choosing a Harness system bp/w, Hollis/Scubapro ?

[cosmossea]

hey all,

I need to choose a new harness bc, im diving in the Red Sea which are considered average temp ? (20c-28c), doing some wrack sites, general recreational up to 45m deep. I use 3mm wetsuit and im not a big guy, slim.. around 170cm

now I absolutely hate the jacket style bcd's, anything that I dive with feels like im not loose enough and I need freedom in the water, everything feels like too much on and around me with jackets. bp/w looks like the perfect solution.. but with 3mm wetsuit and my bones It looks like I will need some padding and not a plate with straps.

looking at Hollis HTS2 and Scubapro x-tek form,
this looks like the solution to me, so im here to see if anyone have any experience with either or maybe something similar that I can purchase online.. im after the most quality product, comfortable and with free movement, but something that wont brake my back.

anything else will be great as well, I didn't dive for over 10 year and just got back to it so im out of brands name and Im definitely not up to date with todays gear.

ps- traveling with gear is not an issue to me.

many thanks to all when you're around the beer is on me )

cosmos.

 

[BVickery]

Hear from many BP/W divers they just like the one piece harness.

 

[rhwestfall]

padding just really isn't necessary, likely even in a t-shirt (though that might be an extreme statement in regard to the t-shirt).

 

[DevonDiver]

I didn't dive for over 10 year and just got back to it.....general recreational up to 45m deep

I'm kinda hoping for a typo and that you meant feet then....

$20 will buy you a few meters of 2" webbing.
$20 will buy you 3-4 D-rings and belt buckle.
$10 for a crotch strap.

That's all you need.... and, most will agree, is all you'll want.

Hogarthian Harness Assembly Instructions - Dive Gear Express

 

[cosmossea]

I'm kinda hoping for a typo and that you meant feet then....

$20 will buy you a few meters of 2" webbing.
$20 will buy you 3-4 D-rings and belt buckle.
$10 for a crotch strap.

That's all you need.... and, most will agree, is all you'll want.

Hogarthian Harness Assembly Instructions - Dive Gear Express

40-45 sometimes yes i started my comeback slow no worries.. I feel very good in the water, just like it was before.

thanks for the advice all, i need to try that for a dive to be sure.
so you can say that Harness at general is not a successful product if all only needs some straps and a plate.. It almost sounds like a bp/w could be an interesting diy project, of course with a well known nice wing.

 

[rongoodman]

I would absolutely stay away from either of the choices you mentioned in favor of a simple, one-piece harness. I'm fairly thin too, and have dived a BP/W with that type of harness in a T-shirt without any issue.

 

[diverjen]

Yeah you can buy a simple one piece cheaply, give it a try and then if you really want all that other stuff *cough* junk you can always spend more later on an upgraded harness. This is how it was explained to me and I was skeptical but both Hubs and I were good with the one piece.

 

[ams511]

Do you people realize that the products mentioned by the OP are like a Transpac and do not require a plate? So advocating using a 1 piece webbing harness does him no good without mentioning he also needs a plate.

 

[DevonDiver]

so you can say that Harness at general is not a successful product if all only needs some straps and a plate.. It almost sounds like a bp/w could be an interesting diy project, of course with a well known nice wing.

Yeah, the 'plain' harness (known commonly as a 'Hogarthian' harness) tends to be the most popular. Manufacturers tend to market more complicated variants by promoting a false assumption that you 'need' more padding to be comfortable, that you 'need' more quick-releases for convenient don and doff of the BCD....or that you 'need' more D-rings (no reason tends to be given for that nonsense).

Hogarthian harness does pretty much everything you need, at a very economical price. You can place your D-rings exactly where you need them - eliminating the need for more D-rings. You can replace the webbing easily if it gets worn. You can add some padding if (a big 'if') you ever feel the harness rub (most don't). The simplicity of the hogarthian approach aids streamlining, reduces bulk (especially for travel/flights) and helps to lower stress/task-loading by keeping everything 'clean and simple'.

It takes 10 minutes to put together and most dive shops carry the individual components you'd need to build one (or Ebay is good to). Do research on proper fitting and adjustment though - most, if not all, complaints about BP&W systems stem from improper configuration, rather than any flaw integral to the concept.

 

[fnfalman]

I don't have any experience with the Scubapro X-Tek Form harness but it is similar to the Dive Rite Transplate harness which I have used for five years for plain old fashion recreational diving. I like it.

Don't let the naysayers talk you into a single piece harness. If you like the quick adjustable harness with a bunch of D-rings on it, then that's what you should buy. It's not going to kill you, and it's only money. Plus it makes you look sexy. Chicks dig it whenever I wear my BPW with adjustable harness.