What's the difference between a plain harness and backplate and the 'deluxe' ones?

[Progen]

Thinking of going into a harness and backplate setup in the near future since I've been using my Mares Hybrid Pro Tec without its vest for quite a few dives now and have liked it that way but was wondering whether other than comfort, do divers choose the plain ones or something like the Transpac XT for other reasons?

 

[DevonDiver]

About $200 and the time it takes to re-list the crap on Ebay when you find out it is neither 'deluxe', 'comfort' or easier to function with....

 

[Progen]

And that 200 bucks can get the Force Fins, huh?

 

[00wabbit]

About $200 and the time it takes to re-list the crap on Ebay when you find out it is neither 'deluxe', 'comfort' or easier to function with....

This!

I've got a bare bones plain harness and its great. I can add anything I want to it, I can size it easily and there is no extra crap for me to have to sink with more lead.
If I was not going to be wearing a drysuit or wetsuit I might want to put a pad on the backplate but other than that nothing else is needed.

 

[beanojones]

Thinking of going into a harness and backplate setup in the near future since I've been using my Mares Hybrid Pro Tec without its vest for quite a few dives now and have liked it that way but was wondering whether other than comfort, do divers choose the plain ones or something like the Transpac XT for other reasons?

Generally it is an issue of comfort. For many people BP/W, in their plain webbing form, are just uncomfortable, and the deluxe versions tend to address some issues with that. I started in a plain webbing BP/W and got away from it as soon as I could, because, really, comfort does matter when wearing something every day.

I don't wear canvas bathing suits, and I don't wear plain webbing harnesses for the same reason.

 

[rivers]

I bought a deluxe harness (hollis elite to be exact). It lasted exactly one dive before i switched it to a one piece harness. I haven't looked back

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've found that a properly set up backplate and harness is more comfortable than a traditional BC. The tank doesn't move around when you turn, nor does it try to pull you over backwards while walking. I began diving in a backpack, then switched to BCs for ten years. About fifteen years ago, I went back to a backplate and it's all I've worn since. A buddy had what he referred to as a TrashPac. Getting rid of it was his happiest day.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have 5 plate and wing set ups. All with basic harnesses. use them in everything from a dry suit to a t shirt and have never been uncomfortable in it.

 

[chrpai]

What a can of worms!

Personally, I'm a purist and go for a basic / pure traditional Hogarthian harness. It's easy to don and remove for me and it's also comfortable.

I don't need all the extra bells and whistles / failure points.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Thinking of going into a harness and backplate setup in the near future since I've been using my Mares Hybrid Pro Tec without its vest for quite a few dives now and have liked it that way but was wondering whether other than comfort, do divers choose the plain ones or something like the Transpac XT for other reasons?

The short answer is one you need, and the other one you think you need. It's pre purchase perceptions vs post purchase reality.

I no longer offer a "delux" harness. I could sell quite a few, but I don't like selling things I now know people don't really need. Once I discovered that most "delux" harness buyers eventually moved to a simple harness I stopped making them.

Here's the nugget that many divers moving from a Jacket BC to a Back Plate and wing don't yet know; a Hogarthian Harness doesn't have to be worn snugged down tight to work correctly. Most Jacket / vest BC users will ratchet down their BC hoping to keep the cylinder from flopping around, or the BC from crawling up at the surface. It doesn't really work but they have become accustomed to running their jackets pretty tight.

With shoulder straps, waist strap and crotch strap a Hogarthian harness doesn't need to be eye popping tight to work, the harness really just positions the plate on the diver's body, no need to firmly attach it. The back plate takes all the roll and flop out of the cylinder. The crotch strap keep the rig from crawling up at the surface.

Once it is understood that a Hogarthian harness need not be run as tight as Jacket, the need for an adustable or comfort harness usually fades away.....

Keep in mind that Hog harnesses started in Tech diving. Do you think tech divers with 120-240+ minute run time dives would use something uncomfortable?

Tobin