How can I configure my BPW harness to have adjustable shoulder straps?

[Imla]

Before you do ANYTHING....
Try one dive with shoulderstraps so loose that you kan get a fist between your suit and the straps, and a properly fastened waistband WITH the crotchstrap.

Most likely your issues comes from too tight shoulder bands. As long as you have fastened your waistband and keep the crotchstrap, the BPW will be stable enough and you will have plenty room to get out.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Loop adjusting ring - where the webbing feeds through the backplate to the buckle side of the waist belt

DGX S/S Loop Adjustment Ring

The DGX Loop Adjustment Ring (LAR) is a simple device that allows the left shoulder strap of any 2-inch continuous webbing harness to be freely adjustable, making your harness much easier to doff and don.

www.divegearexpress.com

View attachment 878865

I second this. Most folks use this one one side only but I chose to use it on both sides. Leaves a slightly longer tail on the waist but i manage.

 

[Nemrod]

There are these type sliders also, they fit behind the plate on the lower attach where a locking slide is often fitted. But these allow the harness to slip for egress.

Highland Slide Bars for Backplates — XS Scuba - Everything For The Perfect Dive

With continuous weave harnesses, it can often be difficult to tighten the shoulders by pulling on the waist straps. This is due to friction caused by the path that the webbing makes as it goes through the dual slots in the backplate. The Slide Bars mount on the back of the plate, between the slots.

www.xsscuba.com

Most likely you have your shoulder straps too tight. There should be about a fist room on each, make a fist, palm down and slide under each webbing. I leave mine very loose, the stability comes from the waist strap and the crotch strap is to limit movement. I would not remove the crotch strap.

Most people I see rigging a plate choose medium stiff webbing. I much prefer medium stiff webbing myself because it holds it's shape and makes it easier to sit down into and stand up out of the harness, not like a suit coat, sit down in to, arms behind, stand up out of with arms behind. Soft webbing just tangles and droops and makes everything difficult EXCEPT if you want to use these sliders of various sorts, the stiffer webbings can take a set and will be reluctant to slide. Which is normally a good thing .

 

[lexvil]

And if you like your shoulder straps tight and no crotch strap, do that, do what works for you.

 

[landphil]

All of these fist-sized spacing under your straps suggestions are getting me thinking- I started with my shoulder straps too tight and stopped loosening everything at about a half fist of space and haven't messed with it again. I think I'll try letting out another inch to see how it feels

 

[Badger7]

All of these fist-sized spacing under your straps suggestions are getting me thinking- I started with my shoulder straps too tight and stopped loosening everything at about a half fist of space and haven't messed with it again. I think I'll try letting out another inch to see how it feels

Regardless of whether you go adjustable or just add some length, I'm sure you'll like that much better. If my shoulder straps are any tighter than an extra full fist, clearing the exhaust valve and as I'm sliding into the harness is kind of a pain. A lot of that extra slack gets pulled out when you tighten up the crotch strap as well. Once you settle into something close to comfortable, you can fine-tune your plate position by adding a smidge to shoulder and removing it from the crotch strap and vice versa.

Perfect? Nah, it would be cool if this was all just put as easy as a seatbelt, but if you can find something you like that doesn't require adjustment, each dive will put the plate in the exact same position as the last, and consistency isn't such a bad thing either.

 

[Chavodel8en]

And if you like your shoulder straps tight and no crotch strap, do that, do what works for you.

I second this - OP, do what works for you. Although, IMO a crotch strap really does help keep things secure, and I cant see a reason to get rid of it -- but you do you.

I also prefer tighter shoulder straps. I could never find a good, economical solution. There are fully adjustable shoulder straps options, like you'd find on traditional poodle jackets, but they are very costly. I was too cheap, so I just got continuous webbing.

My cheap semi-solution was to add a simple sternum strap. Its not my optimum - I'd prefer easier donning of a very loose harness, which I then adjust to a tight fit, but it works for me. Without the sternum strap, the harness is too loose for my tastes.

 

[Chavodel8en]

Double post