a few specific questions about BP/W set up (not again!!)

[Mark Vlahos]

On some harnesses it kind of looks like the waist and shoulder straps freely adjust together, is that right? What I mean is, could you release the waist buckle, and then pull on the shoulder straps, pulling the waist belt back through the plate to loosen the shoulder straps? Then pulling the waist strap tightens up the shoulders? I kind of doubt that it works that way; seems like it could be unstable in the water, but it would make it easier to get on/off. I guess it depends on the friction created when the webbing goes through the plate near the bottom.

Yes this is possible, and I have tried it. I personally do not now do this.

When I first used a plate I put a keeper on the webbing where it passes thru the plate from the shoulder straps to the waist belt area. This keeps everything nice and snug, you never really need to re-adjust your harness. I removed these little keepers for a grand total of two dives. I found that I needed to re-adjust the harness each time, what a pain. I put them back and have been happier for it.

Don't focus on what you percieve to be a problem and possible solutions. The snugness of the harness is really not that big a deal out of the water. You will learn a few little tricks about getting into and out of the harness rather quickly, and then you will forget about it, but you will still have all of the benefits of the snug harness in the water, without the bulk of extra buckles. If you try a Hogarthian harness and don't like it you can always replace it with one of the commercially available buckle and padding ones. Most of them attach with velcro or threaded clips. Even if you switch the Hogarthian harness is quite inexpensive so you will only be out a comparitively small sum, certainly smaller than if you first try the buckle and padded version and then switch to a Hogarthian harness.

Mark Vlahos

 

[zboss]

On some harnesses it kind of looks like the waist and shoulder straps freely adjust together, is that right? What I mean is, could you release the waist buckle, and then pull on the shoulder straps, pulling the waist belt back through the plate to loosen the shoulder straps? Then pulling the waist strap tightens up the shoulders? I kind of doubt that it works that way; seems like it could be unstable in the water, but it would make it easier to get on/off. I guess it depends on the friction created when the webbing goes through the plate near the bottom.

The straps are held in place using "belt slides" on the back of the plate. They should not move. In those instances where you are diving a single-piece webbing harness (i..e hogarthian style) you can get away with not using the belt slides but, for me, it makes it a bit too loose.

 

[halocline]

Okay, I'll give it a shot. I could always do something horribly sac-religious like install a quick release on one shoulder strap. I can already hear the voices of those opposed to that idea....

Thanks, Mark, and others!

Matt

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Okay, I'll give it a shot. I could always do something horribly sac-religious like install a quick release on one shoulder strap. I can already hear the voices of those opposed to that idea....

Thanks, Mark, and others!

Matt

The reason many of us are opposed to the idea is not out of spite, but rather because we dive these plates and know from our own experience that what may seem like a good idea to you now is really not necessary once you actually use the system. There are certainly some divers out there who like a buckle on their shoulder strap, but I feel the majority of those who dive a backplate and have tried the Hogarthian harness find the simplicity of it a major asset not a liability.

You are free to do what you think is best, this is not a police state. I just hope you try the simple and cheap method first. You might even find that you like it.

Mark Vlahos

 

[halocline]

Really, really, I'm gonna do it...I was just kidding about the quick release...well, sort of.

Thanks again!

Matt

 

[zboss]

You can still have an adjustable shoulder strap without a quick-release. The Dive Rite Transplate harness is like that.