Dive rite BP harness options

[Firediver32]

I have recently switched from a bcd to a BP/W. I choose a DR SS plate with the basic hog style harness, although I am not a DIR diver. Overall, I like the set up a lot, I switch from a 3mm wetsuit, and a shell dry suit with heavy undies often enough to make the basic harness a PITA. I am considering the transplate harness for adjustability. Does anyone have any experience with it? Has anyone ever used one WITHOUT the chest strap? (I find they come across my dry suit inflator) Thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[dkktsunami]

I dive with a Dive Rite Transplate harness and am very satisfied. Chest strap attaches to D-ring and can easily be removed. I don't think it would cause any problems diving without strap. Shoulder straps have a quick releases (which I don't use) and adjust like a conventional BC.

 

[Fouremco]

I dive a Transplate, and while I do use the chest strap, I'm not sure that I really need it. If the shoulder straps are adjusted properly, the chest strap is redundant. I never use the quick releases or the adjustments for the shoulder straps, and I've been wondering recently why I didn't just go with a basic harness when I switched to BP/W; guess I was used to always loosening off my BC.

I'm going to be buying an aluminum backplate (heading to Bonaire in January for a couple of weeks) and plan to buy a basic harness for it, using that as my warm water rig.

 

[scubadobadoo]

I removed my chest strap from my transplate harness long ago (easy to do) and I don't miss it one bit regardless of what my exposure protection is. Go for it! DSS also makes their own version of the same harness as does just about everyone else.

 

[CompuDude]

I have a TransPlate, and like it a lot, except it doesn't go quite small enough for me. By a tiny smidge. I guess perhaps the next size down would have been better. As soon as I start diving dry and need a little extra room, I suspect that problem will go away.

Aside from that little issue (certainly not the TP's fault), I love it, and am glad it will be easy to adjust as I start switching back and forth between wet and dry diving.

I wore the chest strap for about 5 dives, and after realizing I had forgotten to fasten it for 3 of those dives and not even noticed, I removed it. Don't miss it in the slightest, but I could put it back in a jiffy if I ever wanted it. Not likely. So don't sweat the chest strap.

 

[paddler3d]

I dive a Transplate, and while I do use the chest strap, I'm not sure that I really need it....

I sell backpacks for a living. I get this one all the time...

Under the pit of your arm you have a bunch of nerves and arteries. At time people complain about how their arms 'tingle' or go numb with their packs on. By having the chest strap at the pit of you arm, it so ever subtlety pulls the straps away from the pit of the arms and removes pressure.

Do you really need it? Probably not. Is it helpful? I sure can be.

Frankly I don't know why this feature isn't appreciated by more folks!


Frankly I dive the DR TransPlate. I really, really don't dig how all the straps attach to the plate. Those SS sliplocks are fine for the waistbelt, but throw a tank, lead, and everything else you dive, and that is a lot of stress on 1/8 of steel or the webbing.

I'm looking for harness options as well.

 

[danktex]

I have an AL back plate for warm water and a SS backplate for cold water each with its own Hog harness.

 

[Firediver32]

Ya, the other option i am looking at is two plates it just seems like a waste to need two...

 

[PerroneFord]

Frankly I don't know why this feature isn't appreciated by more folks!

Probably because a properly adjusted hog harness doesn't touch your underarm.

 

[halocline]

I sell backpacks for a living. I get this one all the time...

Under the pit of your arm you have a bunch of nerves and arteries. At time people complain about how their arms 'tingle' or go numb with their packs on. By having the chest strap at the pit of you arm, it so ever subtlety pulls the straps away from the pit of the arms and removes pressure.

The really big difference between backpacks and backplates is that there's no weight loading pulling down on the plate when you're using it. I know exactly what you're talking about with the usefulness of a chest strap on a backpack to keep the shoulder straps centered on your shoulders, but in a backplate under water there's usually no need for this, and most BP/W divers prefer having as little on the harness as possible.

I have the D-R "deluxe" harness, which I think is somewhere in between the transplate harness and a hog harness. I rarely use the chest strap. This might work for firediver; it's more easily adjusted than the hog harness.