Katana 2

[Larryjd1]

I completed my full cave cert earlier this year in backmount doubles but will be doing my sidemount training soon and the Katana 2 is coming highly recommended and is one of the systems I'll be able to try when I am training.

Does anyone have experience using it with both aluminum and steel tanks as I plan to use it for cave diving in Florida and Mexico an equal amount of time, and I have been told that other systems may have been better with one than the other and each location seems to have standardized on one type of tank?

 

[Mouse51180]

Here are some more photos of the Katana 2 in the water. Obviously you have to squint a little as the visibility in a South Caroline river is always EXCELLENT making photography....just...a joy to do , but I tried to pick some photos that would let you see how it conforms to different diver body shapes. These pictures are of four different divers all of different body shape and mass.

Dive 1 - Skinny Pilot
Diver 2 - Average Bro
Diver 3 - In shape diver...unfortunately that shape is round
Diver 4 - Another Average Bro

Diver 1

Diver 1

Diver 2

Diver 3

Diver 4

Diver 3

Diver 3

 

[grantctobin]

Here are some more photos of the Katana 2 in the water. Obviously you have to squint a little as the visibility in a South Caroline river is always EXCELLENT making photography....just...a joy to do , but I tried to pick some photos that would let you see how it conforms to different diver body shapes. These pictures are of four different divers all of different body shape and mass.

Dive 1 - Skinny Pilot
Diver 2 - Average Bro
Diver 3 - In shape diver...unfortunately that shape is round
Diver 4 - Another Average Bro

Diver 1
View attachment 599848

Diver 1
View attachment 599849

Diver 2
View attachment 599850

Diver 3
View attachment 599851

Diver 4
View attachment 599852

Diver 3
View attachment 599853

Diver 3
View attachment 599855

Y'all need a new sidemount instructor.

Edit: Have a K2. If I wasn't diving a Sidewinder, I'd probably have a Stealth Tec or Rec (depending on height). You'll get two very different opinions depending on whomst you learn from. Obv you can dive an XDeep with a Sidewinder but I'm not thrilled with having to modify it and those that don't modify the dump generally argue that you shouldn't have gas in your ccr wing and wear it as a harness.

 

[JBFG]

I should finally have mine in the water tomorrow. It will probably a mess as I need to adjust the bungee and I’ll see if buddy can take some pics

 

[Mouse51180]

Y'all need a new sidemount instructor.

.

Would be much better if you could expand on your comment instead of just making a vague opinion, not really sure if this is the proper place to express your opinion on my instructor or training as well. Feel free to private message me if you would like to share some observations on how we might better our diving.

 

[rddvet]

Dove a K2 this weekend as part of my sidewinder crossover. It's a decent rig (especially for a hollis) and I really liked it. It's especially perfect for the sidewinder since it just directly attaches. I like how it trims out, how easily it can be adjusted, and the shoulder dump. But honestly if I was buying a sm harness for OC use I would stick with the stealth. Eventhough I liked pretty much everything about the K2, I hate the part of it that's classic Hollis (too much crap that's unnecessary). Hollis always adds way too much padding, and accessories and their sm harnesses are harder to travel with than the xdeep.
So for OC diving I'd stick with xdeep. For the sidewinder I'd go K2

 

[lostsheep]

Dove a K2 this weekend as part of my sidewinder crossover. It's a decent rig (especially for a hollis) and I really liked it. It's especially perfect for the sidewinder since it just directly attaches. I like how it trims out, how easily it can be adjusted, and the shoulder dump. But honestly if I was buying a sm harness for OC use I would stick with the stealth. Eventhough I liked pretty much everything about the K2, I hate the part of it that's classic Hollis (too much crap that's unnecessary). Hollis always adds way too much padding, and accessories and their sm harnesses are harder to travel with than the xdeep.
So for OC diving I'd stick with xdeep. For the sidewinder I'd go K2

I agree there is too much superfluous stuff...so I took it off. It can be streamlined a lot.

 

[Mouse51180]

I agree there is too much superfluous stuff...so I took it off. It can be streamlined a lot.

What items are you removing?

 

[lostsheep]

I did not like their lower lumbar QFS nonsense so I replaced it with my own mini back plate. My lower back plate has the lower tank attachment points and lower y harness integrated so those were omitted too. Running it as a "Y" harness instead of the "H" that cuts out the two front plates. Since this picture was taken I have removed the hip d rings (I don't dive aluminum tanks) and I also think I can remove the extra belt slide that's used to retain the front of the loop bungees. Sternum strap was never added. I replaced the wing bungee bolt snap with my own machined bungee hook but if/when I get the time I am likely to replace the entire buckle with a non adjustable style that also retains the wing bungee. I have never really understood why SM harnesses have an extra snap for the wing bungee, it seems like an unnecessary extra step during donning. All of the "superfluous stuff" is just me being difficult and having to do things my own way because I like to tinker; nothing I own was ever good enough from the factory lol.

My main interest in the Katana 2 is the shape of the wing, especially once inflated. I have an apex wing also and with heavy steels it turns into a beach-ball. I might keep it for travel but I really like the Katana so I am still debating. I dive in Monterey where almost everyone diving side mount has a razor. The shape of their wings is atrocious and completely inappropriate for cold water and steel tanks.

Here's a pic of my replacement lower plate in case you missed it earlier in this thread:

 

[Paul M]

...
My main interest in the Katana 2 is the shape of the wing, especially once inflated. I have an apex wing also and with heavy steels it turns into a beach-ball. I might keep it for travel but I really like the Katana so I am still debating. I dive in Monterey where almost everyone diving side mount has a razor. The shape of their wings is atrocious and completely inappropriate for cold water and steel tanks.

Please don't take this as a knock.
I have seen this 'Apeks WSX beach ball' comment in so many places, on the internet, and I honestly don't see the same issue.
I (along with a few buddies) dive with the Apeks WSX25 and we don't see this. Perhaps a lot are still over-weighted?
Here we are a week ago, 60'-80' deep at 45F waters. I'm in the foreground and my buddy with his Xdeep Tech 2.0 in behind me. My Apeks bladder is pretty flat and my drysuit has just enough air in it for squeeze and warmth. Those are Faber FX HP 100's and I have 5lbs lead in the spine pockets.
You are right that the Apeks is nice for travel too. Packs up pretty small. I use it in Mx caves, AL80, 5mm wetsuit and it doesn't 'balloon' there either.