New back plate and harness...

[fishb0y]

I'm thinking about picking up a back plate from Deep Sea Supply. Does anyone out there have any experience with their harness?

 

[Blackwood]

I assume you are meaning the pro-fit harness. I haven't driven it (my DSS BP/W is rigged Hogarthianly... did I make that word up?), but I've checked out the hardware, and it is of top-notch quality.

 

[dirthead]

I have one, well actually two, of the DSS Hogarthian harnesses. I bought one of their single tank rigs and liked it so much I got another one of their Hogarthian harnesses for my wife's setup.

All the stuff from DSS is really nice and well made.

 

[Mitten Diver]

I'm thinking about picking up a back plate from Deep Sea Supply. Does anyone out there have any experience with their harness?

I am still playing with mine. I have a singles rig that I have about 28 dives on, I ordered the pro-fit harness originally and am now considering modifying it a bit. I like the polypoint rings that come with that unit as well as the hip D-ring. My thoughts are to change the upper right D-ring to the regular style(sorry for the lack of correct technical name) and to remove the left ring as I will have no reason to rig any stage bottles. I will be adding a tri-glide to that section of harness so that I can add a piece of bungee for the inflator hose hold down. I am also thinking about replacing the harness material with the reular harness material, I am not as crazy about the soft harness material as I thought I would be. I find that it twists up a bit to easily when trying to connect the waist strap.

Don't take this as bashing of Tobin's system I have decided that I would have done things a little differently if I could have. My thoughts are that once you get the harness adjusted you shouldn't need to adjust it much. Like I said I really like the poly-point rings and would like to incorporate them in my harness. This will require me to have the webbing sewn around them(don't go explain to me how this becomes a failure point) I like the rings because they give me some additional connection points for my camera. I am also trying to decide if I want to keep one of the quick release for donning/doffing of the rig. I dive an Andy's dry-suit with the Viking bayonet system and I keep catching the rings when gearing up. This is a very customized set-up and I don't think that Tobin could offer this at a competitive price point. Like I said this is the way that I would have set this rig up YMMV.

I highly recommend that you purchase one of these rigs as the build quality is second to none.

 

[Mitten Diver]

I have one, well actually two, of the DSS Hogarthian harnesses. I bought one of their single tank rigs and liked it so much I got another one of their Hogarthian harnesses for my wife's setup.

I am considering getting a second unit for my son as well. I just wish that I had seen this stuff back when I originally purchase our gear. I have always heard that a good diver is always learning though.

 

[fishb0y]

Thanks for all your input. As soon as I get my other BC sold, I'm putting in the order. I really like the extra thought that was put into the backplate, and it looks like they did the same with the pro-fit harness. I still don't understand the theory behind the hogarthian strap (I have yet to see or hear of a quick release failing).

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Thanks for all your input. As soon as I get my other BC sold, I'm putting in the order. I really like the extra thought that was put into the backplate, and it looks like they did the same with the pro-fit harness. I still don't understand the theory behind the hogarthian strap (I have yet to see or hear of a quick release failing).

I have one of Tobins plastic backplates, and I am very happy with it. I have not had any trouble with it. Others have reported, and I have observed that Tobins customer service is excellent.

As far as the one piece harness is concerned I choose to use one not because I am afraid a buckle will break (they do break but VERY rarely). I had a two inch fastek style buckle break once, but this was after more than a years daily use on my tool belt, and when it broke only one half of the "male" part broke, I was able to continue to use the belt for a couple of days until I found a replacement buckle, so I would not personally have any reservations about using one on SCUBA gear.

I choose to use the one piece harness because I like the simplicity of it, it is very clean on my chest. It is probably the lack of clutter that I like the most. You are, of course, free to use whatever you like.

Mark Vlahos

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

Mitten Diver (or Tobin),

Would you please describe what is meant by this statement (from the DSS website):

Hook and loop restrained upper shoulder straps allow instant adjustment of the upper d rings and allow the shoulder straps to be configured in a conventional manner or crossed behind the neck in a matter of minutes.

I am a bit wary of hook and loop (aka velcro) involved in a harness system. I am interested in the Pro Fit harness, but this aspect worries me. I am sure that I have the wrong end of the stick.

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

No experience with their harness but they I know all their products are high quality

Rap

 

[tstonedvr]

I have the Pro Fit harness and the SS bp...no problems at all except the plastic waist buckle had to go ....replaced it with a ss one...I have about 50 dives on the rig and it is still in great shape...I have now taken the harness and mated it with a Al bp and it will be my travel rig from now on...I moved the Ss bp to a hog harness for my drysuit. Tobin also makes great doo-dads, his thumbwheels are great on doubles....quality gear...
Yarg