Weight belt query for all Middle aged male and tubby divers.

[Alan White]

As the title says.

If like me you are middle aged and tubby, what sort of weight belt do you use to fit around your rounded shape?

I ask as I have tried normal straps and then a harness.
I had an interesting time with the normal strap at Stoney many moons ago and then moved onto a harness from DUI.

The harness system, holds the weight to far forward and messes up by trim, so I am busy looking for a more towards the back, but not a traditional belt idea.

What do you use? and why?

Thanks

As a note. I dive singles and dry suit dive in the UK.
The BC is a Buddy Sport is not weight integrated and I have no aim to change the BC.

[Steve Walsh]

rubber weightbelts are supposed to be good.


I have set my harness so the weights are nearer the rear and that works for me its a M&M diving technology one. A bit of playing with some 50mm webbing and some clips should help you get a workable harness from a weightbelt that you can load the weights on the rear.

[Tony Dwyer]

As the title says.

If like me you are middle aged and tubby, what sort of weight belt do you use to fit around your rounded shape?

I ask as I have tried normal straps and then a harness.
I had an interesting time with the normal strap at Stoney many moons ago and then moved onto a harness from DUI.

The harness system, holds the weight to far forward and messes up by trim, so I am busy looking for a more towards the back, but not a traditional belt idea.

What do you use? and why?

Thanks

Alan

You're not that chubby! It's all a matter of degree.

The BC I usually use in open water has pockets at the back for trim weights. You're welcome to try it if you wish.
In the past I have fixed weights to a single cylinder to help balance my trim.
I modified my Tekwing, swapping the Buddy hardness system for a harness. I was able to position the weights so that it balances correctly.

regards

Tony

[Fiona]

What set up are you using - singles or doubles ? how much weight are you carrying ?

[Matt-75]

I use a 7 pocket Oceanic belt, with a Tekwing. I already tried one of those integrated jobbies on a BCD and was fun until i lost some lead. Thankfully from 8m using a rich mix, and nothing came of it.

I use roughly the same positioning for either single 15/12 or double 12's.

Oh and im not exactly middle aged yet (in my early 30's), but am tubby.

[paul_c]

it depends on what i am diving in. i have always had trouble with weight belts cause i am very podgy and have no hips, plus im very boyant in my suits so i have to carry quite alot of lead

if im in my wetsuit i just put the lead into my BCD pockets. ive got a cressi BCD and the pockets are a tad on the small size for anything anyway so its all clipped on to me where i can get to it.
i know im not suposed to but tbh i prefer to not have ditchable weight given the issues i have already had. i need 10k at the end of dive in salt water with a 15l.

when im in my drysuit i need 20kgs plus ankelweights and i have it in a seaman weight harness wich only has 2 ditchable compartments again with a 15l


im looking at going over to using tank weights soon so i can have the weight ditchable.

[Alan White]

I use a 7 pocket Oceanic belt, with a Tekwing. I already tried one of those integrated jobbies on a BCD and was fun until i lost some lead. Thankfully from 8m using a rich mix, and nothing came of it.

I use roughly the same positioning for either single 15/12 or double 12's.

Oh and im not exactly middle aged yet (in my early 30's), but am tubby.

Matt

The weightbelt that I had my interesting dive with at Stoney was an Oceanic, problem was the stainless buckle slipped as I was diving and I just didn't notice tile the acsent and it was headed for my ankles fast!
It may have been a damaged buckle, but once bitten twice shy in my world!

Thanks for the input.

[Tony Dwyer]

Matt

The weightbelt that I had my interesting dive with at Stoney was an Oceanic, problem was the stainless buckle slipped as I was diving and I just didn't notice tile the acsent and it was headed for my ankles fast!
It may have been a damaged buckle, but once bitten twice shy in my world!

Thanks for the input.

Alan

I never use that type of belt in open water. For when I'm not using a harness system, I have a locking type. It does have a quick release, but it WON'T come undone by accident (been there done that). Again, you are welcome to try it if you wish.

regards

Tony

[Maria CM]

The harness system, holds the weight to far forward and messes up by trim, so I am busy looking for a more towards the back, but not a traditional belt idea.

What do you use? and why?


Hi Alan,

I use a DUI harness because it means I can

1. counterbalance my floaty bottom by wearing it slung far lower than my waist.
2. wear the weight without feeling as though I am going to collapse.

I got used to the weight positioning on the harness. In your position I'd be inclined to stick to the harness and carry some weight on your tank to balance up. At least you know a harness is unlikely to fall down:)

best wishes,

Maria

p.s. how is your mum getting along?

[NickBCotswold]

Hi Alan,

I use a DUI harness because it means I can

1. counterbalance my floaty bottom by wearing it slung far lower than my waist.
2. wear the weight without feeling as though I am going to collapse.

I got used to the weight positioning on the harness. In your position I'd be inclined to stick to the harness and carry some weight on your tank to balance up. At least you know a harness is unlikely to fall down:)

best wishes,

Maria

p.s. how is your mum getting along?

SNAP! - same as Maria - DUI harness as i am middle aged and tubby too (but devilishly handsome, windswept and interesting, i may add!!!) This is great for hardboat/quarries, when it comes to a rib they're a bit of a pain to release to pass up to a mate on the rib before taking off the BC and passing up - also, something that REALLY annoys me is that whilst the rest of the lads are enjoying a rib ride or cuppa on land, i'm busy spending 20 mins threading the near impossible fishing wire /nylon through tiny hoops on t he pouches to re-attach them!!!

for rib diving i'm interested in this rubber weightbelt everyones banging on about!!! anyone got a link to one??!!

cheers!

Nick

[Maria CM]

SNAP! - same as Maria - DUI harness as i am middle aged and tubby too (but devilishly handsome, windswept and interesting, i may add!!!) This is great for hardboat/quarries, when it comes to a rib they're a bit of a pain to release to pass up to a mate on the rib before taking off the BC and passing up - also, something that REALLY annoys me is that whilst the rest of the lads are enjoying a rib ride or cuppa on land, i'm busy spending 20 mins threading the near impossible fishing wire /nylon through tiny hoops on t he pouches to re-attach them!!!

for rib diving i'm interested in this rubber weightbelt everyones banging on about!!! anyone got a link to one??!!

cheers!

Nick

Suave too I'm sure Nick;) :D

With you about the re-threading:( I have got it down to 8 minutes though (as long as I haven't got cold fingers). I always use integrated weights on my BC to get around it in sunny places so don't take my harness at all. It does contribute to why I prefer diving off boats with a lift though ;)

best wishes,

Maria

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have a rubber weight belt that I use for freediving.
Most freedive suppliers stock them including the online ones.

You stretch it as you put it on and it 'compensates' as all your internal works move up into your rib cage to replace the vanishing lung volume.
I'm not sure how comfortable that would be just done up tight enough to stay on the paunch for a whole dive.
Also the rubber isn't particularly 'high friction' so I can't see it wanting to resist slippage, especially if a lot of its length is routed through weights.

I tried a harness when I started diving a rebreather and found it most uncomfortable so I integrated the weights by buying pockets. I have now gone back to a belt but then I have hips so it works for me.

[hilrosepaul]

I too am 'hipless'and struggled to keep a belt in one place. (especially at depth in an uncompressed neoprene suit)

After losing my belt getting into a RIB off Anglesey, I moved onto a Bowstone quick release harness and love it.

If I was in the market again; I would probably go for one of the rubber 'Marseilles' (sp) type rubber belts. I believe Decathlon do a good one for a reasonable price.(BTW I believe the thing to look for is a steel buckle)

HTH

[Fiona]

Alan have you had a look at the trim weight pockets which thread on to BC cambands and put the weight against the cylinder, Halcyon do some but are quite expensive I use the Bowstone ones when I use my single.

This link is to the Halcyon ones to show where the pocket sits.

Trim Pockets (http://www.dirdirect.com/astro/Halcyon_Trim_Weight_Pockets5649.htm)

[Woz]

I too am 'hipless'and struggled to keep a belt in one place. (especially at depth in an uncompressed neoprene suit)

After losing my belt getting into a RIB off Anglesey, I moved onto a Bowstone quick release harness and love it.

If I was in the market again; I would probably go for one of the rubber 'Marseilles' (sp) type rubber belts. I believe Decathlon do a good one for a reasonable price.(BTW I believe the thing to look for is a steel buckle)

HTHWell that saved me a load of typing. I have exactly that. A rubber weightbelt for twinset diving (only needs 8kg) and a Bowstone harness for singles diving (where I need double that!).

Rubber rocks. Decathlon flog them or do what I did and make your own with a stainless buckle and some 3mm EPDM. You'll need stainless tri-glides too (the Lumb Bros ones are excellent- don't use the Beaver ones).

[Alan White]

Folks

Thanks for the rush of input, always interesting palying show me yours?

I may look at combinations of ideas and move some beside cylinder in pouches and a weight belt, but pehaps a harness type other than the DUi I own as it puts the weightw where Maria says she needs it.

Anyone use a shot belt of the Bowstone type, how do those hang onto you?

Thanks Again....keep posting please :)

[Fiona]

Anyone use a shot belt of the Bowstone type, how do those hang onto you?



Yes I used to, but I have hips :o

They are much more comfortable than blocks though and you might not need too much if you move to the trim pockets.

[Cognetic]

Until recently I dived with a membrane drysuit (20+ years), the set up was a buddy Commando BC and a variety of weight belts. I've NEVER been comfortable with weight belts - I don't know why I specifically had a problem but the fact was that I was always adjusting, pulling up, etc (OK perhaps it's my convex shape).
Last year I retired my trusty Buddy and invested in an Oceanic Probe with integrated weights. Yes, it has it's drawbacks but HALLELUJAH!! It's been worth the expense and readjustment - not to be underestimated. But diving is a lot more comfortable now and I recommend trying it out, even if you don't intend to replace the BC.

Paul