EZ-Pak
I’ve just returned from a week of diving with one of Eric’s latest creations, The EZ-Pak. The new kid is a cousin of my favorite single tank backplate we all know and love as The Freedom Plate. Like the FP it’s beautiful and well made. It differs as it is designed as a lower priced, light weight travel backplate (15 oz) for tropical single tank diving.
Initially, it was my intention to use my new toy for Double Hose diving. It does that well enough, but I would not call it optimal as getting the DH can in exactly the position I wanted proved difficult. I have a few DH diving friends who would say the difference is negligible. Admittedly, if I didn’t already own a backplate designed for Double Hose diving, I would not have noticed the small amount of difference. However, rather than changing backplates for the trip, I chose to change regulators to a single hose setup.
In addition to being lighter, the profile of the EZ-Pak is more conservative than a Freedom Plate. It fits comfortably in my carry on bag. Even with my 18 pound wing, harness, cam straps, pocket, light, SMB, and God knows what else attached, it has room to spare. One new detail included in the design is the harness slots arraignment. The new slot design eliminates the need for tri-glides to secure the webbing. As the EZ is made of aluminum, this nice feature keeps those damn stainless steel items off your new plate. Of course you’ll still need tri-glides for D-rings, but otherwise simply thread, route, and adjust the webbing (remember the extra cheeseburgers you’ve been having) and viola-done.
Diving with the EZ-Pak was a joy. Like its cousin, it fits nicely and comfortably on your back. The tank is very stable, and unlike a plate designed for double tanks, it does not require a single tank adapter (STA) or even a wing with anti-roll devices. I know, because I removed the roll control tubes from my wing for double hose diving. There are two sets of cam band slots just narrow enough to allow the plate/bands/wing it be secured together without use of sex bolts. It gets a little loose if you hang weight off of the bands like I do so, sorry Eric, I’m going to drill a couple of holes.
If you’ve always wanted a Freedom Plate but never got around to ordering one, now might be the time to get in line. Or….if you already have a FP but want something lighter and more compact; you’ll love the EZ-Pak….except for the name. I prefer “ZKY-Pak,” but you can’t have everything.
Well done Eric.
I’ve just returned from a week of diving with one of Eric’s latest creations, The EZ-Pak. The new kid is a cousin of my favorite single tank backplate we all know and love as The Freedom Plate. Like the FP it’s beautiful and well made. It differs as it is designed as a lower priced, light weight travel backplate (15 oz) for tropical single tank diving.
Initially, it was my intention to use my new toy for Double Hose diving. It does that well enough, but I would not call it optimal as getting the DH can in exactly the position I wanted proved difficult. I have a few DH diving friends who would say the difference is negligible. Admittedly, if I didn’t already own a backplate designed for Double Hose diving, I would not have noticed the small amount of difference. However, rather than changing backplates for the trip, I chose to change regulators to a single hose setup.
In addition to being lighter, the profile of the EZ-Pak is more conservative than a Freedom Plate. It fits comfortably in my carry on bag. Even with my 18 pound wing, harness, cam straps, pocket, light, SMB, and God knows what else attached, it has room to spare. One new detail included in the design is the harness slots arraignment. The new slot design eliminates the need for tri-glides to secure the webbing. As the EZ is made of aluminum, this nice feature keeps those damn stainless steel items off your new plate. Of course you’ll still need tri-glides for D-rings, but otherwise simply thread, route, and adjust the webbing (remember the extra cheeseburgers you’ve been having) and viola-done.
Diving with the EZ-Pak was a joy. Like its cousin, it fits nicely and comfortably on your back. The tank is very stable, and unlike a plate designed for double tanks, it does not require a single tank adapter (STA) or even a wing with anti-roll devices. I know, because I removed the roll control tubes from my wing for double hose diving. There are two sets of cam band slots just narrow enough to allow the plate/bands/wing it be secured together without use of sex bolts. It gets a little loose if you hang weight off of the bands like I do so, sorry Eric, I’m going to drill a couple of holes.
If you’ve always wanted a Freedom Plate but never got around to ordering one, now might be the time to get in line. Or….if you already have a FP but want something lighter and more compact; you’ll love the EZ-Pak….except for the name. I prefer “ZKY-Pak,” but you can’t have everything.
Well done Eric.
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