BP/W Harness - Hogarth or Adjustable?

[Vercingetorix]

In my research to purchase either a STAB or a BP/W as my first rig, I noted that several SB members started with an adjustable harness and eventually moved to a Hogarth harness.

Why?

Did anybody move from a Hogarth rig to an adjustable rig?

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

I decided to go with a regular hog so that I could place the D ring in the exact spot I wanted. With the comfort quick release, it would have limited where I could place it to some degree. I also like that it is cheap to replace the straps on the plain hog. You can also get them in colors. I think I am going hot pink for the next set LOL. It is easy for me to get in and out of a regular hog. I like that it is very simple and adjustable.

 

[Rainer]

Um, the hog is way more (infinitely) adjustable. Lack of truth in advertizing...

 

[Jimmer]

More comfortable when setup for you, easy in a out, stable, cheap fix if it gets cut or torn, and can be fixed damn near anywhere in the world without needing special bits and pieces.

 

[Rainer]

More comfortable when setup for you, easy in a out, stable, cheap fix if it gets cut or torn, and can be fixed damn near anywhere in the world without needing special bits and pieces.

Almost all true. I still find the hog harness a pain (way more so than other harness designs) when doffing. Stupid shoulder dump...

 

[MSilvia]

I switched from a DiveRite transpac harness to Hogarthian because I found the benefits inherent in the simplicity of the Hog rig to be greater than the supposed benefits offered by the many "features" of the adjustable harness.

For starters, the "adjustable" harness is more complicated to adjust properly, and can only be adjusted to fit a narrow range of sizes without replacing components. I'm 5'11" and 260 lbs, and I could easily adjust my Hog harness to fit a short skinny teenager by simply adjusting the strap lengths at two points. It would fit like it was custom tailored for him, and unless I cut the straps I could restore it to a custom fit for me in a matter of minutes.

Beyond that, the many buckles, clips, and brackets designed to hold the straps of the "adjustable" harness at (IMHO) unnecessarily odd angles did severely limit my ability to put D-rings and so forth exactly where I like them. That may seem like just a matter of convenience, but it's a big advantage both for being able to intuitively clip off gear where your reach naturally goes, and for being able to properly sling mount a stage, pony, or deco cylinder.

The chest strap on the "adjustable" harness always got in the way of my drysuit inflator, so I stopped using it, and haven't missed having it on the Hog rig.

My whole routing seems cleaner with the Hog rig too.

 

[smb1014]

Go with the Hog harness. Anything other than a continuous weave inputs a possible failure point into the harness.

 

[RICHinNC]

Go with the Hog harness. Anything other than a continuous weave inputs a possible failure point into the harness.

I would agree if you were going teccie and hanging 100 bottles of yourself.

If you are just going to do rec diving then the delux harness is more than strong enough.

 

[Jimmer]

Almost all true. I still find the hog harness a pain (way more so than other harness designs) when doffing. Stupid shoulder dump...

Ahhhh yeah I could understand that being a pain, I've yet to dive mine in a drysuit.

 

[realdiver7]

Hog is more comfortable, more streamlined, infinitely adjustable, and gives you more of a feeling of freedom in the water. I have tried all types of designs, and the Hog is by far my favorite, and the only one I'll use now. I can even get in and out of mine faster and easier than the adjustable ones I used to have.