It is official, I am a Golem Gal, a Back Plate Babe if you will!

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Just got my new back plate and wing from www.golemgear.com today. I am so excited!! I can't wait to dive it. Jakub was so helpful on the phone.

I have only been diving a few months. I resisted the urge to purchase gear right away and I am glad that I did. With the help and adive of many on Scuba Board, I feel that I was able to get gear that I will never out grow. Had I bought gear right away, I think I wouldn't have made a good choice. I went with the Golem 35# stainless steel combo

This thing feels like it was made just for me! Jakub, did you make it just for me???

Jakub was very kind to answer my many calls and many questions and gave me prompt and excellent service.

This was the best Christmas present from me to me EVER!! Since it is cold here, I am tempted to go hot tub diving over at the neighbors tonight! LOL

Sincerely,
Leah
aka the Golem Gal

 

[TripletDad]

Way to go Leah! I always think it's great to see gals getting into the BP/W combo! Not enough of you out there. I didn't know about Golem when I got my setup but have been very impressed by what I have seen and a friend of mine almost got her own rig during the recent special.

Cold though? I'm on vacation until next year and plan on at least 10 dives locally between now and then! I'd do more but my dry suit is a back zip so I will need to limit my wet dives.

Best of luck and let us know how you like your new rig!

 

[Blacthorn]

you forgot a few:

Hogarthian Hottie
DIR Daisy Duke


congrats and no doubt you will be happy with the bp/w. They do rock

 

[ItsBruce]

Hot tub diving is always available, though not very challenging.

 

[TSandM]

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll be very pleased when you get to dive the new gear.

 

[tonka97]

Looks like a great rig!

I plan on getting the same Golem combo you chose. It has such a clean design.

Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!

:luxhello:

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Thanks for sharing with me in my joy over my new toy. I added a couple of bent d-rings to the standard set up. I am headed to the hardware store tonight to pick up a couple of double and single enders.

I do have a question about the single and double ender clips. Because of the style of my lights, I was thinking of using single enders with a loop on the other end and attaching the loop end to the cord on the handle—not a big enough hole for the hook to fit through. Upon deployment, the single ender would remain with the light while in use. Anyone see any functional issue with this thought?

They also sell brass and stainless single and double enders. Is one better than the other? It looks to me like the spring inside is made from the same type of material on both. The brass is much more attractive from a cost standpoint.

Really, I can’t say enough good about how nice Jakub was to deal with. He gave me a great price and didn’t try to make me feel bad about getting a good deal—and his Christmas sale was not just a good deal, but a great deal! He seemed to really appreciate my business. Not only do I feel good about having a great new toy, I feel good about being treated well.

I am reading over the set up manual. Someone showed me how to set one up a few months ago, so I think I will be able to do. Perrone Ford sent me a video link on DIR and the gear configuration. It was very helpful and informative. If it takes me a while, it will just add more fun since it is too cold to get in the water for me. I know some of you guys are still diving up north in the cold water, but I am too much of a pansy for that!!

 

[tonka97]

Thanks for informative update Leah! You have a great writing style; have you considered contributing an article to DIVE TRAINING?

I'm ordering the same combo as you did today!

 

[Mark Vlahos]

It looks like a great rig! Congratulations!

As far as the cilips from the hardware store, The spring inside may be a problem, you just won't know until you get one and use it for a while. If the spring rusts then you will need to get a replacement from a dive shop, if the spring does not rust then you should be happy. I have both brass and stainless, and have decided that stainless is more appropriate for me. Having said that the single most important thing about a single or double ended clip is that it works well. In the store try the clip many times, push on the thumb slide from many different angles. I usually reject 3 or 4 before I find one that works smoothly.

Mark Vlahos

 

[*Floater*]

I do have a question about the single and double ender clips. Because of the style of my lights, I was thinking of using single enders with a loop on the other end and attaching the loop end to the cord on the handle—not a big enough hole for the hook to fit through. Upon deployment, the single ender would remain with the light while in use. Anyone see any functional issue with this thought?

For backup lights most people tie a single-ender to the back of it, which remains there during use. For the primary (can) lights, GUE recommends tying a single-ender to the handle, but I personally prefer attaching a large o-ring to the handle and the back of the light, then I can clip it from the loops to my d-ring using a double-ender. I prefer the double-ender because (a) I can leave the double ender clipped to my chest d-ring so it's not dangling on the light handle, and (b) I can clip the light higher up by running the same end of the double-ender through the o-ring or loop on the handle and through my d-ring (instead of using separate ends for each). But to answer your question, leaving a boltsnap attached to your light is not an issue beyond personally preference and it's DIR too.

They also sell brass and stainless single and double enders. Is one better than the other? It looks to me like the spring inside is made from the same type of material on both. The brass is much more attractive from a cost standpoint.

SS is considered better because (a) the springs are often better (maybe not the case for you), and (b) brass wears in use in a way that can result in sharp edges that slash your fingers or gloves when clipping stuff.