Best Weight System on Hogarthian?

[rjack321]

I have to ditch both my weights and rig at the surface for most of my boat dives (to get back in the boat). I can't count the number of times I have opened the weight buckle when I meant to open the harness buckle. The weights hang on the crotch strap every time though. So to ditch you need to open both buckles. A good reason to make sure both are right hand release.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

This, or one like it for me.

 

[hainakuoh]

Thanks... forgot to tell that Im living in the tropics... so usually no dry suit... and weight belt is quite a hassle with the strap.. are pouch in the cam bands safe?

 

[lucca brassi]

have to ditch both my weights and rig at the surface for most of my boat dives (to get back in the boat). I can't count the number of times I have opened the weight buckle when I meant to open the harness buckle. The weights hang on the crotch strap every time though. So to ditch you need to open both buckles. A good reason to make sure both are right hand release.

From that reason (I have litle longer torso , and shorter legs and of course double regs&valves , made me head down , but I still like weight belt&backplate together ) I have made myself aluminium backplate a litle too( 5 cm ) longer .
Standard holes and copy/paste 15cm lower part and get for Al backplate weight of 1,1kg (standard 0,7kg) and SS backplate with 3,2kg. (standard 2,7kg)

 

[rjack321]

Thanks... forgot to tell that Im living in the tropics... so usually no dry suit... and weight belt is quite a hassle with the strap.. are pouch in the cam bands safe?

How much weight do you need?

 

[TSandM]

My husband uses a DUI Weight & Trim harness, to get around the need for a weight belt, and keep the weights ditchable.

In the tropics, I dive with a SS backplate and a couple of pounds on the cambands, when I'm diving wet.

 

[g1138]

Weightbelt under the crotch strap is my choice.
I have a short 21in torso, so my plate rides just above my hip bones. My weightbelt rides just a few centimeters below the waist strap.
For other people who are short or have a short torso, it is impossible to ride the belt over the crotchstrap, because it will have to wrap either around your buttcheeks or over the plate (and believe me it's not secure either way). That or you have to hitch your plate up real high which puts the tank valve above your head.

Some opt to go with a harness, which I use when I'm assisting classes (on the instructor's orders).
The DUI classic harness I use has it's pockets coming just at my mid thigh, nearly blocking my wetsuit pockets from opening, and worse creating a bit of a block when I have to squat down.

It also puts all the weight on my shoulders, which the Backplate already does. The result is wearing all that 50+ pounds of tank, weight, Bp and all on your shoulders. Makes me sore as hell after a day of diving, so I'm not a huge fan.

 

[TSandM]

g1138, that's one of the reasons that I really like a weight belt. Life is much nicer when I don't hang 100 lbs of gear off my shoulders.

 

[vladimir]

Thanks... forgot to tell that Im living in the tropics... so usually no dry suit... and weight belt is quite a hassle with the strap.. are pouch in the cam bands safe?

I wear 1.5 to 3 mm of neoprene and carry 0 to 1 kg of lead. Most dives I barely touch my inflator. I have found that the crotch strap is superfluous, and I have removed it from my backplate.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I wear 1.5 to 3 mm of neoprene and carry 0 to 1kg of lead. Most dives I barely touch my inflator. I have found that the crotch strap is superfluous, and I have removed it from my backplate.

I came to the same conclusion, for a thick suit- at depth I need a lot of air in the wing (and need a crotch strap) but for a thin suit, I found no real difference in how the rig felt, with or without a crotch strap. Elimination of the crotch strap, makes getting into the rig much easier.

As for the OP's question: I only use rubber (elastic) weight belts....Makes a big difference in comfort...

Also, this is getting off topic, but I have made my crotch strap elastic as well. It is much more comfortable with a little stretch to it..

The Rob Allen belt pictured above does NOT have sufficient elasticity to it, to make it desirable..