boyoconnor
Registered
I've always been surprised at the amount of loose dangly adjustment straps BCs have, and my first few times in the water I kept grabbing a strap when I was going for some other piece of equipment. With less than $10 of plastic hardware from Custom Straps, Nylon & Polypro Webbings, Metal & Plastic Buckles at Strapworks.com and a couple hours tinkering I have a much cleaner and better fitting rig. I know, the DIR guys diving backplate rigs will be saying "told you so" but this was a fun project for me.
Would like to see others mods and improvements, tips and tricks. Thx - Dack.
Upper Half:
Folded the right shoulder loop under since there's no need for an octopus with the Air2. Removed the right shoulder dump valve end and replaced it with the safety whistle which was zip tied to the inflator hose, merging two dangly bits into one. I never use the right shoulder dump anyway, I just tug on the BC inflator hose.
(NOTE: I'm going to be adding a longer cord to the whistle, so it can clip onto a strap instead of dangling there. I know it looks goofy now...)
Snipped off the center chest strap D-ring put the loose end back through and secure with keeper (cost $0.65). Cut the vertical strap D-rings and plastic welded them back around the strap. None of these I have ever adjusted once initially set.
Lower Half:
Swapped the waist strap left and right sides, so I can use the left strap to mount a retractor or knife. Shortened the adjustment pull and fixed it in place with a plastic keeper (cost $0.73).
Snipped off the weight pocket strap D-rings and looped the loose end through the buckle, no keeper needed. Not sure why these ever needed adjustments.
Slipped a backup flashlight in the small pocket on the right side and secured with a coil lanyard. You can barely see it peeking out, but it's out of the way then available in a split second.
Adjustments:
Probably the most important change was actually adjusting the straps holding the tank plate. I'd assumed that with the waist strap pulled tight at the front that was as good as it would get. But by adjusting the straps at the rear I could remove almost all lateral movement.
At the top and bottom were two velcro loops with about an inch of play, which I solved by looping the velcro through a lower slot so there wasn't a large loop. I also added a plastic 2" to 1" reducer to the lower loop (cost $1.00) to allow a crotch strap to be threaded through in the future.
Would like to see others mods and improvements, tips and tricks. Thx - Dack.
Upper Half:
Folded the right shoulder loop under since there's no need for an octopus with the Air2. Removed the right shoulder dump valve end and replaced it with the safety whistle which was zip tied to the inflator hose, merging two dangly bits into one. I never use the right shoulder dump anyway, I just tug on the BC inflator hose.
(NOTE: I'm going to be adding a longer cord to the whistle, so it can clip onto a strap instead of dangling there. I know it looks goofy now...)
Snipped off the center chest strap D-ring put the loose end back through and secure with keeper (cost $0.65). Cut the vertical strap D-rings and plastic welded them back around the strap. None of these I have ever adjusted once initially set.
![5505432176_6cb7861eb5.jpg](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5505432176_6cb7861eb5.jpg)
Lower Half:
Swapped the waist strap left and right sides, so I can use the left strap to mount a retractor or knife. Shortened the adjustment pull and fixed it in place with a plastic keeper (cost $0.73).
Snipped off the weight pocket strap D-rings and looped the loose end through the buckle, no keeper needed. Not sure why these ever needed adjustments.
Slipped a backup flashlight in the small pocket on the right side and secured with a coil lanyard. You can barely see it peeking out, but it's out of the way then available in a split second.
![5505429722_de095a2098.jpg](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5505429722_de095a2098.jpg)
Adjustments:
Probably the most important change was actually adjusting the straps holding the tank plate. I'd assumed that with the waist strap pulled tight at the front that was as good as it would get. But by adjusting the straps at the rear I could remove almost all lateral movement.
At the top and bottom were two velcro loops with about an inch of play, which I solved by looping the velcro through a lower slot so there wasn't a large loop. I also added a plastic 2" to 1" reducer to the lower loop (cost $1.00) to allow a crotch strap to be threaded through in the future.
![5505434794_3862d454a7.jpg](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5505434794_3862d454a7.jpg)
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