My venture into Sidemount.

[Jax]

Still too high. You should have 2 shoulder d-rings on each side and the top one should be where the one visible in the photo now is.

Yeah, since this is a medium, it came w/ only one D-ring. I'll add another . . .
:shocked2: Wait a minute, you mean I have to wrestle w/ those straps again?!?

 

[Dive-aholic]

Then can you explain what a chest strap on a normal pack is used for? Last I checked it was used for the exact same thing above the water; for stability, comfort and proper harness width.

You wife routes her chest strap below her drysuit inflator valve but across her breasts or above them? She will be the first woman I know who can stand that discomfort.

There's a big difference in above water packs and below water packs. Proper positioning under water is horizontal. There is very little tension placed on the chest strap when under water in the proper position, unlike with a hiking pack where some of the weight is being supported by the chest strap.

My wife has the chest strap routed across her breasts without any discomfort. Apparently, the women you know that have discomfort with that are either not positioned properly in the water or do not have their harness adjusted properly.

You may be knowledgeable in hiking packs. I haven't done any major hiking in over 15 years due to bad leg joints, but you don't appear to be very knowledgeable in diving. Your profile indicates you have less than 25 dives experience. That's about how many dives I do every month, most of them in the hour or longer range. I don't mean to be an a$$, but I suggest you get out there and get some experience before trying to argue about it.

Yeah, since this is a medium, it came w/ only one D-ring. I'll add another . . .
:shocke2: Wait a minute, you mean I have to wrestle w/ those straps again?!?

Interesting. I didn't realize DR had changed that. My wife's Nomad is a medium and it came with 2 shoulder d-rings. I don't normally check sizes on my students' rigs, but I know I've had some students with small and medium rigs recently and I haven't come across any rigs with only 1 shoulder d-ring on each side.

Before you wrestle with the straps again, take a look at the photos of my rig. Notice how the shoulder pad extends below the bottom d-ring of the harness.

I don't have a currently photo of it, but the top of the shoulder pad should be positioned about a 1/4 inch from the back portion of the harness, not touching it or under it, which is what I'm guessing yours is doing.

Look at the photo closely. I have my first d-ring positioned directly above the very bottom one and the second d-ring positioned directly above that on top of a trim weight. You also have movable d-rings on your harness. I recommend fixed 45 degree angle d-rings. It will make clipping things off to them much easier, especially clipping the right side reg when it's not in use. You should be able to clip and unclip one-handed.


One more thing, please set up a video camera before you wrestle with the shoulder straps and be sure to post it for our viewing enjoyment...

 

[hudson]

Wait a minute, you mean I have to wrestle w/ those straps again?!?

I sympathize... The way the shoulder webbing routes is really the only part I hate about the Nomad..it's insane compared to the ease of adjustment of a hog harness. I've done it once (while removing the shoulder padding and putting weight pockets there) and it was painful.

 

[Jax]

One more thing, please set up a video camera before you wrestle with the shoulder straps and be sure to post it for our viewing enjoyment...

Hey, :huh: has someone we know been telling tales?!?!?!?

 

[joystershell]

Yeah, since this is a medium, it came w/ only one D-ring. I'll add another . . .
:shocked2: Wait a minute, you mean I have to wrestle w/ those straps again?!?

Just be grateful that you don't have to do this all the time. My arms are all sliced up, and I have no fingernails left.

 

[Jax]

Oww, Joyce, I feel for you!

You must have super-strong fingers!


Okay, this is my latest attempt to lengthen the straps. Now that they are that loose, how does one tighten them?

 

[joystershell]

Oww, Joyce, I feel for you!

You must have super-strong fingers!

Think I assembled about four TransPlate systems last week, as well as customizing a couple more TransPacs. Ouch!

 

[noreastDIVER84]

Oww, Joyce, I feel for you!

You must have super-strong fingers!


Okay, this is my latest attempt to lengthen the straps. Now that they are that loose, how does one tighten them?

Pull down on the plastic d-rings below the chest strap. it will tighten up the harness and maybe even bring the chest strap a bit lower.

 

[Jax]

Pull down on the plastic d-rings below the chest strap. it will tighten up the harness and maybe even bring the chest strap a bit lower.

Yeah . . . there's almost no slack left. It should be about right . . . right, Dive-aholic?

 

[Dive-aholic]

Yeah . . . there's almost no slack left. It should be about right . . . right, Dive-aholic?

Now it's too low. You need to raise it up about an inch.







LOL...j/k!!! It looks great now!