Donning and Doffing BP/W

[darylm74]

One of the issues I've had when moving to the BP/W is that I for one have very long arms and two, very broad shoulders. My BC had release straps that could be tightened and losened when donning and doffing a BC. Is there a way to do this with the BP/W without going to one of the harnesses from DUI or such? It can be very difficult with a drysuit, especially if it doesn't have a low profile valve like my Viking Extreme. I am just wondering, does anyone else have this problem and how have you resolved it? or have you just learned to deal.

Note, I usually get in by moving my arms back and putting them through the shoulder straps and pulling it all forward and kind of bumping it up onto my shoulders. It still seems to catch on the valve and so forth and just worried about ripping it off.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

One of the issues I've had when moving to the BP/W is that I for one have very long arms and two, very broad shoulders. My BC had release straps that could be tightened and losened when donning and doffing a BC. Is there a way to do this with the BP/W without going to one of the harnesses from DUI or such? It can be very difficult with a drysuit, especially if it doesn't have a low profile valve like my Viking Extreme. I am just wondering, does anyone else have this problem and how have you resolved it? or have you just learned to deal.

Note, I usually get in by moving my arms back and putting them through the shoulder straps and pulling it all forward and kind of bumping it up onto my shoulders. It still seems to catch on the valve and so forth and just worried about ripping it off.

I too dive a Viking Extreme and yes the OP valve can catch on the harness.

The secret is to spend sufficient time finding the proper setting for the harness. It might take a few attempts. But once it is located it will be the same each time.

 

[MechDiver]

I always get my left arm and shoulder in, then chicken wing my right arm under the right strap. Same in reverse to get out. If push comes to shove, remove the tri-glide on the back side of the bp for your left shoulder/waist strap. This allows it to slide in the bp slot and gives you more room. Once in the rig, yank on the left waist strap to tighten up the shoulder area. Works for some without using a QD or buckle.

MD

 

[Rick Inman]

For me, the lower I can get my body down below the hight of the harness, the easier it is for me to slide up into it. Getting out, now that's another matter....