kevindwhite
Contributor
Hoping this will reach Hollis since it is owned by Oceanic...
I am a small, 5'3", diver. I have an aluminum Hollis back plate which I like. Actually, I probably have one the first as I bought it shortly after they appeared. I am looking to add a steel plate for cold weather diving. My only complaint with the Hollis aluminum plate is the size. As a diver of small stature the aluminum plate is really about 3 inches too long for me. The top of the plate sits right on the bottom of my shoulder blades even when the bottom of the plate is just below my waist. This position causes the plate to constantly bang and rub my shoulder blades. The sensation is not unlike that with a heavily loaded backpack riding too high on a downhill hike except that I can't do anything about it. This arrangement causes excessive role due to the gap created when I bring my shoulder blades in toward my body. I already have the harness cinched as tight as is comfortable. Any tighter and I would start to lose mobility or blood flow. The sensation is bearable on short, single tank, dives but not when I am diving multiple times in a day.
My question for Hollis is, do you make a small steel plate? Some of your competitors, Deep Sea Supply and Halcyon for example, do make small plates but I would prefer to go with a name I trust. Also, Halcyon wants crazy money for their plates. I am headed to the channel islands in a couple of weeks on a 5-day live aboard and would love to have a new steel plate to play with.
I am a small, 5'3", diver. I have an aluminum Hollis back plate which I like. Actually, I probably have one the first as I bought it shortly after they appeared. I am looking to add a steel plate for cold weather diving. My only complaint with the Hollis aluminum plate is the size. As a diver of small stature the aluminum plate is really about 3 inches too long for me. The top of the plate sits right on the bottom of my shoulder blades even when the bottom of the plate is just below my waist. This position causes the plate to constantly bang and rub my shoulder blades. The sensation is not unlike that with a heavily loaded backpack riding too high on a downhill hike except that I can't do anything about it. This arrangement causes excessive role due to the gap created when I bring my shoulder blades in toward my body. I already have the harness cinched as tight as is comfortable. Any tighter and I would start to lose mobility or blood flow. The sensation is bearable on short, single tank, dives but not when I am diving multiple times in a day.
My question for Hollis is, do you make a small steel plate? Some of your competitors, Deep Sea Supply and Halcyon for example, do make small plates but I would prefer to go with a name I trust. Also, Halcyon wants crazy money for their plates. I am headed to the channel islands in a couple of weeks on a 5-day live aboard and would love to have a new steel plate to play with.
