review of DSS single tank rig.

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Jim Lapenta

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
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Location
Canonsburg, Pa
# of dives
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Some of you have read other posts of mine reviewing the gear I have purchased and used.(nocturnal lights tl50 extreme being one of them) Due to the lateness of the hour and the fact that I have to get up for work in the AM I will delay full details until tomorrow. Let me just say intially that the DSS single tank rig:FREAKIN ROCKS BIG TIME!!!! full details tomorrow. Jim
 
As promised here is my intial review of the DSS single tank rig:
I purchased my rig about two weeks ago and could not wait for it to get here. It was shipped the day I ordered it and arrived on the following wednesday. Total 5 business days via ups. When it first arrived I got ahold of the box and thought wow:11: !, there must be another part coming. I dive a jacket BC and while I really like it I could have fit two DSS boxes inside it:mooner: . Compared to a bpw a jacket bc is like a big old caddy compared to a sleek little maserati:14: . As I unpacked the items, which included the ss plate, Hogarthian rigging, cam bands, wedge blocks, and both, yes both wings:D , I started to get really angry because I had to go to friggin work and could not start playing with my new toys:( !I got both the lcd 30 wing and the lcd 50(my set of double 95's arrived the day before:D ). So off to work I sulked:( trying to figure out a way to call off. But it was not to be since I was going to be sick on friday in time to call off and head to the DAN bbq at Portage Quarry in Ohio;) . Anyway the next morning I got up early:coffee: and started to assemble my prize. The instruction sheet that came with the new gear was clear, concise, to the point, and in English!! It actually took me about 15 minutes to get the rig assembled. Not adjusted mind you just assembled. Hey, I was in my boxers and figured I'd wait till the first opportunity to dive it to really start getting things adjusted. But first impressions were this:

Materials and construction: excellent

Finish- BP: Excellent-I work in a metal shop and if our grinders and finishers did work like this we would not have half of the problems we do. I could find no burrs all edges were clean and crisp with no sharp edges

Finish-wings: high quality material, excellent stitching, I really like the way the zipper pull tab for accessing the bladder is hidden yet easily accessible. The stitching for the DSS logo is very well done. It has already drawn some looks from our customers at the pool today. I found no frayed edges or loose threads and believe me I looked.

Webbing: webbing is also high quality, on the stiff side but at the same time the way the rig is set up I tried it on with not even a tshirt and found it quite comfortable. It did not cut into my shoulders or waist.

Hardware: good stuff! the d-rings are good and heavy, keepers are well made with good teeth yet they are not sharp to the point where they would chew up the webbing. Buckle is good heavy stainless steel. Comes with a Dalton safety knife that at first looks like a regular broke off steak knife but having cut meat for nearly 20 yrs I know a good blade when I see one end this is one.

I'll get more details posted as I become more familiar with the rig. But I did dive it this weekend! Was going to wait to get it in the pool tonight but conditions were so good at portage and I got some adjustment and set up tips from a very nice couple who were checking out their new rebreathers. Both full cave certified and just last weekend completed their rebreather certs.(SC Draeger Dolphin I think).

Anyway had to get it in the water. I was wearing a BARE 5/4 velocity full suit. I normally carry 12 lbs in my Probe for this including cannister light which is 3 lbs neg in the water. I put 4 lbs in a pocket belt with the BPW and stepped into the water. I thought it was comfy with no exposure protection. With a wetsuit it felt like there was nothing on, like it was a part of me. I also need to say that the double cam bands are new for me so I wet them and put the tank on. Talk about solid! The wedge blocks along with properly tightened bands convince me that there is absolutely no need for a STA other than for added weight. The tank did not move at all. I then went under and immediately knew why so many people recommend a BPW. It was without a doubt the most comfortable buoyancy control device I have yet to dive. With the HOG harness there are no extra useless straps, inconvenient zippers, pockets in the wrong place, or things where they should not be.

I'm going to get a few things for it to fit the diving I do but these are also easily adjusted and can be removed if they are not needed. In the water the wing was easy to control. I also noticed that due to the decreased drag from the sleeker profile my usual kick propelled me farther with the same amount of kicks yet less effort. I use a modified frog and frog 90% of the time and I felt like I was moving like an attack sub rather than a big slow boomer.

On the surface I had plenty of lift yet maybe it's my experience and the way I was trained along with posts from board members regarding wings at the surface but at no time did I feel like I was being pushed face first into the water. I just laid back and relaxed. I did two dives with the new setup and am greatly impressed. I'll post more as I get more experince and water time with it. Jim
 
Further update: Used it in the pool for the first time with ow class. Still a sweet rig! I went thru all the skills with students and even a few extra such as the doff and don at the bottom. It was easier in the DSS BPW than in my probe and I've done the exercise in the probe at least 25-30 times while assisting with classes. Got to check out the buoyancy and trim a little better also. With a 50cu ft al tamk I was perfect with no weight other than the plate and was right at neutral in my bathing suit at just under the surface. I actaully held a stop at 5 ft for 6 minutes with no difficulty in a horizontal position. I also found that the harness is just as comfy in a swim suit as it is in a wetsuit. I will be adding a pad to it though as the bottom of the plate while not actually cutting into the top of my hips was a little uncomfortable out of the water waiting to get in as I do not have much natural padding back there. In the water you don't even know it's there except for the stability of the tank which is rock solid. No STA needed!
 
I have used a few different plates and wings over the years and have found the DSS plate my overall favorite. I have the 35lb single tank torus wing and the 8lb add on weight plates. For the first time i can easily reach the valve on my single tank in a drysuit with DUI 400gm undies. Tobin doesnt use the traditional bolt on weighted/non weighted STA and uses a STA built in to the wing. Its different than the set up halcyon used with their pioneer wing that had two rods sewed into the wing that many of us cut out and tossed in favor of the bolt on STA. Tobins STA works great and holds my X8-130 rock solid. The wing itself is simplistic, works great and is very easy to dump. Obviously Tobin has not reinvented the wheel but he sure has improved some aspects over traditional BP/wings from other manufacturers.

I dont know what possessed Tobin to use the orange lettering on the wing but it sure stands out :D
 
Dryglove:
I have used a few different plates and wings over the years and have found the DSS plate my overall favorite. I have the 35lb single tank torus wing and the 8lb add on weight plates. For the first time i can easily reach the valve on my single tank in a drysuit with DUI 400gm undies. Tobin doesnt use the traditional bolt on weighted/non weighted STA and uses a STA built in to the wing. Its different than the set up halcyon used with their pioneer wing that had two rods sewed into the wing that many of us cut out and tossed in favor of the bolt on STA. Tobins STA works great and holds my X8-130 rock solid. The wing itself is simplistic, works great and is very easy to dump. Obviously Tobin has not reinvented the wheel but he sure has improved some aspects over traditional BP/wings from other manufacturers.

I dont know what possessed Tobin to use the orange lettering on the wing but it sure stands out :D



Great Photo, is that a future buddy in training? ;)


Tobin
 
Very cool! My son was certed last july but due to his Air Force basic and tech school I've not gotten the chance to dive with him since. Even though he is now stationed at the Presidio in Monterrey. He'll be there about a year and a half. Hopefully when he graduates I'll get to go out and see him and maybe dive the breakwater with him. He is within walking distance of it and the Aquarium.
 
JimLap:
Very cool! My son was certed last july but due to his Air Force basic and tech school I've not gotten the chance to dive with him since. Even though he is now stationed at the Presidio in Monterrey. He'll be there about a year and a half. Hopefully when he graduates I'll get to go out and see him and maybe dive the breakwater with him. He is within walking distance of it and the Aquarium.

Your son is one lucky dude to be stationed in monterey. Tell him to enjoy monterey as there is all levels of diving from boat or shore to participate in. The pics i posted above were taken at breakwater.
 

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