Same here, except my soft plate is the Oxy Ultralite, two QR XS dump pockets on waist, two standard XS weight pockets on the two Delrin cambands, one Trilobite type line cutter, titanium D-rings, steel buckle, medium stiff webbing with neoprene shoulder pads, quick detach crotch strap, tank (neck) hanger and VDH 23 pounds lift wing. I have two others very similar, one with the Oxy Mach V 18 wing (6.5 pounds) and another with a VDH 18 wing (5.5 pounds). All up weight of this one is 6 pounds.
I have this rig out because I got the titanium D rings for Christmas
and I was installing them while drinking coffee and getting fussed at for not reloading the bird feeders! With the titanium bits I bet the weight is now nearer 5 pounds. Going to a quality plastic buckle would probably get me below 5 pounds.This one, of the three, is my favorite because it has enough reserve buoyancy to carry a pony/stage for solo missions, the 18 pounds lift wings just struggle with that. These are best suited to minimal exposure gear (like a 3mm suits, shorties, rash guards and swimsuits) and aluminum cylinders. For colder water and heavier exposure gear I have appropriate outfits for that so no need to stretch the limits on the little travel rigs. Trim is perfect and the first one I bought when Oxy first came out with the soft plates. It has many divers over the years and is going strong. I do not rig for quick adjust webbing, I use slides to lock the webbing at four points. Otherwise standard Hogarthian one piece webbing rigging for open water diving.
I am going to get a few more titanium D-rings and a couple of aluminum 2 inch rings (scooter, camera tether). Every ounce counts. I do like the Apeks and Mares XR (NLA?) soft plates when they can be found.
@Umuntu, are you locking the plate ring between the slide and webbing? I was doing that but switched to putting both pieces of webbing through the plate ring and locking with a slide. The reason is that the slides were digging into my sides and with only a rash guard they pinched me good. So here is how I do it now, no pinching the cXXp out of me this way:
I had been using the VDH aluminum double hose plates and I just got another, but for now, they are in retired reserve as I much prefer the soft plates to a metal plate of any sort for tropical/travel diving. For comfort, trim in the water, pack-ability, no danger of pinch flats on the wing and less weight and traditional one piece Hog rigging without the need to cross the straps. Here is the VDH rig on the left and Oxy ring on the right:
I have just tired of the crossed straps sawing at my neck, the two piece webbing is not Hog, the metal plate digging at my skin and it is about a pound heavier. Still, the VDH plate is light years ahead of using a standard doubles tech plate for single tank diving.
. I have more bicycles than regulators and have a huge supply of busted tubes of all sorts. I use the MTB tubes on the harness as keepers, stops and retainers. I use "English Racer" tubes on my wing corrugated hose to secure the LP inflator hose. Actually I prefer the cheap Walmart MTB tubes, they are thick and tough. Good for a scuba harness, not so good for a bicycle that has to be ridden further than around the block. The roller idea is great, I do not think I can adapt that to my rigs but I see how it could be very useful for doffing in water.
