Diver below 83
Contributor
So as I sit here impatiently waiting for my mail lady to arrive with my new back plate I’ve been browsing all my harness options. I ordered an older model but new stock of the dive rite transplate harness, $50 new couldn’t pass it up. That being said I believe I also want to experiment with a standard one piece webbing to see what I prefer. Based off recommendations I decided to go with piranha dive for my harness set up.
I was going to order their DIR harness kit which seemed to come with almost everything I could need. After browsing some more I think I’m going to go a little more custom route and had some questions for the experts as to if I’m ordering everything I need, am I ordering too much? Or are there any changes to my set up you would recommend? Here’s the list I have so far.
13 ft of hi viz green webbing
2 large bent d rings in black shoulders
2 large straight d rings black waist
1 triglide with offset d ring black for left lower shoulder to clip off spg.
this next list of parts I’m not sure if I 1 need them all or 2 which style to order.
tri glides- I was planning to get 6 black, but how many do I get with teeth and how many without teeth? 4 teeth 2 smooth, all teeth, all smooth etc etc?
bungee loop- am I better off ordering one of the tri glides with built in bungee for the upper left shoulder to hold the inflator hose or just adding a piece of bungee onto the same tri glide that’s holding the d ring on the left shoulder. I have seen them doubled up. So better to double up or have separate ones?
right side plastic buckle- the piranha kit has this option. They say it’s for a canister light. Currently I don’t have one, and don’t foresee myself getting one right now. Won’t say never, but not currently. So do I really need that right side plastic buckle then? Does it aid in holding anything on that side or does it only benefit someone who has a canister light?
These next items I planned to go pick up at dgx as I’m local to them.
Main stainless buckle- as you probably can tell I’m going with black hardware route. Piranha doesn’t have a black metal buckle. The only one I could find was the OMS anodized model from
DGX. Which is neither stainless or all black but it’s closer than chromed. Does anyone else know or a black metal buckle they can or would recommend?
Crotch strap- I was going to go with the 1.5” dive rite non qr model. Do I really need the quick release or is that just more of a gimmick for people who struggling getting in and out of their harness? Also does anyone know a quality crotch strap that has all black hardware?
harness webbing padding 3ft- was going to grab some of this to cut up and use on the harness where it touches the plate as many kits seem to include some for this for abrasion resistance, was also go to throw some on the crotch strap for comfort as well and a couple pieces on the shoulder straps to help hold down accessories that are clipped off as it seems kits include some for this use as well.
I’m pretty sure that’s everything I was planning to order out the gate. I went to look at my cart on piranha and dgx but it cleared them so I’m just going by memory atm. If I forgot anything please chime in. If you think I’m ordering too much, too little or the wrong items please chime in. I know this is going to be a trial and error kit until I get it all built up exactly to my ideal functions and get to do a bunch of test run diving.
a little extra info. I’m 6’0 180lbs. I live in south Florida and I do warm weather diving. I will probably do some cooler spring dives but I don’t foresee myself doing dry suit diving anytime soon. At most a 3mm or possibly 5mm if the springs are really cold and I’d have to rent a 5mm. Generally though I’m in a rash guard and board shorts. I don’t plan to run side weight pockets either. I usually dive 12lbs in a standard jacket bc. My plate is just under 3lbs. So I figure I’d rock two trim Pockets on the cam bands tucked closer inside towards the wings with 5lb each, plus the plate I’m right at 12 lbs again. I’m sure that will be too much and I can lower my trim weights.
guess that’s about it for now. I await your opinions
