Making A Back Plate And Wing Adjustable

Making A Back Plate And Wing Adjustable
Wearing a Back Plate and Wing can be comfortable during the dive, but donning and doffing them can be difficult. In this video, Instructor Bryan Stafford shows several ways you can make the process a little bit easier.
Products shown in the video.
Mares
www.mares.com/shop/us-US/exte...
SubGravity
sub-gravity.com/product/subgr...
Halcyon
www.halcyon.net/en/products/bc...
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Lake Hickory Scuba Center & Marina
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[@davidlee6042]

I really needed this video. I will soon be upgrading to a BPW set up. My single hesitation has been getting in and out of it. I lost my left shoulder ( have an artificial one now) in Afghanistan. It’s difficult for me to get in and out of my BCD, but after 600+ hours of bottom time, I want to switch to a backplate. Thank you so much for this video.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome David Lee, glad you liked our video.

[@HellrazorDogsnDives]

Thanks Brian! learning tec gear now.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome Hellrazor.

[@swagelock1380]

This is late, but you can also add a two inch buckle into the strap without cutting the strap. When buckled it leaves a loop of webbing behind the buckle and unbuckled gives you a few inches to get in or out without worrying about the buckle breaking. If it breaks the worse thing is a little slop.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Swagelock, we are assuming you meaning in the shoulder area. We encourage all divers to practice with their equipment no matter what system they use, so they become comfortable with it.

[@dclangst]

Subgravity makes a good adjustable harness as well as the triglide. I was not a fan of the halcyon cinch. I was coming to see how many people complained about a failure point. I’m glad you addressed it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Dedan Langston, you are correct, SubGravity makes a great slider system. I have used both the steel and polymer version from them in the past with no issues.

[@MrBlinker96]

These Mares J-Hooks look really convenient! Currently one of my buddies uses the OMS smart stream Harness, but the extra triglide doesn't convince me if I'm honest... But these hooks... Just got to find them in one of our shops :D

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

If you have no luck finding them locally Jost, give us a call. We try to keep them in stock.

[@alanheinrich132]

Thanks Bryan! I have the same Mares red backplate and harness. Do you like the quick release weight system on the belly strap? Also, do you have a link for the adjustable harness?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Alan, I personally no longer use any type of adjustments on any of my back plate and wings. With this being said, we still sell several to customers weekly. If you are interested in one, give us a call, we can take an order over the phone or email.

[@tygrant8229]

Old thread but thanks for your great videos I enjoy you look into different options. What do you think the consensus is for best slide system ?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Ty Grant, I can't speak for all divers, but out of the ones shown in the video, I personally like the steel slider from Sub Gravity the best.

[@revtechmarine]

I want one of them are as SSI Pro harnesses ...so sad.. Mares doesn't make anything with a right shoulder dump..... Awesome video especially the point about the buckles being plastic I literally do ship penetration and she'll oh my goodness through holes are not supposed to be in and have never broken one ...Dive Rite XT harness

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

They are pretty sweet. I use to dive several Dive Rite Systems in the past.

[@elibrin123]

Some companies have an adjustable harness with stainless steel buckles. For example Golem Gear and Sub-Gravity. IMHO, they are as good as continues webbing.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Eli, I have use the metal buckles from SubGravity. Their Paragon Back Plate and Wing System is very robust.

[@shuntao3475]

Thanks for the Great videos. Question, for the adjustable single strap adapters, do you put them on one side or both? Mares and SubGravity advertise one side it seems, but the Halcyon definitely does both side? Also, how does this effect your lower D-Rings for your bottles?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Great question Shun Tao. You can put them on either side, or double them up and put them on both. You simply slide them in and thread your webbing through. The Halcyon system works just as well as the others.

[@shuntao3475]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Thank you very much for replying to a 2 year old video. I presently teach my students on Zeagle Express Tech BCDs, and I dive on a single strap. Since I only teach private classes, this works well. That said, fitting is still a timely thing. I want to go to a single strap and It looks like these Slides could really cut the fitting time down. The Zeagle use a similar setup, but on a deluxe harness. My sister just moved about an hour away from you, I may have to come up from Florida and visit. Again, Thank you for all the knowledge you bring.

[@outdooroutpost6061]

In your other backplate video you have used a sawtooth triglide for the back of the plate. what would you recommend for an athletic type build with a slim waist ? I’m diving generally in a 5mm but I am traveling with my wing and I’ll be in just shorts.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Outdoor Outpost, one of the great things about a back plate and wing is, you can set them up several different ways. Some divers prefer a standard Tri-glide, and some prefer a toothed Tri-glide. Depending on the plate construction and the stiffness of the webbing, there are times with the Tri-glides are not needed. To answer you specific question, for a smaller framed person, with limited exposure suit, I would suggest using either a standard or toothed Tri-glide to lock the webbing in. Hope this helps.

[@tonypivirotto2439]

Is it possible to add on the metal buckles to the single piece harness? Can you make a video of that?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

If you are asking in regards to making the harness adjustable, not really. As far as adding an extra waist buckle, absolutely.

[@tonypivirotto2439]

LakeHickoryScuba On the Mares website under tech accessories they have the XR line metal buckle SS316 indicating it is a two point quick release safety concept allowing for a break in the harness. I was wondering if these could be added to the single piece harness to make it like other harnesses that have the plastic shoulder strap buckles. It looks as if it could be done but I believe you would have to cut the harness and use a toothed 3 slide bar to secure the top portion of the buckle. Was just wondering.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for the reference to Mares' Website, that must be a new item they are coming out with in 2020. I just checked our order screen, and that particular product number is not showing up as an available product. It's not uncommon for Mares to put stuff on their site that is only available in Europe. Sometimes they will also show new items that are in production, even if its a year before we can get them here in the states. Several of our Instructors prefer an adjustable harness, and simple replaces the one piece with an adjustable one. The beauty about a back plate and wing, you can use practically any harness with any plate.

[@hyrumiv]

Does it make it more adjustable so that two people that are a size or so different can use the same backplate?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello hyrumiv, yes. We would suggest using two so both sides can be adjusted.

[@timdoyle9270]

Late to this but....with the Mares J clip how do you manage with weight pockets on the waist band of a continuous harness?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Tim Doyle. The adjustment will work with weight pouches as long as they are not slid too far back on the waist strap. As far as the amount of adjustment you see in the video, this was done just for demonstration purposes. You would never really need to adjust it out that far. Hope this helps.

[@timdoyle9270]

@@LakeHickoryScuba thanks!

[@JohnB3000]

Hi Brian Just wondering how the 3D printed part is going?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello John B. The ones that I had, have been given out to customers for trial. I haven't got any complaints yet.

[@robledosm75]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Hi Brian! I got my Intro to Tech cert few months back and I'm loving the backplate wing setup. I recently switched from a wetsuit to a Mares XR1 drysuit and found that its cuffs makes it really difficult to don in an out of the backplate. Local Mares dealer (I'm in Argentina) cannot get the SF2 for me. Is it possible possible to share the 3d model of the webbing slider?

[@kimsiewers]

I have a buckle on one shoulder strap, that is how they were made years ago.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Kim Sieweres, I remember the old style harnesses. The good old days of diving.