I see from my oldest post that I have been using XS Scuba Clear-Path buckles on the waist belt of my BCDs and weight belt since at least August 2016.
www.xsscuba.com
I recently needed another one, so I went shopping and found them on sale for $9.95 on scuba.com. I bought 3 more, just to make sure I have them on hand the next time I build a harness.
When I bought my first one and posted about it, somebody knocked it as being a "plastic buckle". Well, first, they are glass-filled nylon, not plastic, and they have a stainless steel hinge pin. And, second, I'm still using the first one I bought (7+ years ago), on one of my rigs. I can't see any signs of wear or rust other than some scratches on the front of it.
I like them a lot better than the typical stainless steel buckle.
They are much lighter, so it doesn't hurt if you set your rig down and your buckle falls on your bare foot.
They are quiet. SO much less annoying than the clanking of a steel buckle when I'm moving my rig around.
They are matte black. I bought my first one because I felt like a barracuda was stalking the shiny steel buckle I had. That happened to me on two different occasions. Since switching to a matte black buckle, that has not happened again.
I have this buckle on my single tank rig, both of my back mount doubles BP/W harnesses, my CCR, and one of my sidemount rigs (soon to be on my new one). And I have one on a piece of 2 inch webbing that works perfectly as a weight belt.
Whenever I see things like this I worry that they are about to be discontinued. So, do us all a favor and buy yourself one, so XS Scuba will (hopefully) see that people want them and keep making them.
They really are a good piece of kit!
XS Scuba ClearPath Buckle — XS Scuba - Everything For The Perfect Dive
Innovative webbing pathway design. Webbing end runs back under buckle to secure loose webbing. Molded from glass-filled nylon with 316 SS hinge pin. Easy use with open webbing channel. Secure webbing grip with high lift lever. Fits 2 in (50 mm) webbing.
www.xsscuba.com
I recently needed another one, so I went shopping and found them on sale for $9.95 on scuba.com. I bought 3 more, just to make sure I have them on hand the next time I build a harness.
When I bought my first one and posted about it, somebody knocked it as being a "plastic buckle". Well, first, they are glass-filled nylon, not plastic, and they have a stainless steel hinge pin. And, second, I'm still using the first one I bought (7+ years ago), on one of my rigs. I can't see any signs of wear or rust other than some scratches on the front of it.
I like them a lot better than the typical stainless steel buckle.
They are much lighter, so it doesn't hurt if you set your rig down and your buckle falls on your bare foot.
They are quiet. SO much less annoying than the clanking of a steel buckle when I'm moving my rig around.
They are matte black. I bought my first one because I felt like a barracuda was stalking the shiny steel buckle I had. That happened to me on two different occasions. Since switching to a matte black buckle, that has not happened again.
I have this buckle on my single tank rig, both of my back mount doubles BP/W harnesses, my CCR, and one of my sidemount rigs (soon to be on my new one). And I have one on a piece of 2 inch webbing that works perfectly as a weight belt.
Whenever I see things like this I worry that they are about to be discontinued. So, do us all a favor and buy yourself one, so XS Scuba will (hopefully) see that people want them and keep making them.
They really are a good piece of kit!
