Inner Tube Weight Harness
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Hi Guys. Over the last couple years, my lowers back has started to hurt when I dive a few hours with more than about 12 lbs on my rubber weight belt.
I looked into weight harnesses to get some of the weight off my hips and some options looked pretty good. I stumbled upon a design I liked on another dive forum and I thought I would give it a try. It looked easy to make and I had some soft lead shot weights as well as a couple bike inner tubes laying around. After a couple tweaks, this is what I came up with. The design I had seen previously had 2 snap shackles,one for each side. I used one shackle and a bungee that laces from the shackle's fixed eye through three D-rings and clips back onto the same snap shackle. The bungee adds a bit more stretch to the harness and with a pull of shackle release, the bungee under tension, springs through the three D-rings and drops the harness. I used a larger diameter inner tube piece for the back piece and pulled the two narrower inner tubes pieces through it. I am wearing a weight belt with about 9lbs belt along with the harness setup that also has 9lbs of weight. The tubbing is 1 3/8" and increasing the diameter of it will allow for more lead to be used for a heavier harness. Pros No more back pain! The fact that it stretches is nice and it still feels snug as I dive to deeper depths. I like how my body sits in the water as my abdomen is now on the surface at rest and I feel like I get a fuller breath. It is really comfortable. It does not burp bubbles. Cheap to make- beside the lead under $15 Does not take up much space. Cons Came off once when squeezing under a shelf to grab a bug (rubbed on shelf and pulled the release) Not sure how well it will wear. Takes a bit of time to thread the bungee through the D-rings. Two weight systems (belt and harness) to remember to bring Do I really need a quick release on the harness if I am wearing a belt RA marseillaise belt) as well? It would be even easier to don if I used some side release buckles instead of the D-ring/snap shackle bungee setup. |
Re: Inner Tube Weight Harness
dude that looks sweet as ****
I wear a little weight backpack and good god do I love it, this one looks like it should work too. |
Re: Inner Tube Weight Harness
Looks very good. Been thinking for a while now that
I need to make one myself. Thanks for the write up and pictures. My only concern in your set-up would be uncomfortable loading with everything being center on your chest/upper belly. Have you been having any problems with that. Thanks. |
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Thanks Josh, Do you wear a weight belt and a shoulder harness at the same time? Quote:
I thought about the loading, but have not tried it yet as I have only been bugging with it so far. If I change the setup to 2 molded nylon side release buckles, loading would not be a issue but it would sacrifice the speed of dropping it (two buckles instead of one pull). Might try flat elastic webbing instead of bungee cord. Do you think it is a mistake to change the snap shackle set up I have to 2 side release molded nylon buckles? I could not bail it as quickly but I can still bail the belt if needed. Ross |
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Does it stretch significantly when you put it on? I was thinking if there isn't a too much stretch you could probably use the hollow nylon webbing to protect the inner tubes.
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Oh my ggod!! This looks like the best thing since sliced bread! I really love it, as a noob I was always trying to save money but could never figure out a way to make weights cheaply without moulding them, this is the exact idea I needed then and its almost inspiring to me to give it a go now.
Now all the newbies can gather fishing sinkers/tyre weights and make this on the cheap. Well done RossentnFound Thankyou so much |
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It does stretch a bit as you breathe. I would love to find some sort of protective cover that would work, like on those gimmicky "pocket hose" garden hoses that grow as water pressure fills them. I would feel more confident when hugging a lobster to my chest or squeezing under a shelf. But so far so good. I would like to source the material they use for ankle weights. I think it would work great. Quote:
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Cool idea, What about using Tubular Nylon Webbing?
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RI eventually came to that as well. I will order this. http://www.strapworks.com/ProductDet...oductCode=TNW2 I will post the results Ross |
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Awesome, let me know when your taking orders!
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That's a great idea. We've been using Inner tube Weight belts for a while and they work great. They're tougher than you would think. Haven't had any explode even rolling around on the reef. One added plus for Warm Water Diving, and keep in mind I'm speaking about a thin wetsuit, and I don't have a lot of buoyancy, is that you can literally fill them with sand or rocks. Since Sand/Rocks don't have the SG of Lead, you can go up a diameter to Scooter Innertubes, but it's a great way to travel Tropical style without the weight of lead.
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You can use a regular Dive Belt Buckle, but I just use a simple pinch clasp like you would find on a Back Pack Chest strap. It's much smaller profile.
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I love this thread I’m learning heaps Thanks Rosstnfound for the reply! I’ll stick to round, elliptical lead then :) . You wouldn’t believe how many big fishing sinkers I’ve found on some cracks close-in on headlands and they have been rolled smooth and with flattened holes. |
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