Please Help With BP/W and Harness Selection

[sstriano]

Hello,

I am looking into going the BP/W route, and i have narrowed it done to this:

Package #1:
- OMS IQ Pack
- OMS SS Backplate
- OMS 45# Wing (Compression bands or not?)
- OMS Intergrated Weight Pockets
- OMS STA w/ SS Cam Bands

Package #2:
- OMS Comfort Harness II w/Back Pad and Cummberbund
- OMS SS Backplate
- OMS 45# Wing (Compression bands or not?)
- OMS Intergrated Weight Pockets
- OMS STA w/ SS Cam Bands

Package #3:
- APEKS WTX Harness
- APEKS SS Backplate
- APEKS Weight Pockets
- Wing ??

Then I have also been looking at the Hollis HTS? Their harness system and wings. Looks a little "Foo-Foo Tech" to me, but some say it is really good stuff.

The major problem i am having here, is that i can't put my hands on any of this, as the LDS around here carry nothing like this at all. The "we can order it" gets old, i can order it too, probably for a lot less money.

Anyways i am doing cold Pacific NW diving in a drysuit, i am NOT a tech diver, but i like the versitale approcah this type of setup provides.

Please help me decide.

Regards,
Sam

 

[Web Monkey]

I'd suggest getting a plate, hog harness and the wing of your choice from Deep Sea Supply.

All the extra stuff on the systems you're looking at will just get in the way, flop around and in general make your life more difficult.

You don't actually need any padding or any buckles, except for the one on the waist belt. Everything else will just be a PIA.

Terry

Hello,

I am looking into going the BP/W route, and i have narrowed it done to this:

Package #1:
- OMS IQ Pack
- OMS SS Backplate
- OMS 45# Wing (Compression bands or not?)
- OMS Intergrated Weight Pockets
- OMS STA w/ SS Cam Bands

Package #2:
- OMS Comfort Harness II w/Back Pad and Cummberbund
- OMS SS Backplate
- OMS 45# Wing (Compression bands or not?)
- OMS Intergrated Weight Pockets
- OMS STA w/ SS Cam Bands

Package #3:
- APEKS WTX Harness
- APEKS SS Backplate
- APEKS Weight Pockets
- Wing ??

Then I have also been looking at the Hollis HTS? Their harness system and wings. Looks a little "Foo-Foo Tech" to me, but some say it is really good stuff.

The major problem i am having here, is that i can't put my hands on any of this, as the LDS around here carry nothing like this at all. The "we can order it" gets old, i can order it too, probably for a lot less money.

Anyways i am doing cold Pacific NW diving in a drysuit, i am NOT a tech diver, but i like the versitale approcah this type of setup provides.

Please help me decide.

Regards,
Sam

 

[dkktsunami]

Would avoid "comfort harness" and pads. This stuff won't do anything for you, isn't comfortable. and creates more buoyancy that you have to sink. Hog harness works great, looks good, is inexpensive, and it's simple.

 

[realdiver7]

I would suggest taking a look at the Oxycheq Mach V wing with BP and single-piece HOG harness. We have been very pleased with our single tank, 30 lb. wing setups.

 

[TSandM]

Everybody I know who started out with some kind of comfort harness eventually discarded it and went with the continuous webbing.

I'd second the recommendation for DSS. They have good quality gear, and Tobin will give you excellent advice as to exactly what setup will suit you best. Their customer service rocks, and their package prices are very competitive.

Make a trip up here to Seattle, and we'll lend you stuff to try! (I also know an enabler in the Medford area.)

 

[Web Monkey]

Also, FWIW, all the extra padding and clips and adjustments don't actually make it more comfortable or more secure, but do make it more difficult to use. For example, If I need to clip something off to a shoulder d-ring, all I need to do is find the strap, run my hand up or down and I'm all set, because the only thing on the strap is the d-ring. There are no sliders, no bits of fabric or odd loops, nothing but the d-ring I'm looking for.

Once you get it adjusted to fit, there's pretty much no need to play with it, and the continuous webbing is at least as comfortable as the adjustable (even more so if the adjusters and buckles happen to be in an inconvenient place).

Terry

 

[sstriano]

I love this place... All the information in a matter of a few hours, what a cool site.

Anyways, thatnks to all for the info, could you post some pictures or links to pictures of the rigs you are using?

Like i said it is so hard to make my mind up off of pictures from the vendors sites, and a lot of their sites have horrible pics.

Thanks Again,
Sam

 

[Web Monkey]

And as long as you asked . . .

- OMS 45# Wing (Compression bands or not?)

I'd skip the compression bands. When tight they make it harder to orally inflate, and if loose do nothing, and if you get a puncture, will squeeze the air out of your wing and they're always available to snag something.

They're a solution without a problem since the water pressure will squeeze out the air without any help from bungies, and if you size the wing properly, won't have a lot of fabric flopping around anyway.

Terry

 

[PvtStash]

Experienced/Dir enough to know my Apeks WTX is ****e... because I think it totally rocks (comfy bits and all) and will be able to handle Any diving I throw at it for the next 20 years...

 

[RAWalker]

And as long as you asked . . .



I'd skip the compression bands. When tight they make it harder to orally inflate, and if loose do nothing, and if you ge a puncture, will squeeze the air out of your wing and they're always available to snag something.

They're a solution without a problem since the water pressure will squeeze out the air without any help from bungies, and if you size the wing properly, won't have a lot of fabric flopping around anyway.

Terry

I dive the 45# OMS wing with bands and it isn't all that difficult to manually fill. If you can't I'd suggest you give up smoking and see a doctor. With the bands properly set up the bands help streamline the wing, control air movement within the wing and reduce the taco effect when using the wing for singles. Since this wing is rated for both singles and doubles use this is a worthy feature for those that intend to use it to dive singles.