Weight Belts - Color, Material, Amount of Weights

[Blesum]

I've been using a bright yellow/green weight belt and notice that the "hardcore" guys are using camo/green/black belts that blend in more. I don't know if changing to that will make much of a difference in my spearing success, but I do know I want to be cool like the rest of you guys.

Actually, the real reason being that I want to have a spare weight belt handy on shore or in a boat with me. Knowing I have a spare handy will make it more likely that I will drop my belt instead of hanging on to it if something starts to go wrong.

I'm deaf and I don't know what kind of noises I might be making underwater (I'm working on sucking air into my mouth out of the snorkel as soon as I dive so there's no bubbling) but I suspect most of the noises might be coming from my weights hitting each other when I adjust my belt or move around excessively. I see that there are rubber weight belts out there which are supposed to be quieter and holds the weight more firmly in place without needing to use plastic buckles all around. Also because it's elastic, it should conform to my waist better and not get loose when I start going deeper.

I do note that those belts come in camoflauge colors at the closest major spearfishing store that I know of in San Diego. If I were to drop this belt, I don't think I could ever find them again as is. Does anybody know if I can paint the inside side flourscent orange or something? Wouldn't be visible when I wear it, but if I drop it, odds are it will land orange side up.

What are some other considerations when it comes to picking out a weight belt?

How about weights themselves? I have some of those new oval shaped weights and some with clips. I hate those, they hurt my hip bones. I like the flat old school silver lead ones but when I saw how much they cost, I nearly kneeled over in surprise. Something like 7 bucks per pound. Holy mackerel!

If I end up getting those anyways, would it be OK to spraypaint them black or green to make them blend in more?

Thanks,

-Blesum

 

[BatRay]

$7 per pound, you've got to be kidding me! There has to be a better deal out there than that. Do you have pics of the weights you use, as well as the type you'd like? I'm sure someone knows of a better price for weights.

 

[Blesum]

No photos of my belt, but these are the ones I'd like to get since they fit better than the other newer ones I got at the dive store.

-Blesum

 

[jimdoe2you]

Blesum, would you be interested in telling us more about yourself or maybe filling out your profile with some more detail? I feel it will allow those of us who want to assist you in entering this wonderful world of spearfishing and freediving to better guide you.

Where are you located? Are ther other spearos you can hook up with at your local dive shops?

Jim

 

[BatRay]

Those look pretty standard. I don't know why they would cost $7 per pound. Stick around; I'm sure someone can help you with a better rate than that. I'm hoping to start making weights at home soon with a 3-pound mould. The weights would look just like that.

 

[Blesum]

Blesum, would you be interested in telling us more about yourself or maybe filling out your profile with some more detail?

Jim, I found the profiles feature and filled in the info. Better?

50# WSB in the avatar.

20# fishing line though. Next one will be on a spear!

I don't interact much with people off of the internet due to an disablity that hinders communication (unless we're underwater!) so I'm going to be relying on this board and other websites for my education and contacts. :mute

I'm not sure that they were $7 a pound - I just remember them being shockingly expensive. I came to the store planning to stock up on a bunch, but didn't even buy a single weight when I found out what the prices were. I used to pour them myself when I volunteered at the Dive Locker at the base up in Monterey Bay. I was thinking they'd be a few bucks each at most.

I currently run 8 lbs on my weight belt with a 3/2mm high end surfing wetsuit (fluid welded seams and a built in hood). 2 of those uncomfortable 3 pound weights and 1 of those 2 pound old school lead weights. I weight about 160. I'd like to go to 7 lbs or maybe even 6 but not too much lighter since I do sometimes have problems staying on the bottom since I don't dive deep yet at this point.

Within a month or two I will be making a transition to a 5/4/3 full hoodie suit (high end surfing suit again) and I assume I will want to go back to 8 lbs or more then.

Yeah, them are the details.

-Blesum

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I can't imagine trying to use a camo weight belt, but then again I'm so old fashioned that I don't think camo suits are good for much besides selling to divers.

I'm a big fan of rubber Marseillaise style weight belts. They are just like the belt that holds your pants up, with a prong that sticks into a hole in the belt. They way they are set up, the prong springs open when you pull on the end of the belt. The best deal on these is the Rob Allen belt. Florida Freedivers sells them for $35, and I just got one from Masahiro Mori (morifish@aol.com) in LA for $30. Other brands go for around $50. When the rubber wears out, you can reuse the buckle and get just a rubber strip for something like $16.

The amount of weight you use should leave you very positive on the surface. I like to be neutral at around 18 to 20 feet because that is a good depth to hang for white sea bass. And of course since most SWB cases happen in the last 15 feet or so of ascent, there is a good chance your body will float up instead of sink. Of course my emphasis here is on normal SoCal hunting depths. If you do wild stuff like dive to 80 or 100 feet all the time, then your neutral depth should be much deeper than 20 feet. Otherwise you will be like a rock on the bottom with a thick wet suit and enough weight to sink it.

I love weights like those in these photos, but I don't know where you can get them now.

PS- if I'm unusually quiet for a while, its because I'm going diving at San Clemente Island Wednesday and Thursday, then leaving for Norfolk very early Friday and coming back late Monday.

 

[BatRay]

I second the Marseillese belt. Check out the Deeperblue store; I believe they have such belts in stock, and they're less expensive than any others I've seen. (wish I'd known that before I got mine, with the emergency release buckle :head)
If you really want to camouflage something, Omer sells camo tape. Honestly, I don't think the belt would make such a big difference that it needs to be concealed.

 

[Blesum]

So I've been researching these belts... I still don't get it - doesn't seem very safe compared to the traditional quick release buckles. How's it work in an emergency?

I'd like something that I can easily unclasp while ascending if I'm running low on air so that if I do black out, the belt will fall off as soon as my hand lets go. Easy to clasp back in with one hand once reaching the surface would be nice as well.

There's also more than one brand - for example at the scubastore.com wesbite, there are four different Marsellaise Belts, all for under 30 bucks. What's the difference, how safe are those, etc?

Here's the link to that page - Sorry it's such a long link, hopefully it won't blow out the page too badly:
http://www.scubastore.com/subfamilia.asp?pais=United%20States%20Of%20America&idioma=eng&id_familia=1&id_subfamilia=2

I'm still hoping for an answer on how to best color the inside side of the belt a bright color for easier recovery.

-Blesum

 

[jimdoe2you]

Blesum, here is your answer:

[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=582790#post582790"]Weight Belt[/ame]

and

[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=569448#post569448"]Fricken Mother Buckle[/ame]

Just do this, .........you will be happy, ..........and all shall be well.

Jim

 

[IB Boyd]

That sporasub belt at the bottom of the page looks good. The marsielles buckle works great. the belt only runs through the buckle once, so a good yank and its off. Also wont release if you bump it when loading your gun, or laying on the bottom, things you will find yourself doing a lot. Check this site, look under accesories, http://www.sumora.com/ they have belts, band material and spare spears for a pretty good price, and the shipping might be cheaper. I have bought a couple guns there, and they are a good outfit. I wouldnt worry about painting your belt for recovery...chances are pretty good that if you have to dump, your gona be pretty freaked out and spent anyway, and will be to tired to get it back. I have a couple old belts in my boat, along with assorted lead, in case I accidentally drop one or need to adjust my bouyancy.

 

[BatRay]

I'm looking at getting one of their Marseilleise belts. The Sporasub one looks good to me. I'll probably go ahead and do that after I sell my Omer

 

[spaghetti]

I think there's something important we should tell all the beginners who will read this topic:
a correct weight set is 50% of what you need for succesful spearfishing.
You may have the best gear, a supernatural hunting instinct, a PhD in marine biology, a ninja turtle breathold and two balls as big as the Astrodome. But if you float like a cork, or sink like a brick, you'll have to buy fish at the market most of the times.
Now, what is a correct weight set? It's the one that makes you neutral, or very slightly negative, at the depth you need to hunt at. The deeper you dive, the less weigt you need. The thicker your suit, the more weight you need. The more weight you need, the more a weght vest and ankle straps will help.
Try and try until you find your custom balance for different situations, and take notes to remember.
Hope this helps.

 

[Polystigma]

Plain old rubber weight belt and some two pound weights is all you need.
You can get coated 2lb weights at sport chalet for a decent price.
I prefer the coated ones to the uncoated. Because the coated will not mark up the deck of the boat. Sport chalet carries 2lb bullet weights and the other flat ones like the picture (post #3).

 

[DiverTodd]

While we're on the subject of rubber weightbelts, does anyone else find them to be a bit.....LONG? How does one trim it down, and neatly? Also, I've noticed that I can't thread my 1 lb weights onto it...the belt is too thick!

Todd