Attaching items to BC

[FoxTrot]

Hi all,

I am wondering how people go about securing items to their BC.

I have a backup light coming and I was thinking of attaching it similar to this



What sort of band is securing it to the shoulder strap?

I was also wondering what the best way would be to secure a lift bag and a sausage to my BC, as I have one of each on their way also from Carter.

TIA for any help!

-ck

[Tigerman]

Personally, I "secure my backup light to the BC" by putting it in the pocket of the BC or usually my drysuit leg pocket..

[FoxTrot]

That is what I originally planned on and then figured why not make use of a D-ring and have it more accessible and secure?

I'm open to reasons/opinions why that may not be the best way to go and to instead just shove it in a pocket.

[Tigerman]

Personally I have a hard time imagining it needing to be that accessible. It usually not an item that you need to be instantly accessed and I like to have as few items as possible hanging on my BCD. Just like things that is not of high neccessity to be tucked away.

[dbulmer]

Foxtrot,
The band is rubber - you can use mountain bike tyre tubing. Attach a stainless steel boltsnap to your backup light and then pass the light through the inner tubing which fits around the harness ( as you have pointed out). BTW this is a good place to put your backup torch as it is out of the way yet accessible and if you need a light you need to be able access it easily and quickly plus you know where it is.

Liftbag and sausage are things I would put in a drysuit pocket or you could buy a pocket and attach it to your wetsuit. You don't want things hanging off your body - they might get entangled and be a nuisance during the dive.

One thing I'd advise is to keep your BC as free as possible from attachments - the reason is that the more stuff you have hanging the less easy it is to access the attachments and I suggest you practice clipping and unclipping your backup torch - it's surprisingly difficult ! Well it was for me at least.

[Boa Gialla]

Hi all,

I am wondering how people go about securing items to their BC.

I have a backup light coming and I was thinking of attaching it similar to this



What sort of band is securing it to the shoulder strap?

Hi. If I've correctly got your question: I've used the rubber inner tube of a bicycle wheel (i do hope you understand what I mean, cause i don't know the english name of that stuff, sorry). You can cut rubber rings (the size you prefer) to secure the backup light in the same way of the image of the halcyon BC you posted.

Hope this can help you.
Ciao,
A.

[FoxTrot]

Thanks for the responses guys.

So with the bicycle tubing, do you just cut it to the height you want, then slide it onto the strap (and then over what you want secured)? I'll have to pick one of these up or see if I can just snag a used one with a hole or something from a shop.

[johnny_bravo]

I get mine at Target or Walmart a new tube is like $2-3...I cut the tube in 1 inch slices and yes just slide it onto the strap.

Cheers.

-J.-

[Colliam7]

I am wondering how people go about securing items to their BC. ... I was also wondering what the best way would be to secure a lift bag and a sausage to my BC, as I have one of each on their way also from Carter.

A few thoughts: 1. You mention a BC, and show a picture of a BP/W. If you are using a backplate, much is possible. If a standard BC, a little less so. Not a slam at BCDs, just a statement of what is doable. 2. I attach my primary back-up light to my BP harness exactly as shown in the illustration you posted, using (as mentioned) a bolt snap on the butt end to attach it, and bicycle inner tube sections to hold the head in place. It is very functional. Yesterday, I didn't take my can light on a dive, so I was using only my back-up. I released the head from the tube, kept the other end clipped, and was able to use the light effectively, AND let it hang from the D ring for a moment when I need both hands free. I carry a second, smaller back-up light in a pocket on my drysuit (as someone else suggested). 3. Some bike shops will give away used inner tubes, but the cost of buying one is trivial. 4. I fully agree with the comment about not attaching too many things to the BC What you want to avoid primarily is having a lot of (often unnecessary) 'stuff' hanging and dangling loosely from the BC. Having said that, I attach my can light (inverted) to the lower right side of my BP, using quick links, so I can reach down with mu right hand, feel for the switch at the bottom, and turn it on / off. I attach my lift bag, in a Dive Rite sleeve, to the lower left side of my BP using pear clips. I clip a double ended bolt snap to the lift bag strap (protruding slightly from the bottom / open end of the sleeve), and clip the other end to the lower pear clip. When I need the bag, I release the double-ended from the pear clip, pull the bag out of the sleeve, and deploy (after removing the bolt snap and clipping it to my rig, and attaching the spool line). 5. The option I use for a sausage is a couple of short loops of bungee cord, run through holes on the bottom of the BP, with the sausage secured on each end so it is horizontal against my lower back. 6. If you are diving dry, having pockets oin the suit is great. I recommend having one bellows pocket, with sewn loops inside, to which anything you put in the pocket is attached with bolt snaps, so items don't fall out when you are retrieving something else. If you are diving wet, and use one of the pockets you can put on your waist strap (like the H pocket shown in the illustration), the same is true. If you are diving a standard BC with pockets, put a sewn loop in the pocket if there is not already one there.

[TSandM]

If you are using a standard BC that has a strap similar enough to a harness that you can let the backup light sit the same way, but you can't thread inner tube around it because it's sewn in place, you can use surgical tubing the same way -- just tie a loop of it around the strap, and use it to secure the lighthead.

For those who want storage for stuff but don't have BC pockets, X-shorts can be worn over a dry or wet suit and provide good, big bellows pockets.