Which is better?

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I am comparing the only 2 available commercial sidemount rigs and want to know what you experienced sidemount divers think of the independent rigs. I especially would like to know the differences between the rigs that might not be commercially advertised.

 

[Meng_Tze]

I tried the Nomad and did not like it too much. There was just too much going on around the chest area and the bottles were riding up and down the butt plate bars. A friend of mine worked with Tobin (DSS) on a double butt D-ring and I have these on all my rigs. They basically give you the ability to clip stages to the butt while having enough space for other things. If you keep the boltsnap on a short line, you can really pull in the tank. The tank necks can either be clipped to the chest d-ring or via bungees as in this picture (CCR bailout config). This config works fine for OC as well with all bottles on the left, you really do have space on the butt dring for more, towing a scooter and what not.

 

[karstdvr]

I tried the Nomad and did not like it too much. There was just too much going on around the chest area and the bottles were riding up and down the butt plate bars. A friend of mine worked with Tobin (DSS) on a double butt D-ring and I have these on all my rigs. They basically give you the ability to clip stages to the butt while having enough space for other things. If you keep the boltsnap on a short line, you can really pull in the tank. The tank necks can either be clipped to the chest d-ring or via bungees as in this picture (CCR bailout config). This config works fine for OC as well with all bottles on the left, you really do have space on the butt dring for more, towing a scooter and what not.

What do you do with the inflexability of a back plate when pushing a sidemount tunnel?

 

[contender]

I have the Nomad, and I like it. It takes a little getting used to but after that it's great.

 

[Meng_Tze]

What do you do with the inflexability of a back plate when pushing a sidemount tunnel?

I guess there is sidemount and SIDEMOUNT! I guess I am but a humble sidemount tourist. Not hardcore.

You could also try the 'Gemini'. Jeff Hancock started producing his rig for others. It looks nice and coming from Jeff, it has been tested through and through.

 

[Hoosier]

I tried the Nomad and did not like it too much. There was just too much going on around the chest area and the bottles were riding up and down the butt plate bars. A friend of mine worked with Tobin (DSS) on a double butt D-ring and I have these on all my rigs. They basically give you the ability to clip stages to the butt while having enough space for other things. If you keep the boltsnap on a short line, you can really pull in the tank. The tank necks can either be clipped to the chest d-ring or via bungees as in this picture (CCR bailout config). This config works fine for OC as well with all bottles on the left, you really do have space on the butt dring for more, towing a scooter and what not.

What brand and model wing are you using with that SM rig?

Do you put the wing under the plate or above the plate from your back?

 

[nereas]

Sorry, I answered on behalf of a normal Hog-rig. Did not know that you were asking about side mounting.

 

[karstdvr]

I guess there is sidemount and SIDEMOUNT! I guess I am but a humble sidemount tourist. Not hardcore.

You could also try the 'Gemini'. Jeff Hancock started producing his rig for others. It looks nice and coming from Jeff, it has been tested through and through.

I was just curious. I remember seeing a hinged backplate that was created during the early years of sidemounting. It was abandoned in favor of a BC jacket,so it never got a lot of R&D.

 

[texdiveguy]

I guess there is sidemount and SIDEMOUNT! I guess I am but a humble sidemount tourist. Not hardcore.

You could also try the 'Gemini'. Jeff Hancock started producing his rig for others. It looks nice and coming from Jeff, it has been tested through and through.

Which one do you own and use?

 

[Meng_Tze]

I currently put a wing under the plate (H explorer or a DR trek wing) and take it from there. I DO want to take a shot at the Gemini from Jeff. That looks like a sweet set up.