elan
Contributor
Guys I have the following question. How much slack to you leave on both ends of the harness. I need to cut mine but have no idea how much to leave. Thanks
Cutting the harness properly
- Thread starter elan
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It probably depends on how many types of exposure suit you intend to use it with. I like my left side strap to come over to about halfway between my navel and hip when not using any type of exposure suit. The right side strap I leave about the same and any excess I have gets tucked behind my knife sheath and stays out of the way.
This allows me plenty of adjustment when switching to wetsuit, drysuit, thicker under garments etc.
Remember, you can always trim a bit off the ends if it's too long, but if you make it too short, you'll have to re-web the harness.
You want enough tail so that the buckle doesn't work its way loose, but it doesn't have to be super long. Also, in a potential emergency situation, your buddy might yank the tail to pop the buckle release, so you might want enough to give him/her a grip.
I cut mine so that the buckle side has about two inches of tail on the buckle (left) side after completely threaded, and about three inches of tail past the release handle on the other (right) side when fastened.
Of course, before cutting I'd recommend you fit the harness while wearing your bulkiest exposure suit. That's really the only way to be sure that it's long enough.
I cut mine so that the buckle side has about two inches of tail on the buckle (left) side after completely threaded, and about three inches of tail past the release handle on the other (right) side when fastened.
Of course, before cutting I'd recommend you fit the harness while wearing your bulkiest exposure suit. That's really the only way to be sure that it's long enough.
piikki
Contributor
In the beginning, I left a little extra slack on both sides because I was still unsure which way I wanted everything to be arranged. You know, whether I would have the buckle smack-middle or as suggested by some off-midline to the right to avoid crotch strap and busiest area.
Nowadays, when I know how I have my things arranged I only leave enough extra to allow for some adjustment (winter/summer undies with drysuit, singles/doubles rig). It's a pain to have too much especially coming from right but you also gotta watch it not cutting it too short for your thickest exposure protection. On the left one can have some more slack because it stores neatly backwards onto itself and that way you can move the location of the buckle two ways if you later choose so.
I usually leave about 5 inches extra on right side (beyond closed buckle), so that the slack tucks conveniently into my knife webbing loop on left side of the buckle. This way there is enough to handle it even with dry gloves. Very minimal amount makes it harder for me to grab. If you know where the buckle will be there isn't need for more than an inch beyond the buckle on the left side.
These measurements are with your thickest garment needs. Coming from Ontario you probably dive 7mm or drysuit, so if you measure things for that you will be pretty safe leaving fairly minimal amount on the left (except if you want to experiment with buckle) and some on the right to adjust for possible add-on protection. Just remember you might want it looser than you first thought, and it's always easier to cut more off than put it back on
And when you start putting the webbing on the plate, do not cut it until it is in place and you have measured it on yourself with hardware on! It's very easy to go overboard with the cutting, and not take into account for example the extra you need for weaving back onto the buckle. I know, I have experience on that one!
Nowadays, when I know how I have my things arranged I only leave enough extra to allow for some adjustment (winter/summer undies with drysuit, singles/doubles rig). It's a pain to have too much especially coming from right but you also gotta watch it not cutting it too short for your thickest exposure protection. On the left one can have some more slack because it stores neatly backwards onto itself and that way you can move the location of the buckle two ways if you later choose so.
I usually leave about 5 inches extra on right side (beyond closed buckle), so that the slack tucks conveniently into my knife webbing loop on left side of the buckle. This way there is enough to handle it even with dry gloves. Very minimal amount makes it harder for me to grab. If you know where the buckle will be there isn't need for more than an inch beyond the buckle on the left side.
These measurements are with your thickest garment needs. Coming from Ontario you probably dive 7mm or drysuit, so if you measure things for that you will be pretty safe leaving fairly minimal amount on the left (except if you want to experiment with buckle) and some on the right to adjust for possible add-on protection. Just remember you might want it looser than you first thought, and it's always easier to cut more off than put it back on
And when you start putting the webbing on the plate, do not cut it until it is in place and you have measured it on yourself with hardware on! It's very easy to go overboard with the cutting, and not take into account for example the extra you need for weaving back onto the buckle. I know, I have experience on that one!
The buckles is attached to the strap coming off the (with you wearing) left side of the backplate. I prefer that the strap is long enough for the buckle to end up slightly off center on my right side.
The reason for this is because I dont want the crotch strap interfering with the buckle, so I cant center it and I have my knife on the left side of my waist strap.
If your tail seems too short, remember that you'll have extra after your suit squeezes down.
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