weight belts or integrated weights?

[Jim Lapenta]

I wear a belt when I need additional weights. Otherwise my "integrated weights" are my steel doubles and stainless steel backplate.

 

[rongoodman]

I'll add an XS Scuba pouch to my waist belt if I need a couple of pounds extra, but my SS plate and weighted STA or doubles are usually enough.

 

[k ellis]

I use strictly integrated BCDS as this is the ONLY way to go for maximum comfort. In some cases I have used a dui harness when I realized I forgot my weight pouches.

Now in Dry Suits I use both due to such a large amount of weight needed. If I put it all in my bcd and had to hand it to someone on the boat it would drag them off it into the water LOL

 

[jhayes75]

Asking this of a scuba diver is somewhat redundant, don't you think?

I just could not see cutting of the weight pouches, kind of kills the resale value of a very expensive BCD. Nothing redundant about it. I can see just removing the pockets that hold the weights.

 

[Sas]

Basically, there are a few variations depending on wetsuit/drysuit, freshwater/saltwater, twins/single tank, steel/al tank, but the weight tends to either be in a stainless steel plate, a weight belt or in tailweights. I don't use integrated pockets.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

One of my buddies has a great saying. He likes Hitler more than weight-integrated BCs. He lifted another buddy's BC and tank and almost threw out his back.
I've seen weight pockets fall out of BCs a few times.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I don't use weight integrated BC. If I need a lot of lead, I might attach some to the BC, but I will still wear a (rubber) weight belt.

 

[k ellis]

One of my buddies has a great saying. He likes Hitler more than weight-integrated BCs. He lifted another buddy's BC and tank and almost threw out his back.
I've seen weight pockets fall out of BCs a few times.

This is why I strictly limit my integrated to aroun 18 pound max. I have worn a farmer john once which required over 30 pounds! I was almost tempted to back a pickup with the tail gate down into the water just to get the darn BCD out! Ever since I use my weight harness for over 18 pounds.

 

[Chugwhump]

I wore a weight belt until 8 years ago when I bought my first integrated BC. I used the weight belt the first time or two in diving with it, and then took the no belt plunge and have not looked back.
I am a warm water guy, 3/2 suit December to May in South Florida. I dive big steel tanks and need 7 pounds but like 8-10 depending on my activities that dive.
Chug
Does not miss getting stretched by a weight belt.

 

[Sue H]

I wore a weight belt only when i did'nt have my own gear. I don't have a big problem with them, but one day out for a dive I had not noticed on a surface swim out that I had dropped the belt in the shallows. That was enough for me to prefer integrated.