OxyCheq - Ultra Lite Travel Back Plate

[Nemrod]

Thanks TN for that info on the speed harness in the lower slots, yeah, I wondered about that. I kind of like them fixed but now at least I know how they were intended to work.

To me, the waist strap tells me where the plate belongs, I leave my shoulder straps slightly loose, crotch strap also and then cinch down the waist strap. I set everything up that way. This may result in plates sitting a little lower than for people who have tight shoulder straps. I hate tight shoulder straps and to many times dislocated (and in need of surgery) shoulders do not like tight straps, I cannot get in unless I use a shoulder buckle if they are tight. I just feel the wing/plate should center on my upper body for best balance, this results in the mini plate sitting about the same positon as does my Freedom Plate.

Hope you enjoy your Freedom Plate, mine is a little different from yours, I think mine was an experimental version and the full length single piece STA on yours is two pieces on mine and the cam bands go under them, not through the plate--works the same mostly. Not sure which method I like best. I am glad for you that you were able to get one. Nothing I have other than maybe my PRAM gets as much attention or drooling envy and that it is a one and only makes it even better--lol. It is a little heavy perhaps for travel however being stainless. This Oxy Mini Plate feels much the same, not as secure feeling but still much the same.

N

 

[TN Traveler]

Eric lightened the new Freedom Plate - so it weighs just over 2 lbs - making it the same weight as my old AL plate and STA.

I hate to compare injuries - but I have a lot of the same problems with shoulders; I have to keep the shoulder straps loose. Using a standard harness, I install a quick disconnect to allow easy removal in the water, if needed, when diving from small boats. What I really like about the Ultra Lite w/speed harness is that it can be easily loosened to get out of it or in to it and then a couple of simple tugs and it tightens up. Actually, it is easier to tighten it up once in the water - open buckle, pull on waist straps and close buckle.

I'm going to check later this week and see if I lower the wing, so the top grommet of the wing matches the 2nd grommet of the plate, will the upper slots in the wing match the slots in the plate and then if the lower slots in the wing will match the lower opening in the plate webbing. That way the wing will sit lower with the top of the plate at the shoulders - and where does the reg sit.

Oh - the fun of discovery

 

[TN Traveler]

Just got done playing with the plate and wing configuration and if you put the top grommet in the wing in the 2nd grommet on the plate - the upper camband passes through the slots in the plate and the lower camband goes through the webbing on the plate - just above the lower grommets. This allows the lower grommet on the plate to line up with the grommet on the wing.

This way the wing sits lower, so as to provide more lift at the bottom - for us leg heavy folks.

The other thing it does is lower the rig so that my PRAM is now between my shoulder blades.

Guess it was worth getting hot and sweaty over this evening.

 

[Nemrod]

So the camband in the rubber grommeted slot is through the upper webbing slot in the wing?

N

 

[TN Traveler]

So the camband in the rubber grommeted slot is through the upper webbing slot in the wing?

N

Yes!!

After looking at it again - I think by using it this way only a single camband would be necessary, especially if the wing has "roll control".

As an aside - the 18# wing seems TINY when compared to the 30#

 

[bdshort]

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the ultra light plate, along with the ultralight STA (the fabric thing). I'm assuming the speed harness is just a length of webbing, which I'll just pick up at the LDS. I'm going to pair this with my older 30# Mach V without the roll control or cam slots, so what is the best way of cutting slots in the wing?

 

[TN Traveler]

Just got back from a week of diving in the Bahamas (with Grand Bahama Scuba) using the Ultra lite Travel Plate and 18# Mach V Signature wing. I used it in the position described above - top camband through the upper wing slots and the slots that goes through the plate. The system was AWESOME!!!

Everything was snug and secure and trimmed out perfectly - even Fred said my trim was great. This was a better experience than my earlier trip using the plate with a 30# Mach V and the lower camband through the slots in the plate. The 18# wing does need to be fully inflated at the surface; otherwise even a moderate chop winds up breaking over your head - but if you fully inflate the wing and lay back, it works fine (or just stay underwater until you reach the ladder ).

I still find that the harness needs to be snugged up underwater, after getting horizontal - probably because I have a couple of XS Scuba pockets on the waist strap and can't pull it fully tight when donning the rig.

 

[bdshort]

Is the "speed harness" webbing the normal somewhat stiff webbing or the softer stuff? I didn't order any webbing with the plate, and was planning on getting some from the LDS. They have the stiffer webbing like I have on my SS plate, but I wasnt sure how well it would work with the quick adjust process. They were currently out of stock on the soft webbing.

 

[redacted]

Is the "speed harness" webbing the normal somewhat stiff webbing or the softer stuff? I didn't order any webbing with the plate, and was planning on getting some from the LDS. They have the stiffer webbing like I have on my SS plate, but I wasnt sure how well it would work with the quick adjust process. They were currently out of stock on the soft webbing.

I used some softer webbing but wish I had used the stiffer stuff as it is easier to get into. I did not run the webbing to use the speed harness feature. I really don't want that adjustment to be slipping around so in stead of following the instruction to run the webbing through just one slot in the keeper at the hips, I ran it through both slots so it will not slip. You can see the difference in pictures already posted. TN Traveler, post # 46, ran his webbing through just one slot per the instructions which allows that webbing to move through the keeper. Myself (post #39) and Nemrod (post 47) ran the webbing through both slots which pretty much locks that adjustment in place. I chicken wing my way out of my BPs which leave the whole rig hanging from my right shoulder at some point. I did not want that adjustment slipping in the process. I also have an older plastic plate which I use in the pool sometimes and, without a keeper to hold it, it slipped like the "speed harness". I didn't much care to the slippage.

The stiffer webbing may not slip as easily if you choose to use the speed harness feature.

 

[TN Traveler]

I solved the "slipping too far" problem by adding a plastic keeper on the waist strap about 2-3" from the metal keepers on the plate. That way I get enough slack so it is easy to remove the harness when in the water. If you dive from smaller boats, you often remove your gear in the water prior to reboarding and I find that I can swallow a lot of water if I try and do this in 3-4 ft seas if I don't have some extra slack in the harness. If you reboard wearing your gear, this is not a problem. But I like diving from small boats and I'm a little older and not as flexible as some folks.