Thoughts on new purchase

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Jasonmh

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Location
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Just got my order from DSS. I have purchased quite a few products and accessories in the past from DSS, but had yet to get a BP&W setup from them. Figured I post some thoughts on the stuff in case someone is thinking of a similar purchase.

Thumb loop for HID lighthead: definitely a good quailty and well thought out piece of equipment. Installs with just a philips screwdriver and an allen wrench, no other mods or work required. Very easy to install, feels solid, a good choice for someone who wants a thumb loop.
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=1314

Rig with Kydex plate and torus 26 singles wing with hog harness:
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=5
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=104

The wing is definitely good quality (no surprise there). IMO, DSS is one of the only companies that has the corrogated inflator hose just right. Most of the other wings and BCs I have used have a hose that is too long, Halcyon and DSS are 2 companies that have it sized just right. I also like the new OPV on the wings, it is built like a tank, and the thicker pull dump cord is a nice touch.
The inflator is the same standard inflator that comes on many wings now. Inexpensive to replace, and easy to service yourself if you are so inclined.
The wing is streamlined and narrow, with drainage mesh on the top and bottom. The wing is a bit longer than I expected, and when it is inflated there seems to be some extra material at the bottom (between where the bottom window for the cam band is and top of the internal bladder when inflated). I am curious if that is designed that way to better fit the shape of the tank, or for some other reason. Not a negative, just an observation. The wing has the "wobble-stopper" sewn in between the 2 cam band holes. Which seems as fine a solution to not using a STA as I have seen, feels very stable. It has been said that you can use the wings with our without a STA, it would appear (I still have to try it) that the wobble-stopper will compress to accomodate a STA, but the design might lend itself better to certain types of STAs. I would be interested to hear from other DSS wing users who are using a STA, and how it works for them.

The kydex backplate is, as advertised, light-weight and has the center channel and harness slots reinforced. It is considerably flatter than any of the other BPs I have, again not a negative but an observation. Feels comfortable on, all around just what I was looking for.

The hog harness (which includes a knife - nice touch), is your standard no-frills affair(as a hog harness should be). It is fairly easy to put together, and comes with instructions, although anyone who has used one before likely will not need them. The vidoes on the DSS website are helpful too. The only piece of the whole kit that I had a hard time with was threading the crotch strap though rear tri-glide twice. It is a curved tri-glide (different than any I have used before), and I am pretty sure it is from the devil. I found it quite hard to get the softer material on the crotch strap though it twice to secure it. The kit is complete, which means you don't have to go trying to find other parts. It includes the harness accessories, and bands for the inflator and shoulder straps.

Some random thougts I am having:
The rubber knobbies (not sure what to call them) that are used as guides and to hold the wing to the plate without a STA are an interesting design. Definitely is convienent so that the wing does not fall/flop around when moving the rig without a tank attached. Not sure how long they will last, as it seems like a part that would probably not last as long as the rest of the rig. I am sure they are cheap and easy to get if more are required though.

The kydex BP comes with a warning to not expose it to high heat or leave too long in direct sun exposure ( I am paraphrasing here), as the thermoplastic can warp. That sounds like one of those things where you probably won't know how much is too much until it has gone too far. I am assuming that leaving it on the dive deck of a boat for a day in FL is not too much, or I may be concerned since many boats do not have shade.

I bought this mainly for warm water travel. In the past I have used weight pouches on the cam bands of the STA to put extra trim weight in. I have not tried it yet with this rig, so I will have to see how that works. I am curious what others who have the same rig are doing (if anything) for trim weighting.

Overall, the fit and finish of the product is outstanding, and definitely worth the money. Another very satisfied customer here.
 
The kydex BP comes with a warning to not expose it to high heat or leave too long in direct sun exposure ( I am paraphrasing here), as the thermoplastic can warp. That sounds like one of those things where you probably won't know how much is too much until it has gone too far. I am assuming that leaving it on the dive deck of a boat for a day in FL is not too much, or I may be concerned since many boats do not have shade.

LOL! When I got mine, I placed a call to Tobin about this. Diving here in N. FL. in the summer things can get quite hot on surface intervals. Also, leaving the rig in the trunk of a car in the summer could EASILY exceed the stated temps. I'd advise anyone to be careful of this.

I've been able to find shady spots for my gear thus far so it hasn't been a real issue.
 
The wing is streamlined and narrow, with drainage mesh on the top and bottom. The wing is a bit longer than I expected, and when it is inflated there seems to be some extra material at the bottom (between where the bottom window for the cam band is and top of the internal bladder when inflated). I am curious if that is designed that way to better fit the shape of the tank, or for some other reason.

Two reasons. 1) We want to limit the volume of gas between the tank and the diver because when fully filled it can push on the diver. 2) When used on longer back plates with out the Cutout found on DSS plates there is the potential to pinch the bladder between the plate and tank.

The wing has the "wobble-stopper" sewn in between the 2 cam band holes. Which seems as fine a solution to not using a STA as I have seen, feels very stable. It has been said that you can use the wings with our without a STA, it would appear (I still have to try it) that the wobble-stopper will compress to accomodate a STA, but the design might lend itself better to certain types of STAs. I would be interested to hear from other DSS wing users who are using a STA, and how it works for them.

You won't need a STA. but the wobble stopper will compress if you choose to use one. You can also remove the wobble stopper if you want to, just unstitch it.

The only piece of the whole kit that I had a hard time with was threading the crotch strap though rear tri-glide twice. It is a curved tri-glide (different than any I have used before), and I am pretty sure it is from the devil.

The crotch strap is furnished with two types of triglides as shown in the photo below.

Tri_glides.jpg


The lower Triglide is a commercially available "plain keeper" that is intended to be used to secure the crotch strap to the back plate. The webbing passes through this plain keeper twice.

The upper Triglide is a custom DSS part. It is intended to be used to secure the "butt Dring" to the crotch strap. The webbing passes through it only once. This special part was designed and produced because I found that both the commercially available plain keepers and the commercially available serrated keepers would sometimes allow the butt dring to slip on the softer webbing we use for the crotch strap.

Did you perhaps swap the two triglides? We ship the crotch strap assembled.

Some random thougts I am having:
The rubber knobbies (not sure what to call them) that are used as guides and to hold the wing to the plate without a STA are an interesting design. Definitely is convienent so that the wing does not fall/flop around when moving the rig without a tank attached. Not sure how long they will last, as it seems like a part that would probably not last as long as the rest of the rig. I am sure they are cheap and easy to get if more are required though.

Yup. The wing locators can be easily replaced, and are not required at all to use the rig. They are just a convenience.

The kydex BP comes with a warning to not expose it to high heat or leave too long in direct sun exposure ( I am paraphrasing here), as the thermoplastic can warp. That sounds like one of those things where you probably won't know how much is too much until it has gone too far. I am assuming that leaving it on the dive deck of a boat for a day in FL is not too much, or I may be concerned since many boats do not have shade.

Out of the many hundreds of Kydex plates sold we have a single report of warping. This was plate in use in the UAE, exposed for long periods to high temps and direct sunlight. Reasonable care seems to be sufficient to prevent problems.

Overall, the fit and finish of the product is outstanding, and definitely worth the money. Another very satisfied customer here.

Thanks for the kind Words


Tobin
 
Two reasons. 1) We want to limit the volume of gas between the tank and the diver because when fully filled it can push on the diver. 2) When used on longer back plates with out the Cutout found on DSS plates there is the potential to pinch the bladder between the plate and tank.

Thanks for the info, I figured there was a design reason for this.



The crotch strap is furnished with two types of triglides as shown in the photo below.

Tri_glides.jpg


The lower Triglide is a commercially available "plain keeper" that is intended to be used to secure the crotch strap to the back plate. The webbing passes through this plain keeper twice.

The upper Triglide is a custom DSS part. It is intended to be used to secure the "butt Dring" to the crotch strap. The webbing passes through it only once. This special part was designed and produced because I found that both the commercially available plain keepers and the commercially available serrated keepers would sometimes allow the butt dring to slip on the softer webbing we use for the crotch strap.

Did you perhaps swap the two triglides? We ship the crotch strap assembled. .

Ah-ha! that makes much more sense. For the life of me I could only find 3 of the regular keepers in the box, and I used them for the shoulder d-rings and waist d-ring. I have plenty of extras around though, so I will set it up how you suggested. Makes much more sense now that I know you aren't supposed to try and fit it through the custom one twice.

thanks :)
 
Jason,

If we shorted you a serrated Triglide let me know and I'll stick one in the mail.

Tobin

Thanks Tobin. There wasn't one on the crotch strap, and I could only find 3 in the box. I am placing an order today for some thumbwheels, if you want to just drop one of those triglides in with the shipment. Thanks!
 
The rubber wing attachment thingies do seem fragile, but I have yet to break one (my DSS singles wing I have now had for three years and a couple hundred dives).

I use XS Scuba weight pouches on the cambands to weight my Kydex plate for warm water singles diving. Works very well.

I particularly like the Kydex plate because it has enough flexibility to accomodate various length bolts on double tanks. The metal DSS plates can be problematic with rental doubles, because of the shallow bend.
 
Thanks Tobin. There wasn't one on the crotch strap, and I could only find 3 in the box. I am placing an order today for some thumbwheels, if you want to just drop one of those triglides in with the shipment. Thanks!

Gotcha covered.

Thanks again,

Tobin
 
The rubber wing attachment thingies do seem fragile, but I have yet to break one (my DSS singles wing I have now had for three years and a couple hundred dives)..

That's what I figured. They don't seem cheap or weak, just that they probably won't last as long as say.. the harness.

I use XS Scuba weight pouches on the cambands to weight my Kydex plate for warm water singles diving. Works very well..

That is great to know, I was thinking of trying the same thing. I assume it doesn't get in the way when changing tanks?

Thanks for the info.
 
I recently received (3) Torus 49 setups -- the other two guys who bought them are currently out of town so right now my room is extra full of dive gear. :wink:


As usual the fit and finish of everything looks great. I especially like the 'chalking' lines on the wings -- lets you know they were JUST made, just for you right as the order came in. :wink:
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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