I never said critical - I just find it comfortable.
That's a fair point. In what way do you find in contributes to your comfort?
I would assume (in general) that if a chest strap
was necessary for comfort, then it would point towards a poorly engineered bcd harness with bad ergonomics.
The use of a chest strap originates from rucksack design, where it has proven benefits with load carrying ergonomics. Other than when walking to a dive entry point, your BCD is not a load carrying device.
Then I'd suggest you not use one.
Damn right!
Even 'back in the day' when I used BCDs, the first thing I woud do was hack these off the rig.
I have a particular dislike for chest straps, as I found they significantly interfered with my access to my drysuit chest inflate...and this contributed some added stress to a severe free-flow emergency I had on deep dive once....
That's good to know, but my system has a few more and I don't find it an issue. My system can easily handle multiple stages, several back-up lights and whatever else one might decide to clip on.
a few?
My point is that you can achieve the same with 3 or 4 d-rings.
I use 4 d-rings on my system (2 chest and 2 hip). On these I conveniently store 2 decompression stages, 2 back-up lights, penetration reel, jump reel/s. I can also clip off my long-hose reg and umbilical torch head.
For the benefit of the OP, here's what you can do with 4 d-rings...
One man's gimmick is another's feature, right? I not knocking your suggestion, just letting the OP there are other good alternatives available.
Agreed.
I configure my equipment from a minimalist stance. Everything has one (or more) purpose/s. Nothing is superfluous.
The reasons I like this configuration are:
1. There is less to break or fail on or before a dive.
2. I am more streamlined, for increased finning efficency and to enable safer access to confined spaces when wreck diving.
3. There are less protrusions that can snag and entangles lines - a potentially lethal threat when wreck or cave diving.
4. My kit is lighter, meaning I save money on excess baggage every time I fly to a new dive destination.
5. My kit is less 'distracting', which lowers my task loading - especially in emergency situations where I may already be at the limit of my ability to cope.
My system does not trap air, streamline, versatile and can do everything a simple plate and hog harness can do, and more.
Agreed.... and I should clarify. There are many good or great configuration options available. I just believe that a minimalist BP/W approach is the optimum,
not the only, choice.
BP/W does everything that any diver could ever ask of it...fills every niche...but does it with
less. Less clutter, less expense, less stress, less weight.
