Hammerhead or DeepSeaSupply Plate?

[cool_hardware52]

Since I am going to be diving single tank for the next year or so...I get the feeling that DSS is the way to go for now?

Medcop,

The DSS plate is optimized for single tank use. The flatter overall bend, the large radius lower corners and shallow center channel result in a better fit for many, and reduce how far the tank is offset from the divers back.

DSS plates are furnished fully finished, ready to dive. DSS offers bolt on weight plates, and wide range of wings designed to work with these plates.

DSS plates are not a "singles only" plate. Our plates are routinely used with doubles. No special double tank set up is required to use a DSS plate, most work fine.

Rarely, a set of doubles may have bolts that are cut far shorter than the norm. This could present a problem, but it is not often encountered, and is frequently easily corrected by adjusting the bolts.

Tobin

 

[Mr. Sunday]

If I was starting over and had to choose between the two I would go with the DSS plate. For both singles and doubles use

 

[TSandM]

I use my Kydex DSS plate for doubles diving in Mexico, and it works great.

I'm a great believer in DSS products, because they are well designed and well made, and because the customer service from DSS is superb.

 

[Quaff King]

I don't own a DSS plate so I can't really comment on the pro's and cons of their plate.

I do own Hammerhead and it is a very stout plate. I also like their heavy sta for cold water diving. I dive a single steel HP 120 and it works great.

I did spend about five minutes on the slots of my Hammerhead with some emory cloth but it was really no big deal.

In my opinion the biggest advantage of Hammerhead is the price. Its about $129.00 less. Thats half the cost of a new wing.

I guess it comes down to personal choice. I'd rather have the money.

 

[RonFrank]

I dive a SS HH plate and STA. If you are starting from scratch, I think the DSS is a very fine hunk of equipment. I got a close inspection of two a couple of weekends back, and they are very well designed. The wing is also very low profile, and has a nice form factor.

The HH is a solid plate for the $$$. If you already have some equipment (like a wing) and want to put together a kit, there is no reason to look much farther. You will not find a better plate for the money.

I won't repeat what others have already said other than to suggest that the HH is more of a budget solution, and does need a bit of love to smooth it out. I also found that it does not fit all double bolts, but that is easily corrected with a drill!

The DDS is a bit more expensive (actually a lot more) but for around $500 you get a very well made setup. For another $100 you can add some weight to the plate which is one reason I went with the HH, and SS STA. I wanted 12lbs at least on my back, and for $100 which is the price of just the DSS weight plate, I had the HH/STA shipped to my door.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I dive a SS HH plate and STA. If you are starting from scratch, I think the DSS is a very fine hunk of equipment. I got a close inspection of two a couple of weekends back, and they are very well designed. The wing is also very low profile, and has a nice form factor.

The HH is a solid plate for the $$$. If you already have some equipment (like a wing) and want to put together a kit, there is no reason to look much farther. You will not find a better plate for the money.

I won't repeat what others have already said other than to suggest that the HH is more of a budget solution, and does need a bit of love to smooth it out. I also found that it does not fit all double bolts, but that is easily corrected with a drill!

The DDS is a bit more expensive (actually a lot more) but for around $500 you get a very well made setup. For another $100 you can add some weight to the plate which is one reason I went with the HH, and SS STA. I wanted 12lbs at least on my back, and for $100 which is the price of just the DSS weight plate, I had the HH/STA shipped to my door.

Prices for a complete rig, i.e. SS Plate, Wing, Harness and cambands start at $445.

One can of course piece together a BP&W, but I doubt that they will save much money doing so.

Wings are ~$280-320 if purchased separately, excluding used or closeouts.

SS Plates are $90-190 if purchased separately.

A hogarthian Harness is $50-60 depending on what is included, knife or no knife, etc.

Cambands are $35-50.

STA, if needed, $50-80.

In the end the user may have a perfectly serviceable BP&W, but they may also have wings and plates that are a sub optimal match.

Tobin