the ends of your leggies comes off from somewhere else in both cases.

It could be argued that the ankle weights, being closer to the pivot point cause less fatigue per kg than heavier fins (efficiency of fin perfromance aside).

I just don't get the difference in practical terms???

None at all in my book. Its a totally bollox image thing. The down side with ankle weights is its something else to forget to put on and they can fall off but the latter is avoidable with decent Velcro.

I recently tried a set of Apollo-Bio fins. They were as floaty as hell and I needed ankle weights to balance the rig. I switched back to Avantis or my Turtle fins and I don't need ankle weights.

By the by i fly the wing and keep absolute minimal gas in my tight fitting crushed neo suit.

If you use Avanti's or Jet fins already than you may need to rethink where the weight is placed on your rig. It might be too high and this is often a problem for women due to their hips forcing the weight belts very high.


ATB

Mark Chase