wfmiller
Contributor
Can someone tell me the pros and cons of both of these? Why one over the other.
Thanks.....
Thanks.....
Hog Harness vs Pro fit adjustable
- Thread starter wfmiller
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Cuda_72
Contributor
I would say it's mostly personal preference as to which style of harness you use. I don't know how many real pros or cons there are to either style.
I can speak to some of my observations as I dove a DiveRite Transpac for about 25 dives and have just switched to a back plate with hog harness. The Transpac harness, which is their adjustable pro-fit, fit nicely and was easily adjusted for fit. I didn't have any problems with it. I was able to use the quick snaps to get out of the harness if I wanted to, although rarely used them. Also, I had adjusted the shoulder straps so much that there was the extra webbing dangling down that you would use to pull to tighten up the shoulders. It wasn't a big deal, but it's not something that you would have to deal with on a hog harness. Also with the Transpac the base plates sometimes adjusted themselves when I was donning the pack. I wouldn't notice until I was submerged and tilting off the right a bit. Surely I could have gotten some keepers to stop this from happening. So once again, not a huge deal....simply my own observations.
I have not dove with the hog harness yet, but from what I have seen those minor annoyances will not be an issue with the hog harness.
Good luck in your gear hunt.
I can speak to some of my observations as I dove a DiveRite Transpac for about 25 dives and have just switched to a back plate with hog harness. The Transpac harness, which is their adjustable pro-fit, fit nicely and was easily adjusted for fit. I didn't have any problems with it. I was able to use the quick snaps to get out of the harness if I wanted to, although rarely used them. Also, I had adjusted the shoulder straps so much that there was the extra webbing dangling down that you would use to pull to tighten up the shoulders. It wasn't a big deal, but it's not something that you would have to deal with on a hog harness. Also with the Transpac the base plates sometimes adjusted themselves when I was donning the pack. I wouldn't notice until I was submerged and tilting off the right a bit. Surely I could have gotten some keepers to stop this from happening. So once again, not a huge deal....simply my own observations.
I have not dove with the hog harness yet, but from what I have seen those minor annoyances will not be an issue with the hog harness.
Good luck in your gear hunt.
djanni
Contributor
wfmiller:
My experience is limited to DeepSeaSupply and their Deluxe Harness.
The Deluxe (ProFit I guess) harness will have quick release buckles and a Hog will not. Quick release makes it easier to get into and out of. Some people point to the quick release buckles and call them failure points. The Hog will be a single continious strap. Maybe more difficult to get into and out of. Eliminates those 2 failure points.
ViewPoint: If I were going to dive the Andrea Doria at some 250' and penetrate that wreck or go deep into a narrow cave or do some other sort of EXTREME dive I would definately eliminate every failure point I possibly could.
Being a recreational diver usually in warm and clear water who ventures to 130/135 feet on occation, I want every creature comfort possible because I have no desire to do the extreme stuff, I dive for fun only, I don't press the limits of my training and I'm not concerned that if that quick release buckle comes loose or breaks that I'm gonna DIE.
Out side of all that it's just personal preference.
EDIT: I just read PerroneFord's post (we posted at the same time) and would point out that a Deluxe harness doesn't necessarilly mean it has a chest strap that's going to lock down someones boobs.
PerroneFord
Contributor
wfmiller:
Last saturday, I had the pleasure of introducing a young lady to doubles diving. At the shop we had material for a hog kit or the DR comfort style harness. I put a comfort harness rigged plate on her so she could see it. Then we discussed where things would go. Like her pocket, and her lights, etc. Then I had her put on a hog harness. She no longer had her boobs locked down by the chest strap, she didn't have anything to adjust after the initial fit session, etc.
When we rigged her plate, we rigged hog as she said she preferred how it fit perfectly, was clean in the front, and had room for her to put her knife, and lights, and everything else. We did crisscross the straps as that was more comfortable for her.
We did 2 hours in the pool and she loved it.
The Hog has everything you need, nothing you don't, is dirt simple, and is custom fit. I don't think the comfort harness fits as well. That's my personal opinion.
dsteding
Contributor
I've used both the DSS pro-fit and a hog harness on my plate.
Pro-fit:
Pros: very adjustable, easy to put on/remove with the quick release buckles.
Cons: At least for me, I had a tougher time getting the plate to sit right on my back-I'm diving dry, and it took a while to adjust (I ultimately uncrossed the straps on the back, and had to get the upper straps adjusted to the right length). This could have also been due to my relative newness with the system. Once I did get things adjusted so the plate height was right on my back, the attachments where the buckles are threaded on the shoulder straps dug into my arms a bit. Once again, maybe due to my newness at this.
Hog harness:
Pros: Simplicity. I also think that the stiffer webbing works well with a dry suit, and I found that rigging it and adjusting the fit was a breeze. This may have been a result of my experiences with the pro-fit . . .
Cons: A bit harder to get out of at first, I do recall a story by one of my dive buddies who tried hers on in her living room and almost couldn't get it off . . . when no one was home. That being said, I have no problems getting in/out of it now, this really was the first couple of times.
Conclusion for me was to go with the hog harness. Simple, does everything I want it to do, and I absolutely love the way it fits. That being said, I've kept my pro-fit and would probably use it in tropical waters where I wanted softer webbing and a bit more adjustability on the fly (like, when I am wearing the plate). Tobin's pro-fit harness is very well made, and is a great product, but for me, the hog harness is what I'll use up here in our cold waters.
-Doug
Pro-fit:
Pros: very adjustable, easy to put on/remove with the quick release buckles.
Cons: At least for me, I had a tougher time getting the plate to sit right on my back-I'm diving dry, and it took a while to adjust (I ultimately uncrossed the straps on the back, and had to get the upper straps adjusted to the right length). This could have also been due to my relative newness with the system. Once I did get things adjusted so the plate height was right on my back, the attachments where the buckles are threaded on the shoulder straps dug into my arms a bit. Once again, maybe due to my newness at this.
Hog harness:
Pros: Simplicity. I also think that the stiffer webbing works well with a dry suit, and I found that rigging it and adjusting the fit was a breeze. This may have been a result of my experiences with the pro-fit . . .
Cons: A bit harder to get out of at first, I do recall a story by one of my dive buddies who tried hers on in her living room and almost couldn't get it off . . . when no one was home. That being said, I have no problems getting in/out of it now, this really was the first couple of times.
Conclusion for me was to go with the hog harness. Simple, does everything I want it to do, and I absolutely love the way it fits. That being said, I've kept my pro-fit and would probably use it in tropical waters where I wanted softer webbing and a bit more adjustability on the fly (like, when I am wearing the plate). Tobin's pro-fit harness is very well made, and is a great product, but for me, the hog harness is what I'll use up here in our cold waters.
-Doug
I've never dove with anything other than a hogarthian harness but I have 2 concerns about other types:
1. Ease of replacement. The hogarthian rig is all webbing and steel and thus easy to find and use. Many other harnesses have other things like plastic in interesting shapes and I would not be able to fix them as quickly.
2. I am not talking about a specific model, but some of them have padding and other "add-ons" which they will charge you more for. Padding adds some buoyancy to the harness and I have no desire to purchase special extras like too many d-rings or a chest strap.
I'm in a wetsuit which pads the backplate and harness. I've even worn a hogarthian rig in only a bathing suit and despite being colder it was not noticeably uncomfortable.
1. Ease of replacement. The hogarthian rig is all webbing and steel and thus easy to find and use. Many other harnesses have other things like plastic in interesting shapes and I would not be able to fix them as quickly.
2. I am not talking about a specific model, but some of them have padding and other "add-ons" which they will charge you more for. Padding adds some buoyancy to the harness and I have no desire to purchase special extras like too many d-rings or a chest strap.
I'm in a wetsuit which pads the backplate and harness. I've even worn a hogarthian rig in only a bathing suit and despite being colder it was not noticeably uncomfortable.
I sold an Oxycheq adjustable harness reciently and dove with the owner on the weekend. Say's the system kicks butt. He is also using OxY med weight pockets,a 30# Mach V wing and a Hammerhead BP and STA. He and his wife share this system...for the time being.
Personally,I use the Hog harness and had my student in one as well. She did a perfect remove and replace scuba unit at the surface for me....no problems.
Ron
Personally,I use the Hog harness and had my student in one as well. She did a perfect remove and replace scuba unit at the surface for me....no problems.
Ron
cal776
Contributor
I dive with a DSS Hog harness. After the initial adjustment, it fits like a glove, but is nevertheless quite easy to don and doff whether on land, in a boat, or in the water. I do not regret my choice of this harness over the Pro-fit harness (and its failure points) one bit.
RICHinNC
Contributor
First of all, let me congratulate everyone on not being a real pain about someone wanting to possibly use a delux harness. It seems this board has gotten very "opinionated" lately and some seem to think there is only one way....THEIRS !!
I agree with the comment....if I was going down super deep and hanging a couple hundred pounds off my harness....I too would go with the hog. But I dont do that, I am a rec diver ...I dive a TransPlate even though I am a rec diver....and I use the delux DR harness.
I really dont use the quick releases to get out of the harness. I dont find it necessary. But I do adjust the harness much more easily depending on which suit I am wearing.....just my skins versus my 6mm John Boy.
Try them both if you can and pick what works for you. And if you run into a phanatic that his or her way is the only way......go deaf.
I agree with the comment....if I was going down super deep and hanging a couple hundred pounds off my harness....I too would go with the hog. But I dont do that, I am a rec diver ...I dive a TransPlate even though I am a rec diver....and I use the delux DR harness.
I really dont use the quick releases to get out of the harness. I dont find it necessary. But I do adjust the harness much more easily depending on which suit I am wearing.....just my skins versus my 6mm John Boy.
Try them both if you can and pick what works for you. And if you run into a phanatic that his or her way is the only way......go deaf.
When I originally got my DSS BP/W it was with the Pro-Fit Harness. I felt the material was a little flimsy making donning the rig a little difficult. Since I replaced it with the Hog Harness I found it not only more comfortable but with practice, fairly easy to don and doff.
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