First BP/W build

[CanonDiver]

Wow…

This is why I love this forum! Got 3 responses in under 30min! You all rock! Thanks a million for the help.

 

[inquis]

How much space did you have between the one-piece strap and chest?

 

[rx7diver]

... I have found that I am not a fan of the one piece basic harness, aka the hogarthian. It actually made me feel claustrophobic when I tried it with no tank out of water. It was a very strange experience for me since I can do tight spaces and caves just fine. Now, I am looking to either buy a new harness or mod the basic HOG to have shoulder buckles. ...

Hmmm. I wonder if you had the shoulder straps too tight. For the Hogarthian style, the shoulder straps are worn loose--loose enough that you can slide your arms in and out without having to contort yourself too much--until you cinch up the waist strap, which causes the crotch strap to pull everything down, snug.

I shouldn't think that a properly-fitted Hogarthian rig will leave anyone feeling claustrophobic.

NOTE: I don't think you will get a good sense for how things really feel unless you are wearing a cylinder, and you are in the water.

BTW, when I first began wearing a BP/W (with doubles, in ~1993), I wore my shoulder straps pretty snug, and I used a shoulder release, and I did NOT use a crotch strap. So, I would jam a shoulder in one shoulder strap, and then tighten down the other (open) shoulder strap using the shoulder strap release (a weight belt buckle). Then I would snug the waist strap. (This is essentially how I wore the plastic blow-molded backpacks that I used during my open water training in 1986.) I dove this way for several years using my double HP100's and HP120's.

Eventually I began using the Hogarthian style.

rx7diver

 

[BlueTrin]

@CanonDiver just to make sure did you adjust your one piece harness this way:

DIR-diver.com - Adjust the backplate

Information about Doing It Right (DIR) diving, equipment and procedures.

dir-diver.com

If you adjust it correctly it will be quite loose: you should be able to slip in and out of the harness by putting your elbow in to get in or hand n to get out.

 

[lowwall]

Like all the above, my first thought was "He's got it too tight." Second thought too.

 

[Centrals]

How could it be claustrophobic if both shoulder straps are slightly loose as described on #24?
I am hoping there is other reason.
Something to learn.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Update on build:

I have found that I am not a fan of the one piece basic harness, aka the hogarthian. It actually made me feel claustrophobic when I tried it with no tank out of water. It was a very strange experience for me since I can do tight spaces and caves just fine. Now, I am looking to either buy a new harness or mod the basic HOG to have shoulder buckles.

Get a Sub Gravity Adjustable harness, clean, simple and no plastic. I love mine.

Adjustable Harness System - SubGravity

Simple but adjustable Harness designed to be used in conjunction with a backplate. The steel QR plates replace traditional plastic buckles, allowing for the same ease of adjustment and removal, without the risk of breaking seen in plastic. A single D ring on each shoulder strap and one D ring on...

sub-gravity.com