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I'm looking to put together my first set of doubles.... I'll be using two HP100's which means I won't be able to adapt my SP Knighthawk. Based on the threads I've decided on a bp/wing based setup.
I'm stuck between the following decisions:
DiveRite vs. OMS
SoftPack w/ backplate vs. Deluxe Harness
Aluminum vs. ABS for the backplate
Wing Lift: 77-100lbs vs. 50-60lbs
Single Bladder vs. Double
Some assumptions to help with deciding factors:
I'm looking to dedicate this setup to diving doubles in freshwater (I doubt I'd be flying this rig anywhere....) - so adaptability to diving singles or saltwater is not a big concern.
With the bouyancy of the doubles I opted to not go with a SS backplate - so I can still have some ditchable weight.
Currently I dive a 7mm wetsuit - however the drysuit is on order, so I'd assume using a drysuit with this config.
Not currently interested in Cave Diving, but living on Lake Michigan I could see myself doing a fair amount of wreck diving - the jury is still out on wreck penetration.
After reading everything I put down here's where I'm leaning.....
DR Deluxe Harness, aluminum backplate, Rec Wings (51# - single bladder).
I'd appreciate any feedback or thoughts of wisdom.... Thanks.
If the choices were dive rite or oms I would go dive rite. But as I own a deep outdoors setup I should also say you might want to take a look at what they offer. I have not tried a set of doubles but from what I have seen their larger wings are very similar to what is offered by everyone else. I just like their look and I think they are very well built.
You can also look at my equipment page to see my gear.
I personally would go with dive rite over OMS. I likethe one peice harness over the deluxe or the transpack.
There is no real need to go over 60 lbs of lift.
Your drusuit acts as your redundant bladder so there is no need for dual wings.
Most people will warn against the bungee system OMS uses.
Some people beleive Plastic backplates are more prone to breaking.
One thing I would suggest: when your drysuit comes in I would use it with my current gear to get used to it. If you try to adapt it and doubles at the same time you might overload yourself.
Download the videos from dive tek website and view them over and over then practice the skills till your blue in the face.
jonnythan once bubbled... How about a plate from FredT or one of those nifty new Oxycheq wings?
How much weight do you carry? I'm sure that with a SS plate you still have plenty to ditch.
FredT's plate looks do-able. A plate is a plate is a plate right..? The cutouts on the sides look like they'd make decent handles... What really differentiates these...?
I've kinda shifted to go with the DiveRive Transplate harness, I like the padded shoulder srtaps and quick release chest strap.
With a single HP100 I wear 20# and thats probably a pound or two overweighted. I expect to drop another 10lbs adding the second HP100 leaving with two 5lbs weights for ditch.
FredT's plate looks do-able. A plate is a plate is a plate right..? The cutouts on the sides look like they'd make decent handles... What really differentiates these...?
I've kinda shifted to go with the DiveRive Transplate harness, I like the padded shoulder srtaps and quick release chest strap.
With a single HP100 I wear 20# and thats probably a pound or two overweighted. I expect to drop another 10lbs adding the second HP100 leaving with two 5lbs weights for ditch.
The thing with a Transpac is that it's completely soft. A backplate is rigid.
After having it both ways, I'd never want to go back to a soft back. A backplate with a harness *completely disappears* underwater. I was amazed after my first dive with one that during the entire dive I never noticed my buoyancy system underwater, whereas I was always adjusting and shifting a BC... The rigidity is *key*.
A friend of mine who dives doubles had significant issues with maintaining proper trim with a DiveRite wing. It didn't allow her to get into a proper center of gravity balance due to how it distributed the air vs. how the weight of her kit was distributed. Poor thing couldn't hover w/o kicking to save her life - kept doing head over heels at the slightest of trim corrections! She tried a different mfgr (Halcyon) wing and was MUCH more stable (and happier). You would need to see what wing works best with your rig.
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