Side mount WEIGHT SYSTEM - Setting up weights on Sidemount harness

[@AzulUnlimited]

🤩 Do yourself a favor and get these weight plates for your side mount harness: amzn.to/3uo4OEN

[@KB-gd6fc]

I love those things. They're a genius piece of kit for streamlining and efficiency.

[@jamesaurich501]

They work get in getting weight where you need it.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@KB-gd6fc Honestly. Mind blown. Never using anything else.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@jamesaurich501 Absolutely. So stoked to get mine.

[@naelsalab9417]

Just got mine few hours ago 🥳🥳🥳

[@timgosling6189]

This is one of the reasons I went for the XDeep Stealth wing, there is achoice of weight pockets to fit along the spine, with smaller or larger compartments to match what individual divers need. With a dry suit I need 6 to 8 kg and chose the 4 x 2.5 option and it works fine with 2kg and 1 kg soft pouches. You can move the whole thing up and down on the harness or move weight around between the pockets to get it just how you like it. Side mount newbie but love it!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Hey, we're all learning here! That sounds like a great option too 🤙 thanks for watching and leaving a comment 🥰

[@drakcheslav]

I use the Stealth. And I have a regular pocket. 4x1.5 It fits 2x1kg soft pouches, and it fits also some hard weights. And I tend to use 8kg for dry suit winter fresh water. With steel tanks. I use 1,2,2,1 in the back pocket, and 2x1kg hard weights on the bottom of the shoulder straps. That works perfect. And I usually need to add 0-1kg for saltwater 5mm+vest diving. The double pocket is a bit too big imho.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@drakcheslav Awesome feedback. Appreciate the details!

[@drakcheslav]

@@AzulUnlimited I also believe you can actually fit the XDeep pocket to any kind of harness. Since it's threaded to the webbing and there aren't any special mounting points.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@drakcheslav Totally, yes harness webbing is pretty standard so you are correct :)

[@naelsalab9417]

Hi Sarah, OMG!!! This tilting to the right is making me crazy, since I started sidemount 1.5 years ago. I tried everything possible including reshuffling my accessories to the other side. Whatever I do still if I don’t add counterweight to the left I will always tilt to the right. Happy it’s not only me :-)

[@AzulUnlimited]

You're the first one I've heard with that issue too! Nice to meet you, my fellow lopsided diver hahahahaha

[@naelsalab9417]

@@AzulUnlimited I did an experiment for fun, went snorkeling no scuba equipment in the pool. When I totally stay still relaxed, I had the same right side tilting. Not sure what is the exact reason but its for sure not the Sidemount or the scuba equipment at all!

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@naelsalab9417 hahaha yup. just wonky 😆

[@martinnuneztrujillo2989]

You Rock Sarah!!! Amazing videos and great explanations, lovely guide on SM diving, if you visit Argentina you are more than welcome to go diving in patagonia!

[@AzulUnlimited]

I would absolutely LOVE that

[@martinnuneztrujillo2989]

@@AzulUnlimited just let us know!

[@bornaluckyman1]

Sarah.. thank you for this.. always love looking at sidemount configurations and other people's preferences...it's a great learning opportunity.. Keep them coming and we will keep watching .. thank you xx

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thank you so much! Completely agree. I learn something new every time I chat with another sidemount diver.

[@timposford2149]

Hi Sarah, Interested to hear that when you desend, you twist to the right. Funny, happens to me, can't explain it. Usually add more weight but strange.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Yeah it's not just when I descend. I'm just lop-sided. Welcome to the club 🤣🤙

[@jamesaurich501]

Great infinite. There are also slideable or triglides for waist belt to adjust on aluminum cylinders as they empty. You slide them forward to keep in trum

[@AzulUnlimited]

Totally. I used to have those on my apeks harness. Depends on your preference!

[@MdSteel7]

Thank you from Italy. P.S. cute dog 🐕

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thank you too!

[@manosbak]

At 3.50 you pass in front of your camera , how do you stabilize your camera? Strap it on a weight for example?

[@AzulUnlimited]

I literally just shove my camera tray into the sand. I’d like to get some kind of tripod though…

[@chrischristofis8501]

Hi Sarah another excellent video, i remember you when you were a keen young superfit instructor and you first tried sidemount. where did all those years go 🤦🏻‍♂️. Can i ask a question please, im at a point now where i just cant be bothered with a technical dive if its got more than 10 mins of deco 😏 so its all about the quality of reefs n wrecks for me, so if I’m gonna retire somewhere with some decent easy diving, where is your choice?

[@AzulUnlimited]

Hey!! Glad we’ve reconnected here! Honestly, I’m loving Baja. Another nice, easy spot is Belize. Thailand for SE Asia

[@chrischristofis8501]

@@AzulUnlimited thanks very much for your reply, will add to my list, I did have Bali on top , never been to Baha have dived Thailand and Belize, I remember strong current in Belize both Thailand and Belize are easy for Brits to settle 🙄 my plan is for 2024 🦦 no more work, Thai food is great used to be great value at Krabi but not so sure now

[@johnrainsman6650]

Hi. To ask directly and keep things clear and organized for me (I'm a slow learner), what's the difference between Normal ascent, Alternate Air Source, CESA, and Buoyant Emergency Ascent? The textbook isn't very clear, and I only _think_ AAS is the only one that involves sharing air with a buddy. The others seem to all be about simply going up to ascent. I don't understand the text and difference.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Check out this video and let me know if you still have questions :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWjOqIympbVlsMk

[@jamesaurich501]

the same highland weight plate at dive gear express is $19.95. If you need weights to be attached on harness these are great. Looking forward to video later today. keep safe

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks! I'm obsessed with them. I included my amazon affiliate link because helps support my channel. Hope you'll join the premiere!

[@jamesaurich501]

@@AzulUnlimited looking forward to your content

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@jamesaurich501 So glad you were with me this morning!

[@MikeDodds]

You may list to starboard due to greater muscle mass on your right side if you’re right handed????

[@AzulUnlimited]

Could be but it still seems strange, no?

[@adventuretai]

Love your content and your van!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks so much! Glad to finally start sharing a little more of my home with KZbin :)

[@alexfinn7989]

I was more buoyant on the right side and kept tipping over slightly (getting worse as dive progressed). I am going to try and move the right side tank band down farther (towards tank bottom). The cause may be the right tank bottom is floating up a bit more than the left tank, this should pull it down and keep me from tipping me off balance. Hopefully that solves it.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Let me know how it goes. Sidemount is all about little changes and refinement

[@davidb5195]

I am actually thinking of switching to back plate and wing setup

[@AzulUnlimited]

That's another super comfy option. Depends on the diving you want to do :)

[@davidb5195]

Just want something that can do everything

[@jaume1978]

I am very happy with my xdeep stealth 2.0 tec :) with its back pockets system, but I think that a Razor like yours seem a lot less complicated than the Xdeep, if someday I can travel to Mexico I will do the possible to dive with a Razor

[@AzulUnlimited]

Razor can be a pain to fit but it's a harness that you can use in super complex tech diving if you're into that kind of thing 🤙 I want to go to Mexico too!

[@Teampegleg]

Weights on tanks is for making it easier to switch to rigs setup for steel tanks to AL80s for short periods. And is typically done by using cambands that you are already using to mount your bottom snap, so the added entanglement risk of slapping a two pound weight to it is very low.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for that! The only set ups I've seen seemed really cumbersome so it's good to hear reasoning behind it. Appreciate it! Love learning more from other sidemount divers. 🙏🤙

[@Teampegleg]

@@AzulUnlimited Get a dozen sidemount divers together and you will get a couple of dozen different ways of running sidemount. LOL.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@Teampegleg for real though hahaha

[@Jacoeditz]

Hi im actually everett i just switched names i love your vids keep up the good work.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks so much, Everett! Appreciate you leaving a comment 🙏

[@ReaperofMind]

Curious on the heavy right side. Are you right handed or any injury on the right? I hurt my right shoulder and was unwittingly compensating by overusing my left side. So the left side of my back was overdeveloped relative to my right. Haven't tried sidemount yet but I'd be curious if this might affect me too.

[@AzulUnlimited]

I am right handed/right footed, but that's the only thing that I can think of for reasoning unless I have some abnormal internal organs 🤷🏻‍♀️ You really won't know until you try it out and it's not a difficult fix. I don't have any issues with the weight distribution now that I understand it. Good luck! I hope you try sidemount one day. It's a lot of fun.

[@phillipholman9558]

So awesome!! Thank you for sharing!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for watching. Are you sidemount diving?

[@phillipholman9558]

@@AzulUnlimited I am not. I am currently diving single tanks but I am starting to build my doubles set-up and looking at intro to tech courses. One day I will graduate to side mount! Thank you again for the awesome videos and information!

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@phillipholman9558 Thank YOU! One of these days I'll try out doubles. looks fun :)

[@SeattleRingHunter]

8:23 Generally speaking make sure when using zip ties, cable ties or tie wraps that they are pulled tight and a pair of flush cutters are used to get a clean close cut on the excess bit of tie otherwise you can have sharp bit of tie sticking out that can poke, snag and tear things. They do tend to secure thing very well and pretty long lasting. Cheers, #SeattleRingHunter

[@AzulUnlimited]

Yup, absolutely a good point. Don't want any snagging or cuts! Thanks for watching

[@Teampegleg]

Cobra zip ties fix this issue, I switched all my reg zip ties to these because there can be no sharp point and it is a lot more low profile than traditional zip ties. Of course they cost a lot more...

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@Teampegleg Absolutely. Those are great.

[@buslu]

Question, why do you need a plate,?just the bungee itself does the same job.

[@AzulUnlimited]

You are absolutely correct. I like the stability that these give, especially when attaching larger weights, but to each their own🤙

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

I am working on my weights too

[@AzulUnlimited]

Proper weighting is the key 🤙🤙

[@jamesaurich501]

We nt to sidemount for. Solo diving and only dive single cylinder for teaching or recreational. So much more comfortable ans easy to dive in either wetsuit or drysuit

[@AzulUnlimited]

Totally. Since I'm not teaching at the moment, I use my regular bcd less. Each configuration has its use!

[@joakimdiver1120]

Sidemount can sometimes be a pain in the xxx but while solodiving, its awsome. If anyone knows where to get the plates in Sweden/europe pls let me know! safe diving!😊🤩

[@AzulUnlimited]

Aw man, there's gotta be an option available there!

[@eminatik6106]

OMG. I’m facing same issue. My left side always heavier than right side. I can’t find solution for this issue unless putting weight to right side to balance it. If anyone can help to find another solution please let me know

[@AzulUnlimited]

Welcome to the lop-sided diver crew 🤙

[@stephenkennywhatup]

She is so so cute!!!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Abby is the cutest 😍

[@jamesaurich501]

Absolutely agree. Went to didemount for solo dic

[@danielheribertozamorarange28]

You may work out more muscle on the right side muscle weights

[@AzulUnlimited]

This could be it! Otherwise I have a huge liver 🤭

[@tonyhouk9047]

As a recreational diver this wasn’t a good put together video. Trying to figure out where you are pointing out things on your setup was hard to visualize because I’ve never seen a complete setup before. But thanks for trying to explain it to me. Tony

[@AzulUnlimited]

Fair enough, that's why I mentioned the playlist. I go into full details on the harness, pros and cons of sidemount etc. Hope you'll check them out!

[@tonyhouk9047]

@@AzulUnlimited so instead of sitting all night and doing my work I’m supposed to watch your videos??? Okay I’ll sacrifice myself to learn some more. Thanks, tony

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@tonyhouk9047 hahahaha I'm a bad influence :D

[@badriboudjenoui9115]

Top 🙏🥀👌🌞👍👌

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@TheDjpops]

Guitar Fish.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Hey David!!! So glad you stopped to talk to me at BW. You seriously made my day 😁

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🤿🇵🇭!

[@AzulUnlimited]

🙏🤙

[@smacinskyjr]

You are two of the prettiest girls I've seen in a long time!!!! Will you be mine...

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thank you very much. We're each other's soul mates 😁

[@smacinskyjr]

@@AzulUnlimited You're definitely my dream girl!!!

[@Ken-vl4wk]

Considering all the high tech and information we have at our disposal, side mount gear is the least elegant piece of gear ever invented. If you tell me your gear was bought in the 60’s I would believe it. Any gear that relies on bungees or zip ties makes me cringe.

[@AzulUnlimited]

K

[@TheGweedMan]

Please, please, please, don’t touch uncoated lead weights. That’s really bad for you!

[@AzulUnlimited]

I don't touch them often and when I do, I wash my hands after. It's not a perfect system, but it is what it is :)

[@fungalspore]

I thought the whole point of side mount was to get the weight off the back.....

[@AzulUnlimited]

Yeah... You've dropped the weight of the tank. In backmount you have your weights and the tank hanging onto your shoulders and spine.