Feedback on DR Trans Plate Harness

[CRDiver]

"People like you is what makes threads sometimes unbearable to read, because you need to put your two cents in even if it’s not what the author ask for."

It's a disease: DIR-itis. He can't help himself

FWIW, I've used my TransPlate only with a drysuit, and I've never had any discomfort with the SS base plates. I have them behind my hips, as close to my bp as possible. The padding on the shoulders isn't as thick as an IQ Pack (or the Comfort Harness), but they're at least a step softer than bare webbing. My only complaint is the padding likes to slide up along the webbing sometimes when I put my rig on. It's fairly easy to readjust, so it's not a big deal.

 

[MonkSeal]

Thanks Monk Seal
That was exactly the kind of reply I didn’t want to get. I am very well aware of Backplates with continues webbing; as a matter of fact I do have one. I wanted to know about the Trans Plate Harness and how it holds up in the real word under load and daily wear and tear. People like you is what makes threads sometimes unbearable to read, because you need to put your two cents in even if it’s not what the author ask for.

People like me know how to use proper tool for the things we do. People like you don't want to listen the answer that's different from their opinion. You don't need other opinions. If you need the confirmation than there's no need for you to ask the question.

I'll carefully read questions like this in the future and I won't waste my time on answering.

There's no need for you to answer because I'm not interested in your opinion.

 

[MonkSeal]

It's a disease: DIR-itis. He can't help himself

Probably and I can't help myself

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hello Everybody,
before anybody starts crying out, I have searched through the threads on BC/Wings/Backplate and Harnesses but I could not find a satisfying answers.
I like the concept of the Trans Plate Harness but I am concerned about sturdiness, when used with multiple deco bottles (and please don’t tell me to stage my bottles). Like for example Twin 100’s + deco bottles (1x40cuft,2x63cuft,1x80cuft) or CCR with 2x19cuft and 2x63’s and2x40’s. I am aware of the ongoing discussion about quick releases and not being DIR but that’s something I don’t care about. What about the metal retainer holding the webbing on the harness anybody had them broken yet?
Please only Divers who have used the harness should answer. I am not interested in replies that tell me that they find brand x better or that brand y is cheaper.
Thanks to all of you.

Well, I've worn out a couple of TransPlate harnesses, and have another one on the way. So I can talk a bit about them. I also own a singles rig and a doubles rig with standard harnesses, so I can speak from experience on that score as well.

First off, having used both TransPlate and standard harnesses, I will say that they each have advantages and disadvantages. The TransPlate is, to my concern, more comfortable, and capable of a more snug, comfortable fit than a standard harness. The metal retainers are quite sturdy, and are not the weak point of the harness. As someone else suggested, you will want to use tri-glides to keep them from moving around on the waist belt. I do not use the weight pockets, preferring instead to use a weight belt. This opens up a lot of space on the harness and makes for a much less cluttered kit.

The major disadvantage to the TransPlate harness is that no matter what you do you will experience significant wear around the backplate slots. My first harness lasted only about 100 dives because I had it strung through the backplate slots in the same manner as I would a standard harness ... and the shoulder straps started showing wear after only a few dives. The second harness lasted considerably longer ... about 250 dives, because I used a tri-glide and strung both the incoming and outgoing parts of the webbing through the same slot. The waist strap doesn't matter ... you can replace it with standard webbing when it wears out (just use a soldering iron to burn a hole in the correct place for the backplate connection). But replacement straps are expensive ... and if you dive a lot, it will be a concern.

As for hanging stages, etc ... it works pretty much exactly as it would for a standard harness. The D-rings are all in the same place, after all.

The harness is plenty sturdy ... as I implied above, in some respects more so than a standard harness because you can put the thing on and really snug it down tight on your body (which you cannot do with a standard harness). Some like the sternum strap, some don't ... it's easily removable.

The QR's are not an issue at all ... they are quite sturdy. I've never seen one break.

FWIW - I have a friend who dives this rig with dual E8-130's, and loves it.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[CRDiver]

The issue involving webbing wear around bp slots can be minimized by using a higher quality finished backplate. Very happy with my GUTS plate in that regard.

 

[SkyChi]

Well, I've worn out a couple of TransPlate harnesses, and have another one on the way. So I can talk a bit about them. I also own a singles rig and a doubles rig with standard harnesses, so I can speak from experience on that score as well.

First off, having used both TransPlate and standard harnesses, I will say that they each have advantages and disadvantages. The TransPlate is, to my concern, more comfortable, and capable of a more snug, comfortable fit than a standard harness. The metal retainers are quite sturdy, and are not the weak point of the harness. As someone else suggested, you will want to use tri-glides to keep them from moving around on the waist belt. I do not use the weight pockets, preferring instead to use a weight belt. This opens up a lot of space on the harness and makes for a much less cluttered kit.

The major disadvantage to the TransPlate harness is that no matter what you do you will experience significant wear around the backplate slots. My first harness lasted only about 100 dives because I had it strung through the backplate slots in the same manner as I would a standard harness ... and the shoulder straps started showing wear after only a few dives. The second harness lasted considerably longer ... about 250 dives, because I used a tri-glide and strung both the incoming and outgoing parts of the webbing through the same slot. The waist strap doesn't matter ... you can replace it with standard webbing when it wears out (just use a soldering iron to burn a hole in the correct place for the backplate connection). But replacement straps are expensive ... and if you dive a lot, it will be a concern.

As for hanging stages, etc ... it works pretty much exactly as it would for a standard harness. The D-rings are all in the same place, after all.

The harness is plenty sturdy ... as I implied above, in some respects more so than a standard harness because you can put the thing on and really snug it down tight on your body (which you cannot do with a standard harness). Some like the sternum strap, some don't ... it's easily removable.

The QR's are not an issue at all ... they are quite sturdy. I've never seen one break.

FWIW - I have a friend who dives this rig with dual E8-130's, and loves it.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Bob,
I just got my first TransPlate harness and was concerned about wear at the harness to backplate connections myself. I attached the harness as described in the assembly instructions but added softeners to the mix. A four inch piece of webbing laced thru the backplate then thru the beltslide and back thru the backplate both inside and outside of the harness webbing. It adds a sort of sacrificial (sp?) layer to each side of the webbing that can be replaced easily. It's a little tough to get them in but it can be done. Pretty anal huh? Sometimes I bees that way but I believe it will protect the webbing at these joints very well. I also might flatten the backplate outside the upper harness slot to provide more even support for the beltslide outside the plate. As it is now the the beltslide is only supported at each end and the peak in the bend of the backplate digs into the center of the sholder strap webbing. A sure enough wear point I believe. Hey, stop laughing, I can't help it if I'm a little anal and che.., er, I mean frugel.
SkyChi

 

[CALI68]

I've only used the TransPlate for a short time, but I hated it. It's not comfortable at all.

The shoulder strap padding is so thin that it might as well not be there. Also, the worst part of the harness are the stainless steel baseplates that connect the shoulder straps to the waist strap. These plates dig into my sides when I tighten up the harness underwater (it was painful even over a thick wetsuit). The TPII resolves this problem by with a thickly padded cumberbund, but no such part comes with the TransPlate harness.

Are you sure you have the plates on the right (correct) side? If those things are on the wrong side the will dig in like crazy.

 

[CALI68]

All in all it's a pretty good system.

 

[ifukuda]

Are you sure you have the plates on the right (correct) side? If those things are on the wrong side the will dig in like crazy.

Yup. I'm pretty sure that I had them on the right side. It probably just doesn't fit divers of my build. But, it doesn't matter, because I'm not using the TransPlate anymore.
It's probably going to end up on eBay.

 

[kramynot2000]

I've been looking into the transplate configuration as well. I have a number of plates with continuous webbing (why... I don't know) and basically am just looking for something a little more comfortable. I've noticed that my tech instructor and a couple other guys I dive with use the transplate with no problems and this is diving with large steel doubles and at times using AL80's as sling bottles.