Shears and Pocket Question

[pgraham11]

I have a few questions I'd like opnions on...

First, can anybody suggest a good place to get some shears and a good sheath to put them in online (doesn't have to be the same place)?

And the related question, where would be the best place to store them, given that I have a bp/wings setup.

And another related question, where would be a good place to store other "emergency items" such as a whistle, signal mirror, etc... I was thinking a pocket, but I don't have one. I know you can buy the ones that attach to a drysuit (maybe even a wetsuit), but what I'm wearing varies depending on where I'm at. Rather then attach a pocket to each one, is there a good pocket available that would work with bp/wings, and maybe velcro around my thigh?

Thanks!

[Warhammer]

I use Sea Snips, made by Aqua I believe, and they come with a nylon sheath that has a belt loop on it. So You can mount them somewhere on the webbing of your harness. I mount mine on the webbing that comes across the top of my Ranger's cummberbound. They are very easy to get to and to put back up here. What's more is that they are cheap, $12.95 at Leisure Pro (SKU# AQUSSC).

You can put a short piece of string on a whistle and hang it from a D-ring, or you could buy one of the Diver Alerts. As far as pockets, you can buy accessorie pockets and attach them to your harness as well. I know Zeagle, Dive-Rite, and others make pockets that you could probably modify to make them work. Halcyon may make one specifically for a harness, not sure.

[Lost Yooper]

Well, with a BP and harness, you should have a knife on your left hip waist strap. You could put the sissors right next to your knife. You can buy a pocket specifically for the harness that goes on your right waist strap from Halcyon (well, not directly). You can put all your goodies inside the pocket.

Mike

Here's a pocket:

http://h2oadventuregear.com/tek/accessories.html

[martinjc]

Maybe this is an undesireable set-up, but I attached my Sea Snips sheath upside-down with zip-ties to my right harness strap, just below my shoulder (left as you are looking at me). This allows me to access easily with my left or right hand. I use a Dive Rite Transpac II BC.

I didn't know that the left hip waist strap was the appropriate place for a knife - I don't own one yet - but if I got one was considering a leg holster (inside my right calf). Does this create too much on an entanglement potential?

[Lost Yooper]

IMO, a knife and/or shears should be within reach of your arms. I certainly wouldn't put anything of the sort on my legs, not only for entanglement reasons, but accessability as well. With a harness set up for serious caving or wreck diving, your shoulder straps will have stages and/or backup lights there, so shoulder straps are not a place for a knife or shears either. Also, the knife doesn't have to be a bowie knife either -- smaller the better (3" blade or so).

Actually, I guess it would be left frontal for the knife on a harness. Some guys put it on the right waist strap and hook their long hose on it which is OK too. I have done it this way too. If you have a cannister light or a bag on the right, you can hook the long hose on those too. I don't have the waist strap bag since I have a pocket on my drysuit.

Take care.

Mike

[blacknet]

Well,

I have a buck tiburon knife and the dive rite shears on my bc. Both are on the chest straps, one on each side. The buck is on the left and the shears on the right. I bought both local for very good prices.

Ed

[Jonathan]

Call me paranoid if you wish but I have a knife on my left shoulder strap, sea snips on the waist strap (next to spare mask) and knife on my left leg. Thinking about it they are all on the left side so maybe I'll move one to the right.....

Sea snips are definitely one of the better value for money pieces of equipment (one could almost say cheap) along with mini-q 40's.

Jonathan

[100days-a-year]

SS Snips at big lots for $1.99,on the left shoulder,Remora on the belt ,left side,line cutter on right.A 2.25 in bike tube is about $3 holds any danglies tight,also good for smoothing anything that needs it(see Halcyon bladders)

[Lost Yooper]

Ok, I'll bit. You're paranoid, Jonathan! :D ;)

I haven't taken a knife out of its sheath in years. Not sure if I ever have underwater. The sissors come in handy on the boat a lot though.

Take care.

Mike

[tombiowami]

I have a similar setup and have the knife on the webbing on the left side, or just put the sea snips in there. I can recommend the Halcyon pocket that goes on the right side, it is zippered. Since I am almost always wearing the same wetsuit, I am probably going to put pockets on it. Overall, I like that better. I have always had trouble getting to stuff in pockets that are offset to the rear.


Dive Rite makes a strap on pocket that attaches to the webbing around your waist and then velcros around your leg. I am looking at those also. They go for 30 or so at Leisure Pro.

Tommy

[aue-mike]

Personally, I don't even worry about a knife and solely depend on the shears. Shears are much more useful as they don't really get dull and you do not need as much tension to cut through line. Furthermore, it is more effective on synthetic lines such as Spiderwire or Fireline, and it also can cut through heavily longline monofilament line that knifes would have a hard time with. Also, as someone mentioned, it is great to have topside and I use it all the time in my garage when rigging stuff. Simple, easy, effective.
I have mine on my left waist strap of the harness slid near the center. I have the diverite shears as it has a really small sheath, but the handles of the shears are bright red which make ID easy. If my buddy needs them he can see them a mile away against the black background of my wetsuit/drysuit and other black gear.

[blacknet]

Hello,

this may be true but knives are mostly for use on your 'buddy' ;)

Ed

[tholt576]

Since you asked, I sell some on my site. Yes I know this is self serving, but you did ask. They are $9.95 + S&H, come in four colors, and the sheath is included.

http://home.ec.rr.com/tholt/shears.html

I usually carry mine on my weight belt. (There is a belt loop on the back. If I didn't do that I'd probably either hose mount them or zip tie them to my BC. You could put them in a pocket but then you might have trouble getting them out in case of an entanglement.

[JoelW]

I have a set of sea snips and a small knife in a nylon sheath. I took the knife sheath and the sea snips sheath into a seamstress and had the knife sheath sewn to the front flap of the sea snips sheath. The waist strap of my plate fits through the sea snip sheath and are both in easy reach.

JoelW