DSS Backplate waist strap location seems low

[TT_Vert]

I've got about 100 dives on this kit and I love it. However, I'm getting old, eating too much and not getting to the gym like I need to so I need to re-harness my BP. I just didn't leave enough excess for fat me to comfortably dive in this. In checking out my current setup before switching out the continuous webbing I noticed that my waist strap is anything but near my waist. As I sit, I can barely touch the top of my plate so I feel that's about as low as I can go with it. It's possible my range of motion isn't the best but if It goes any lower I'm not going to be able to touch it. I am only about 5'9" but I'm a good 220 (Usually muscle but right now, not so much). I don't think I have a long torso but who knows. Looking at old pics it does seem my waist strap was a bit high but this feels way too high. I included a few pics of any suggestions you guys may have. I also included a pic from years ago (Bald guy) when I was in decent shape and it does seem it's a bit lower but hard to determine how much lower. My shorts level is right where they would normally ride on my waist for reference. I cannot see a way to make my waist strap actually a waist strap w/o lowering the plate. I'm starting to think that I had set my plate height too high based on my potentially limit range of motion over and behind my head. I have no height adjustability in my plate
Thanks much,
Dave

 

[Badger7]

Do you have your waist strap running through the crotch strap? In the top pic it doesn't appear so? For a shorter guy, I have a relatively long torso, but standard size plates have the waist strap in about the same position on my back, no more than a half inch lower than yours. The difference is I have the crotch strap length set so that the waist belt has to dive down to my naval in order to go through the loop of the crotch strap, and that brings the the waist strap down and across my hips rather than over the top of my (also slightly larger than I'd like) belly.

If you do have the waist strap threaded through the loop of your crotch strap, it might be longer than ideal and shortening it up would put the waist strap in a more typical position across your hips.

 

[inquis]

Crotch strap makes the waist strap "V" down a bit and stabilizes everything. With your index finger on your belly button, the top of the crotch strap would be at or just below your pinky finger.

 

[lexvil]

Why do you feel you need to touch the plate, I know it’s an obsession for dogmatic divers but…

 

[TT_Vert]

Do you have your waist strap running through the crotch strap? In the top pic it doesn't appear so? For a shorter guy, I have a relatively long torso, but standard size plates have the waist strap in about the same position on my back, no more than a half inch lower than yours. The difference is I have the crotch strap length set so that the waist belt has to dive down to my naval in order to go through the loop of the crotch strap, and that brings the the waist strap down and across my hips rather than over the top of my (also slightly larger than I'd like) belly.

If you do have the waist strap threaded through the loop of your crotch strap, it might be longer than ideal and shortening it up would put the waist strap in a more typical position across your hips.

In that pic I do not. I was just following some youtube videos on re-webbing it and I wanted to see my starting point. My crotch strap also does pull my waist strap down and it's always been super pleasant and comfortable to dive with that but the videos I've been watching seem to indicate that it should not tug down on the waist strap. Maybe I'm misinterpreted those videos.

Crotch strap makes the waist strap "V" down a bit and stabilizes everything. With your index finger on your belly button, the top of the crotch strap would be at or just below your pinky finger.

Yes that is what mine always has done but the videos I've been watching seem to indicate that it should not tug down on the waist strap but maybe i'm just not understanding what they are stating.

Why do you feel you need to touch the plate, I know it’s an obsession for dogmatic divers but…

I got fat and need longer webbing So it's all getting redone and i was taking notes of where my starting point was w/ the old rigging. And in doing that I noticed mention of not having the crotch strap pull down which is exactly what mine always has done.

Excerpt from divegearexpress.com

After adjusting the harness, adjust the length of the crotch strap to be snug. It should not be so tight as to pull the waist straps down. While adjusting the length of the strap, the rear D-ring should be positioned as high as possible where the D-ring can still be reached with your right hand and yet not be blocked by the cylinder(s).

 

[happy-diver]

when I was in decent shape

Mate you look great, I've no idea why you dump on yourself, and no idea why you are here with skinny webbing

Is it a bondage thing, those shoulder straps are so tight you arms are going to fall off and the waist belt is where an old style, old mans pants would sit, a belt should with the crotch strap make a good Y and when you're doing the sideways fist make a gap fit shoulder webbing thing go find someone with the biggest fist you can find dude



This dude is the dude dude and there are some more compusory vids inside

Enjoy!

 

[TT_Vert]

Mate you look great, I've no idea why you dump on yourself, and no idea why you are here with skinny webbing

Is it a bondage thing, those shoulder straps are so tight you arms are going to fall off and the waist belt is where an old style, old mans pants would sit, a belt should with the crotch strap make a good Y and when you're doing the sideways fist make a gap fit shoulder webbing thing go find someone with the biggest fist you can find dude



This dude is the dude dude and there are some more compusory vids inside

Enjoy!

That pic fully kitted up is for about 10 years ago. I don't know know what you mean about skinny webbing, that is all 2" webbing (including the crotch strap). And those straps were not tight at all, I have the tank back there and I'm standing so there is all that weight pulling down. With that said, it was always perfectly comfortable and I could always walk around w/o any discomfort. I could (and still can) fit my fist in the straps. i could easily doff this setup in seconds.

 

[Nemrod]

That is about where mine sits, maybe a little lower but I am 5-10+ and all legs, shorter torso. The crotch strap should be connected and will help pull the front down.

I too think the upper (current) photo looks like the webbing for the shoulder straps is too tight. There should be a good fist able to be inserted under each. Give yourself a little more room there, the plate will drop a bit and the advice that you have to be able to touch the plate when you reach over behind is a guide line, raise your tank a little if you need to keep the valve in the same relative position.

And, get back to the gym .

 

[TT_Vert]

That is about where mine sits, maybe a little lower but I am 5-10+ and all legs, shorter torso. The crotch strap should be connected and will help pull the front down.

I too think the upper (current) photo looks like the webbing for the shoulder straps is too tight. There should be a good fist able to be inserted under each. Give yourself a little more room there, the plate will drop a bit and the advice that you have to be able to touch the plate when you reach over behind is a guide line, raise your tank a little if you need to keep the valve in the same relative position.

And, get back to the gym .

LOL, i keep telling myself that. For years I told people who asked that the hardest part of going to the gym was going to the gym. I need to listen to my advice. I do plan to loosen the shoulder straps a bit but I do think the older pic of me fully kitted up is deceiving as I do have my tank pulling down on those straps. Even now (with my extra density) I can get my clenched fist between my shoulder straps and chest. I thought the same thing about the plate location, I can always move the tank up. I'm sort of worried about the fact I haven't had any real diving since 2020 and now I'm messing w/ my entire setup that i've been used to for many years previously.

Last week I pool tested all our gear after i tore down the first/second stages and ensured all was well. Shockingly, after 5 years the high pressure seat on these OG HOG D1s hadn't taken a set! Since I was only testing my regs, I didn't bother to put on any exposure protection or my boots. I'm set up for salt water and use no weight w/ my SS backplate and a 3 mil shorty so the combo of being in fresh water, not diving for 5 years and having NO buoyancy from my exposure protection was interesting. I was a mess and my legs appeared SUPER heavy LOL.

 

[happy-diver]

You come on here, with four completely irrelevant to anything photos
a current shot with old webbing, another time photo touching a plate
a ten years ago skinnier fitter you and plate talking about tank pulling

Go get your new webbing, set it up, watch vid then come talk about it

unless you just want to hang here and chat in which case hey let's chat


A fist is one point to give people an idea, a fist and a half can be better

A small fist needs two fists