Dive Rite transplate or OMS comfort harness with backplate??

[chironomidkraut]

i am really torn between these two setups, i have oms slipstreams, oms titanium knives, oms snorkel, i am really like oms products but the Dive Rite harness looks pretty sweet too, please give me the pros and cons of both products to help me through this big decision

 

[TartanFrog]

yeah I hope somebody gives you some good pointers because I am going through a similar decision process. For me it is the Dive Rite harnass and transplate versus a back filled BC. I really like the way the Dive Rite gear can be adapted to whatever my dive preferences are and where I want to place gear.

 

[jacksatlanta]

I sell both the OMS and Dive Rite lines and both are fine products, your choice will most likely come down to personal preference, but in a nut shell here is what IMO the main differences. Each company was founded in a different area of the country with different types of diving as the goal when equipment was designed. Dive Rite was founded by primarily cave explorers in the central Florida region. OMS was founded in the Northeast by primarily cold water ocean wreck explorers. While both types of diving are technical in nature, they are not the same things and IMO the design of the gear reflects this. IMO Dive Rite gear uses smaller hardware and tends to be more streamlined and form fit, OMS uses larger hardware and the fit seems better for large wet or drysuits, big gloves or mits, limited visibility because of thick hoods, etc. As I said either manufacturer makes a great set of technical equipment that can be perfectly configured to meet your needs and desires for any type of diving you may want to do. Your main choice IMO will come down to what feels the best to you, what fits you the best, and what set has the options you want; and lets not forget, which one you like the look of best. Hope this helps a little.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

Neither, go with a single piece of webbing harness.

 

[kjvander]

I just got a transplate harness and like it so far. I've upgraded it with some different d-rings but other than that once you get it adjusted it is nice. I like the clips on it due to the fact of diving cold to extreme cold I just unclip and slide out of it. As stated it comes down to personal preference but so far I've got no complaints about the transplate harness.

 

[garyd54220]

I sell both the OMS and Dive Rite lines and both are fine products, your choice will most likely come down to personal preference, but in a nut shell here is what IMO the main differences. Each company was founded in a different area of the country with different types of diving as the goal when equipment was designed. Dive Rite was founded by primarily cave explorers in the central Florida region. OMS was founded in the Northeast by primarily cold water ocean wreck explorers. While both types of diving are technical in nature, they are not the same things and IMO the design of the gear reflects this. IMO Dive Rite gear uses smaller hardware and tends to be more streamlined and form fit, OMS uses larger hardware and the fit seems better for large wet or drysuits, big gloves or mits, limited visibility because of thick hoods, etc. As I said either manufacturer makes a great set of technical equipment that can be perfectly configured to meet your needs and desires for any type of diving you may want to do. Your main choice IMO will come down to what feels the best to you, what fits you the best, and what set has the options you want; and lets not forget, which one you like the look of best. Hope this helps a little.

Nicely explained. Short answer is you are not likely to be disappointed with either. Choice may come down to price.

Gary

 

[on_two_wheels]

Neither, go with a single piece of webbing harness.

+1

I'm not saying either product is a bad thing. I had an OMS IQ pack and loved it. However, the webbing costs about $25, let's say $30 including D-rings. I posted a poll on here not too long ago. The numbers were pretty clear. About 80% using a bp/w either started with webbing and never changed that set up OR started with a comfort harness of some sort and later switched to bare webbing (like I did).

My point it, why not start with something really cheap and give it a few days of diving? If you don't like it, you're not out that much money. But if you do, like most, you save yourself plenty to spend on other stuff. Then you don't have to resell your gear. Again, do as you will but at least try the cheap route first. Finding an experienced person to help size it up correctly and giving yourself 10 dives in it is vital. Do this and I bet you'll love it.

 

[ScubaVideo]

Neither, go with a single piece of webbing harness.

+1

I'm not saying either product is a bad thing. I had an OMS IQ pack and loved it. However, the webbing costs about $25, let's say $30 including D-rings. I posted a poll on here not too long ago. The numbers were pretty clear. About 80% using a bp/w either started with webbing and never changed that set up OR started with a comfort harness of some sort and later switched to bare webbing (like I did).

My point it, why not start with something really cheap and give it a few days of diving? If you don't like it, you're not out that much money. But if you do, like most, you save yourself plenty to spend on other stuff. Then you don't have to resell your gear. Again, do as you will but at least try the cheap route first. Finding an experienced person to help size it up correctly and giving yourself 10 dives in it is vital. Do this and I bet you'll love it.

-2 :shocked2: Now were back to zero

I've started with the one piece and hate it. I admit I hate it more on the surface than under water, but I still hate it there too. Too loose in the shoulders, tighten the crotch some more. Voice pitch goes up, loosen crotch and shoulders fall off. Then tighten waist more, crotch more, etc. While there is a sweet spot and I've only done 4 pool sessions now with it, the shoulder restrictions and neck/shoulder pain are enough to say enough. I have a permanent neck and shoulder injury, so YMMV.

The straps cut across my shoulder at the arm pit restricting movement of my arm across my body such as when reaching for the exhaust valve on my DS. Crossing the straps behind my neck caused major pain in my neck but did keep the straps on my shoulders.

When I pull the two shoulder D-Rings together mimicking the Transplate style the pressure is relieved and it feels very good.

I would have to try it out in the pool with a clip between the D-Rings to see if this is a good solution, but I think for me either the Hollis Elite 2 or the DiveRite Transplate will be the ultimate solution.

Using the logic posted above about where the product was made corresponding to local dive conditions, the Hollis would be the choice since they are made in my neighborhood.

 

[fnfalman]

People spend thousands of dollars on dive gears and then try to save maybe $80 by going with a single-piece harness instead of adjustable harness?

How does that logic work out?

If you want a Hog harness, then that's what you want. Try to justify it by the reasoning of saving money simply doesn't fly.

 

[FireInMyBones]

It really comes down to what you think is going to best fit your style of diving. I dive a single piece of webbing on a backplate. Super versatile. There was a thread not long ago that polled the divers on here as to whether they started with a "comfort" harness or single piece and if they ever switched. I have to check, but I think that the majority, last I saw, was most started with a "comfort" and switched to single, though many switched the other way as well.

I love my single strap. I find it very comfortable. I like that there are very few potential failure points. I use a softer webbing than many for additional comfort while just diving with a swimsuit. Whatever you choose, find an instructor that has experience in setting up the different wares and try them out. If the shop that you are looking to buy from will not let you try stuff on in the store to see what you want to buy, I think they may be too hard for me to work with...I can be a demanding customer...though I pay for it .
I figure this: whatever you buy, buy what you can use for the rest of your career. I can dive my rig under any circumstances I want to dive, caves, wrecks, OW, etc...

I wish you the best.