BP+ Harness

[MicahEW]

looking for a BP and harness. I have looked at Oxycheq, Hollis, Halcyon, Hammerhead.

I am a big fan of the wide padded straps like on a BC but dont like the snap buckles that are on all of them (plastic+weight+rough conditions= no peace of mind). I am going with a SS BP so I can get rid of some lead. I ma not opposed to fab-ing the harness the way i want it. I just want to make sure that there is no premade such animal.

Prolly going with a Halcyon or hammerhead BP. I like the idea of a thicker BP like hammerhead offers. any feedback? Do you have to take care of a SS BP the same as a SS knife? Or can I just leave it alone after a dive?

[WV Diver]

Originally Posted by MicahEW

looking for a BP and harness. I have looked at Oxycheq, Hollis, Halcyon, Hammerhead.

I am a big fan of the wide padded straps like on a BC but dont like the snap buckles that are on all of them (plastic+weight+rough conditions= no peace of mind). I am going with a SS BP so I can get rid of some lead. I ma not opposed to fab-ing the harness the way i want it. I just want to make sure that there is no premade such animal.

Prolly going with a Halcyon or hammerhead BP. I like the idea of a thicker BP like hammerhead offers. any feedback? Do you have to take care of a SS BP the same as a SS knife? Or can I just leave it alone after a dive?

Zeagle Standard Harness Backplate System, DIR and Technical, Zeagle, Zeagle Standard Harness Backplate System

Zeagle's shoulder pads go on the standard harness.

[CompuDude]

If you're trying to eliminate plastic quick disconnects on your harness, you're looking for a simple hogarthian harness (like the Dive Rite basic harness). Cheap, simple, and utterly reliable. You can add simple padded straps over the webbing if you want, but I haven't met amy people who bother, unless you're diving in water so warm you only wear a t-shirt or dive skin.

Hammerhead makes very good backplates, by all reports. The ones I've seen have been great.

No special care needed of SS backplates. Rinse off like the rest of your gear, allow to drip dry. The SS used in backplates isn't very prone to rust.

[FishFood]

Ive read great things about the HammerHead backplate. I only wish I had heard about them before I went with Oxycheq.

The Hammerhead BP is $80. PLus youll need a harness & tank bands (another $80 or less) Shave $60 or so off the Zeagle setup. Those hammerheads are a great value...

[Crimediver]

I dive in warm water without thermal protection so padded straps are a plus with BP/W setups but if you are wearing an exposure suit they aren't really necessary. Many manufacturers offer a simple neoprene sleeve that slips over the webbing or you can make your own.

[cummings66]

As to thicker or thinner backplates, it boils down to weight requirements. For some the thicker plates work well with their gear and in others it's too much weight. That's a fancy way to say that it's similar to how much lead you need to get neutral, it varies from person to person.

Cold water diving can probably use the thicker plates with no problems at all.

[MicahEW]

Originally Posted by WV Diver

Zeagle Standard Harness Backplate System, DIR and Technical, Zeagle, Zeagle Standard Harness Backplate System

Zeagle's shoulder pads go on the standard harness.

just exactly what I was looking for thanks a bunch. Thank you all for the input......

just one more Q. can I use any Mfg. tank mounts or do I have to use either their one piece or two piece STAs?

[Scubastud16]

STA = single tank adapter. Gives more stability to having a single tank on your rig, and may be required, depending on what wing you get. Go with a one piece, and the light weight Oxy is pretty cheap.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by MicahEW

just one more Q. can I use any Mfg. tank mounts or do I have to use either their one piece or two piece STAs?

Generally. The standard is the 11" spacing on the two bolts.

Any wing with standard 11" spacing (i.e., all of them), or STA (any of them using 11" spacing) should work. There are rare exceptions, but only really bad luck will turn up one of those.

What may not work is trying to go without a STA, meaning just using cam bands through the slots, since those settings are all over the map.

An Oxy wing definitely works with a HH plate. I know a few people using that combo.

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

An Oxy wing definitely works with a HH plate. I know a few people using that combo.

That is the combo that I use. Hammhead makes a great plate at a great price. I have the SS plate with the 2 piece STA. I think I am going to order the 1 piece STA to add a little more weight since I will be diving dry more often now...

Phil