DR Basic vs. Deluxe Harness

[Tank601]

Anyone experienced these 2 harnesses - i know the deluxe has a chest strap .. Deluxe worth the extra buck , more comfy?:cool2:

 

[rstofer]

Well, that's always the question...

Both of my DSS rigs have the Pro-Fit harness which, while not especially padded, do have chest straps and they have quick-release buckles.

But it turns out that when I am wearing the rig, standing on shore, I can't easily reach the buckles while wearing 5mm gloves and a 7/8mm wetsuit. Sure, they're over there along my rib cage but I can't get to them.

So, one of these days (probably tomorrow), I'm going to convert to a standard web harness (again... I have done this before). I have difficulty getting out of the hogarthian harness and I DO NOT have it too tight. I'm just old and I don't fold as well as I used to. Various things have been broken over the years and I'm just worn out. But my other BP/W's have the hogarthian harness so the DSS rig should be the same.

Now, as to the Deluxe harness, that too is subject to debate. Why do you need padded straps if you are wearing a wetsuit? Similarly, if you are in the water, the tank isn't pulling on your shoulders anywhere near the way it does on land. So, unless you have to hike miles and miles, uphill, in the snow, etc, why have floaty padding? In fact, why have any of that stuff? Another option is to just get the hogarthian rig and buy the shoulder pads extra. That way you don't get a bunch of extra 'deluxe' stuff.

Disclaimer: my wife has the TransPlate harness with all the extra padding and D-rings. It is nice because it is easy to adjust after donning and before doffing - kind of like a BC. But I keep trying to talk her into a standard rig. Not going to happen... She likes it and, therefore, I like it!

Pick something. In fact, pick the expensive choice so it will seem inconsequential when you change to the very cheap hogarthian harness.

Or, cut to the chase...

Richard

 

[RAWalker]

You going to get a number of differing opinions on this. Particularly from the HOG harness crowd. The truth of it really boils down to it is a personal preference to be made based on your needs, wants, abilities and physical restrictions. Don't let anyone convince you there is any more to it. The one piece harness vs releases arguement really is a crock of it unless physical restrictions require a release. The failure of releases from factors other than user error is such a small percentage that it shouldn't even be considered. The extra padding of the deluxe depends on what else you will be wearing and if you chafe or bruise easily.

 

[rrweather]

If you are worried about your buoyancy (based on your other posts) you don't want to add padding (positive buoyancy) to any of your gear. If you are wearing thick suits, padding is probably not something you will feel anyway. Lastly, if you are worried about the cost (since you mentioned buying two setups in your other post) the basic harness is the cheapest way to go. Unless you add a bunch of crap to a basic harness, you can't beat the price since it is some webbing and some stainless hardware.

 

[redacted]

Depends on how much you like/need the padding. My wife has a transpac with all the padding and likes it. I use a simple HOG harness and don't miss the padding one bit even with just a t-shirt. The padding adds to bulk and buoyancy and really only makes a difference in comfort out of the water.

 

[Tank601]

You going to get a number of differing opinions on this. Particularly from the HOG harness crowd. The truth of it really boils down to it is a personal preference to be made based on your needs, wants, abilities and physical restrictions. Don't let anyone convince you there is any more to it. The one piece harness vs releases arguement really is a crock of it unless physical restrictions require a release. The failure of releases from factors other than user error is such a small percentage that it shouldn't even be considered. The extra padding of the deluxe depends on what else you will be wearing and if you chafe or bruise easily.

I thought the deluxe just featured a chest strap and quick release. Does it come with shoulder pads? I'm pretty sure i don't need pads but the release feature intrigued me. How flexible do you have to be to get out of the basic strap?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Anyone experienced these 2 harnesses - i know the deluxe has a chest strap .. Deluxe worth the extra buck , more comfy?:cool2:

I've used both, and ended up with my own "hybrid"

I tried the Deluxe (Dive Rite) to begin with, and found it to be LESS comfortable than a basic HOG rig (the "Deluxe" was actually less adjustable, and the chest strap is not needed).

With the basic HOG rig, since I solo sometimes and need to get the rig on an off without assistance, I felt it would be easier to be able to loosen the left shouder strap a bit... so I resorted to an "old school" solution and installed a stainless steel weightbelt buckle so I can add a few inches of "slack". I put a stainless beltslide on the "bitter end" that feeds through the buckle so that in case the buckle popped-open underwater the shoulder strap cannot totally release (and it never has opened accidentally, which is the reason for using good stainless steel buckles).

Having said all of the above, I will probably just go back to a one-piece HOG rig the next time I feel energetic enough to replace the webbing . I've found that I usually don't need to add the extra slack to get in an out of the rig solo (I just needed more practice ).

Best wishes.

 

[Tank601]

I've used both, and ended up with my own "hybrid"

I tried the Deluxe (Dive Rite) to begin with, and found it to be LESS comfortable than a basic HOG rig (the "Deluxe" was actually less adjustable, and the chest strap is not needed).

With the basic HOG rig, since I solo sometimes and need to get the rig on an off without assistance, I felt it would be easier to be able to loosen the left shouder strap a bit... so I resorted to an "old school" solution and installed a stainless steel weightbelt buckle so I can add a few inches of "slack". I put a stainless beltslide on the "bitter end" that feed through the buckle so that in case the buckle popped-open underwater the shoulder strap cannot totally release (it never has opened accidentally, which is the reason for using good stainless steel buckles).

Having said all of the above, I will probably just go back to a one-piece HOG rig the next time I feel energetic enough to replace the webbing . I've found that I usually don't need to add the extra slack to get in an out of the rig solo (just needed more practice).

Best wishes.

Thanks for the info - how was it less comfy? If you're referring to the chest strap, couldn't you just remove it? Also, how is it less adjustable?

 

[redacted]

I thought the deluxe just featured a chest strap and quick release. Does it come with shoulder pads? I'm pretty sure i don't need pads but the release feature intrigued me. How flexible do you have to be to get out of the basic strap?

I'm old and have shoulder problems; but donning and doffing my HOG rig is no problem. It does require some technique and practice. In water doffing at the surface was a problem until I started airing up my wing (weights removed), clip off the primary and switch to the alt with the bungee removed from around my neck, undo the waist strap. lift arm up and exhale. I drop out the bottom and catch the 1st stage as I go by.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Thanks for the info - how was it less comfy? If you're referring to the chest strap, couldn't you just remove it? Also, how is it less adjustable?

I'm a tall, big guy (6'5", 260 lbs). The deluxe harness has some "fixed" rings that I could not get in just the right position, especially the sewn-in rings that connected the chest strap and upper & lower halves of the shoulder straps.... but the basic HOG one-piece harness is totally adjustable. You can move rings, buckles, etc. to exactly where you want them, and can add or remove slack from the shoulder straps easily. I could make it fit my torso exactly rather than approximately. And since at the core it is just a long piece of 2" webbing, you can easily and cheaply replace it as needed.

Best wishes.