Weight Belts

[Longstocking]

For the first time today I got in the pool with weights on....

A couple questions regarding weights...

I'm a 5'11" woman ...weight 165.

They put me in 30 pounds of weight.... does this sem a bit much?

The reason I ask this... is because I am a bit curvey ... and well, the weight belts hurt like crappola !!! from the moment I put them on... they hurt on my hip bones.... I'm 100% positive I'm going to have bruises tomorrow. This just doesn't seem right.

So... they of course suggested to buy the soft ones at their shop.

I felt as if I was a bit over weighted.... if I was? .... will less weight hurt that much.... or do I really need to go buy the soft weights.

If I do need the soft ones.. can you make some suggestions on some so I can research thm a bit more.

[sasscuba]

That seems like way too much weight for freshwater. I go 250 and in a pool I take 6-8 pounds.

[Longstocking]

Well... I'm not positive on weight... the weight belt had a number 8 on it..... with 3 weights on each side of the belt.... so I'm not really sure how much that is?

[DandyDon]

Well... I'm not positive on weight... the weight belt had a number 8 on it..... with 3 weights on each side of the belt.... so I'm not really sure how much that is?

Again, it helps when members load their location in their profile and dive info....

30# in a freshwater pool might not be too much if you were in a 7 mil wet suit, but it's extreme if no suit. But the 8 on the weight belt is only for equipment tracking, has nothing to do with what the weights weighed. Good time to learn more about weights.

I doubt that you had more than 10#, altho it may have seemed like more. Really, this is just part of the learning experience. Have fun and good luck....

[runamonk]

You might also ask about using a harness. This will put the pressure on your shoulders instead of your waist, This worked fairly well for me.

[spectrum]

That sounds like a bit much. Was this just an eyeball evaluation? There are methods of arriving at the optimum weight load.

Some of the players are:
The cylinder type in use
What you are wearing for a wetsuit
The additional air volume a new diver will hold in her lungs
Salt or Freash water, but we know you're in fresh
The buoyancy factors of all the other gear items.

At 5-11 you don't sound like you would be uncommonly buoyant but body styles do vary. With an Aluminum 80 cylinder and a full 7mm wetsuit with 2X on the core I still have a hard time seeing you of 25 pounds.

Ask the instructor when the lesson on correct weighting will be presented. Knowing how to do this in imperrative to you being a happy and safe long term diver.

Also in practice it would be best to to not carry all of your weight in the same place. A mix of belt and integrated is often a good way to go. Soft weights are much more comfortable but have disadvantages or wear and tear, suit and gear staining and pollution.

Pete

For the first time today I got in the pool with weights on....

A couple questions regarding weights...

I'm a 5'11" woman ...weight 165.

They put me in 30 pounds of weight.... does this sem a bit much?

The reason I ask this... is because I am a bit curvey ... and well, the weight belts hurt like crappola !!! from the moment I put them on... they hurt on my hip bones.... I'm 100% positive I'm going to have bruises tomorrow. This just doesn't seem right.

So... they of course suggested to buy the soft ones at their shop.

I felt as if I was a bit over weighted.... if I was? .... will less weight hurt that much.... or do I really need to go buy the soft weights.

If I do need the soft ones.. can you make some suggestions on some so I can research thm a bit more.

[Longstocking]

It was an eyeball evaluation. I'm not over weight by all means... but I do have curves ...if that makes sense ...

I know being a woman with more fatty tissue that I'm going to put more wieght on but geeze....

My boyfriend had less weight on him... he's 5" 10' 220lbs.

I guess I'm just wondering if less weight will hurt less... because this pool sesion was not all that enjoyable due to the weights.... I took the belt off and had large red welts on my sides... I looked at the other people to see if I wasn't alone...of course I was.

We weren't diving with suits.... just bc's

[DandyDon]

Ah ha, you added your location, that may well help. See if you can rent a weight harness.

You'll eventually own an integrated BC, but you don't want to buy that now, I don't think.

[Longstocking]

thanks Don....

I'll ask about using one of the harnesses....

I don't want to buy anything I don't have to buy for at least a year. It seems most people sell all the equipment they bought in the first year ...for something else.. I want to try diffrent set-ups first.

[spectrum]

There is no question that your required weight can be carried comfortably. There are different styles of hard weights as well as soft weights in belts and harnesses along with BC integrated weights.

The shop probably has what it has. Study up here and in the gear forums and invest in a personal solution when you become commited to the sport and understand your needs and solutions.

Pete