Weight Placement for Sidemount

[serge]

How does everyone manage the weight placement for sidemount? There is no backplate on any commercial rigs like the nomad or the 'dillo. Do you weave led bricks on the waist, shoulder, v-weight? What would be the best option for say something like LP 108s? - Thanks.

[RN]

In LP 108s, I need no extra weight. They are heavy enough to cause me to be on the heavy side throughout the dive. I'm fortunate enough I don't even need trim weights. Those people that do need trim weights usually put them on the shoulder harnesses under the d-rings. The webbing comes up through the weight, through the belt keeper and d-ring, then back through the other slit on the weight. You can easily put 2-3 lbs on each side to trim you out. Depending on how much weight you need, you can do the same thing on the waist harness of the Nomad.

[skip]

I thread two 3-pounders through a short webbing that is threaded through ss slides on the shoulder straps - just about the top of my shoulders. This helps trim me head down. With side mount I tend to be light at the top cause the tanks are lower than in backmount. A bit of weight on the shoulders helps.

I got the idea and method from a site don't recall. basically you thread two slides on the shoulder straps above the upper D-ring. you then thread the lead weight through a short piece of webbing (about 8-inches in my case), and then thread each end of this short leaded webbing through the sliders to hold the lead onto your shoulder straps. I can adjust the weights easily by removing the webbing and using smaller or bigger weights, or remove them entirely.

-skip

[atedeschi]

I dont need trim weights, and with LP108s & HP120s I needed no weight in caves. When I was up in the NE i used a weightbelt and trimmed fine.

[serge]

I realize that you folks in FL don't have to deal with some of the issues we have in the NE. Up here, we dive dry all the time with thick undies. So, backmount in fresh water, I typically dive with an 11 lb plate, and that's all I need. If that is eliminated along with the tank bands, I would need to squirrel away about 16 lb for fresh water, and about 22 lbs in the salt. The question is where.

I was never a big fan of traditional weight belts, places too much stress on the lower back and too low for proper trim. Maybe with sidemount that would not be an issue since the tanks ride lower. It would be ideal to bolt on a heavy steel plate right between the wing on the transpack, but I have not seen anything like that sold commercially.

[atedeschi]

Serge, I am a northeast diver and using my sidemount rig off NJ, I used HP120s, a 3lb hammer and my weightbelt. I dive with a Bare CD2 and use underarmor cold gear and a tilos fleece jumpsuit. The tanks, hammer and 10lb weight belt worked fine and didn't both my trim. You cold you a hard plate but if you are using sidemount for small places it can jam you up when backing out a hole.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I use trim weights on the shoulders. If I'm using AL80s, I also have some weights on the cambands on the tanks themselves to counteract their bouyancy when they start to empty. I don't see why you couldn't add weights to any other tank for trim or additional weight(regardless of tank bouyancy).

There are drawbacks to putting weights on your tanks, or anywhere else, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[serge]

Good feedback. Thanks.

Perhaps a traditional backplate would fit if I bolt it on the inside of the TransPac? It would be out of the way and not pose any ratcheting or snagging issues in tight spaces.

Anthony, you're probably one of the few on here who dive like that in the cold. Appreciate your comments.

[Randy Thornton]

Serge,

I dive sidemount with Faber steel 85s or 108s using a Nomad. With both tanks whether wet or dry, I don't need any extra weight. In addition to Florida and Mexico, I also dive a cave out here in Utah that has 40 degree water, so obviously use a dry suit with thick undergarments. My experience has been that if I have my sidemount set up properly, and my trim is where it should be, I haven't needed any more weight whether dry or wet. For me the secret is the correct tanks, setup and adjustment.

Just my $.02. I suppose different folks will have different experiences based upon the type of gear they use and body mass.

Regards,
Randy

[serge]

Serge,

I dive sidemount with Faber steel 85s or 108s using a Nomad. With both tanks whether wet or dry, I don't need any extra weight. In addition to Florida and Mexico, I also dive a cave out here in Utah that has 40 degree water, so obviously use a dry suit with thick undergarments. My experience has been that if I have my sidemount set up properly, and my trim is where it should be, I haven't needed any more weight whether dry or wet. For me the secret is the correct tanks, setup and adjustment.

Just my $.02. I suppose different folks will have different experiences based upon the type of gear they use and body mass.

Regards,
Randy

Randy, this can mean only one thing - you and your gear weigh more than the water you displace. :yawinkle:

Happy holidays,
Serge

[serge]

I thread two 3-pounders through a short webbing that is threaded through ss slides on the shoulder straps - just about the top of my shoulders. This helps trim me head down. With side mount I tend to be light at the top cause the tanks are lower than in backmount. A bit of weight on the shoulders helps.

I got the idea and method from a site don't recall. basically you thread two slides on the shoulder straps above the upper D-ring. you then thread the lead weight through a short piece of webbing (about 8-inches in my case), and then thread each end of this short leaded webbing through the sliders to hold the lead onto your shoulder straps. I can adjust the weights easily by removing the webbing and using smaller or bigger weights, or remove them entirely.

-skip

Skip,

Thanks for the pic. Do you suppose it possible to bolt on a steel plate on the inside of the transpac? Do you see any issues with doing that? Do you have other pics of your rig?

Serge

[atedeschi]

serge,
there are no issues mounting the backplate, but its still a hard piece that can't bend and can cause that ratching info.

What about the shoulder weights, maybe place some on the waist band, and add some more weights to the tanks.

What weight do you wear in backmount, and what are you currently doing with your sidemount.

[Randy Thornton]

Randy, this can mean only one thing - you and your gear weigh more than the water you displace. :yawinkle:

Happy holidays,
Serge

Sadly, this may be true!

[tflaris]

I thread two 3-pounders through a short webbing that is threaded through ss slides on the shoulder straps - just about the top of my shoulders. This helps trim me head down. With side mount I tend to be light at the top cause the tanks are lower than in backmount. A bit of weight on the shoulders helps.

I got the idea and method from a site don't recall. basically you thread two slides on the shoulder straps above the upper D-ring. you then thread the lead weight through a short piece of webbing (about 8-inches in my case), and then thread each end of this short leaded webbing through the sliders to hold the lead onto your shoulder straps. I can adjust the weights easily by removing the webbing and using smaller or bigger weights, or remove them entirely.

-skip

The armadillo manual has a couple of methods listed and one is used in this post I quoted. Look on Advanced Diver Magazine for the manual.

Hope this helps

[deepairmike]

For tight sidemount take a look at "blue spring into the unknown"

[Me]

I dive the Transpac for sidemount. I have a strip of webbing bolted in the middle of the back through the lower grommet normally used for the lower attachment of tanks (where stab plate would be). I slide a 3 or 4 lb lead (drysuit/heavy undies) weight on each side of the webbing tucked up to the bolt. On each end of the webbing I've got an additional installed smaller grommet with a link that attaches to the D-rings on the side of the Transpac itself to support the weight.

[serge]

For tight sidemount take a look at "blue spring into the unknown"
I love that video. Not just for the excellent shots and tight squeezes, but the very compelling storyline to go along with it.

[serge]

I dive the Transpac for sidemount. I have a strip of webbing bolted in the middle of the back through the lower grommet normally used for the lower attachment of tanks (where stab plate would be). I slide a 3 or 4 lb lead (drysuit/heavy undies) weight on each side of the webbing tucked up to the bolt. On each end of the webbing I've got an additional installed smaller grommet with a link that attaches to the grommets on the side of the Transpac itself to support the weight.

Hey You, :yawinkle:

Sounds like a great solution. Also allows the flexibility that a backplate would not. Do you have any pics you can post? Thanks.

[SLIM]

I use a lead plate kind of that Deepairmike made me. It bolts on the Nomad and has the holse spaced 11" apart. This way I can take both tanks off and still be neg-bouant. In some of the systems we dive up here we use 40's and have used even smaller in some. The plate is harder to get cought up in then you might think. Since it is lead, it is easy to scrape or gouge so that you can still fit through a restriction. Yes even Deepairmike helped me put a few gouges in it.

Since we do not plan to use tanks as our means of weight. This makes it very esy and keeps all other weights from having to be placed all over the harnes.

SLIM

[atedeschi]

pics of both would be great.

[Me]

Here's a couple pix I just uploaded.....

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=8364&c=515

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=8365&c=515

Correction, the links attach to the D-rings on the side of the pac, not grommets.

[scoupland]

I dive LP108s with a Nomad. I use the DiveRite Transweight 16 System. It is two weight pouches that each hold up to 8lbs. They attach on the "doghouse" (the doghouse shaped plate) on the belt of the Nomad. This placement puts them against your body and under the wings so they are completely unobtrusive--nothing on a harness belt or d-ring. I highly recommend them.

[serge]

How about something like this?

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/gallery/files/2/9/6/0/img_1657.jpg

[atedeschi]

I still think you can ratchit yourself into somewhere, but it does solve your weight problem.

[turtle]

I have a two lb on each shoulder woven through the straps. Seems to be the best place. Up and out of the way.

[Bermujan]

I dive a Nomad with a 7mm foam neoprene drysuit / 200 gm insulation and Faber 100cu ft steel tanks and I have about 9 or 10 lbs stowed in the rig itself. It is 1/4" lead plate that is bolted into the inside of the rig against the wing panel.

I initially tried a one piece lead plate but it obviously had no flexibility so I cut it into 2" sections strung together vertically and it is now very comfortable, don't even feel it. I think it is a pretty minimal risk for getting ratcheted, very flat and inside the wing. Can't feel it from outside the rig.

My two cave buddies liked it enough that I had to make one for each of them and they seem quite pleased with it.

B.

[SLIM]

I have started using a differnat system for weight now that a buddy of mine showed me. We normally use a lead plate on our system but since we will be traveling and is way to costly to take the lead plate with us. This is how my buddy Adam started and I have followed. I dive a Nomad and he has a brand spanken new Hollis system he as fixed to a SM diving. We have taken 2" weight belt webbing and it is bolted to the upper center holeof the soft pack. We then string our lead on it and it runs under the outside harnes and between wing. I have taken mine and it bolts to the outer oles of the Nomad butt pad. Kind of makes a V going down. This way I still have my weight on me and is distributed nicely. This is also depending on how much one needs. I have played with it and it feels nice, will find out more how much I iwl have to use later this week when I am in Coz for a week of cave diving and a week of, sorry for cursing like this (FOOFOO) diving.

SLIM

[dsatrick]

I use a 7lb back plate it fits the Nomad just fine and the weight is balanced evenly I only use it with heavy unders