Here's my setup with the FP Contour (latest edition, Model IV) and the VDH 33# wing, rigged for heavy neoprene. Since I have thigh pockets on my drysuit, this is the same arrangement for thin wetsuit diving, except that I'd just remove the hanging thigh pockets attached to that thin fixed D-ring behind the weight pouches. Ditchable weight pouches are OMS. Very secure - minimal chance of losing weights.
I carry half on belt, and half in these pockets.
Can post Dive Gear Express part numbers for those interested. Webbing came from Piranha - just the right stiffness.
Yeah, more D-rings than DIR.
Bent fixed D on top, movable D's in lower position on shoulder, behind @Akimbo 's hip position rollers, and on belt and crotch strap. As you can see, Akimbo's roller gives me about 4-5" of loosening for each shoulder strap, before the weight pocket keeper hits the plate.
Crotch strap is soft 2" webbing.
The corrugated hose is tethered by folding a woman's SCRUNCI hair tie in the grooves of the hose, and tying a bit of 550 cord to the two folded loops. The 550-cord is trapped in a simple keeper by a figure-eight knot in one end.
Cam band (barely) has room for trim pocket. Empty with steel, a little with Aluminum.
When attaching the plate to the 33# wing, the upper STA rods are too long. I cut the top edge of the rod pocket, burned/sealed the edges, and removed the STA rods. The lower rods fit under the plate rails without modification. This way, you can slide the rods back in place if you ever decide to use the 33# wing with Brand X's flat plate.
When using the steel FP Contour with the 18# VDH wing, the rods are short enough to just be folded inside the rails. Will post those pics in a week or so. That arrangement is minimalist, with fewer D-rings and no ditchable pockets. The 4lb plate and a whiff of lead on a belt are all I need for my 5mm warm water neoprene.
With this setup and an 8/7 wetsuit, I carry 14# plus the plate, divided between belt and BP/W. This gives me some lead to ditch if I have a wing failure, and some on my waist belt in case I'm caught in kelp and don't want to float away in my wetsuit while doing a doff and don.
For those who dive BP/W's, this is all old hat, or meat for an argument.
But for those waiting for their shiny Freedom Contour, the pics might help.
Cheers!
I carry half on belt, and half in these pockets.
Can post Dive Gear Express part numbers for those interested. Webbing came from Piranha - just the right stiffness.
Yeah, more D-rings than DIR.
Bent fixed D on top, movable D's in lower position on shoulder, behind @Akimbo 's hip position rollers, and on belt and crotch strap. As you can see, Akimbo's roller gives me about 4-5" of loosening for each shoulder strap, before the weight pocket keeper hits the plate.
Crotch strap is soft 2" webbing.
The corrugated hose is tethered by folding a woman's SCRUNCI hair tie in the grooves of the hose, and tying a bit of 550 cord to the two folded loops. The 550-cord is trapped in a simple keeper by a figure-eight knot in one end.
Cam band (barely) has room for trim pocket. Empty with steel, a little with Aluminum.
When attaching the plate to the 33# wing, the upper STA rods are too long. I cut the top edge of the rod pocket, burned/sealed the edges, and removed the STA rods. The lower rods fit under the plate rails without modification. This way, you can slide the rods back in place if you ever decide to use the 33# wing with Brand X's flat plate.
When using the steel FP Contour with the 18# VDH wing, the rods are short enough to just be folded inside the rails. Will post those pics in a week or so. That arrangement is minimalist, with fewer D-rings and no ditchable pockets. The 4lb plate and a whiff of lead on a belt are all I need for my 5mm warm water neoprene.
With this setup and an 8/7 wetsuit, I carry 14# plus the plate, divided between belt and BP/W. This gives me some lead to ditch if I have a wing failure, and some on my waist belt in case I'm caught in kelp and don't want to float away in my wetsuit while doing a doff and don.
For those who dive BP/W's, this is all old hat, or meat for an argument.
But for those waiting for their shiny Freedom Contour, the pics might help.
Cheers!
Last edited:
