Hi james, apa kabar? I'm from Indonesia....really love your channel You've been diving for over 2 decades, can you make a video about your log book? And what's hints and tips for a new diver (like me :) ). Thank you!
It might be expensive, but after trying many different nylon webbing products from different vendors, the Halcyon harness material still seems to have mastered the perfect combination of stiffness and softness for me. Once one is done saving money in finding the cheapest way to assemble equipment, the next step is finding quality materials that meet your personal needs. $15 for the DGX webbing versus $28 for Halcyon webbing...not a deal stopper for me.
Great tips James. I dive with a HOG harness and stainless backplate. I'll never go back to jacket style BCD.....unless I'm traveling and have to rent. How about a quick tips video on how to avoid getting cramps?
This is timed perfectly, I was planning on redoing my webbing here soon. I plan in narrowing the crotch strap to 1.5 or 1 inch to make it more comfortable.
One thing I grew to like on my harness recently are D-rings welded to their sliders. They don't flop about, so it's much easier to clip things onto and off of them without looking.
Another great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Diving is expensive- so many toys, bells & whistles. Nice to know where you don’t have to break the bank.
Excellent video! I’ve been thinking of changing from jacket to wing BCD for a while, especially for traveling. I saved it and will refer to it when, after recovering from foot surgery, I work with my local dive instructor to build my wing. Thank you!
Hey James thanks for the great video, I'm looking at getting my first BC at the moment. You mentioned getting some bungie to secure things in this video - do you have any more tips about this?
Just bought my first BP/W kit. I went with the Dive Gear Express (DGX) Stainless BP kit, was the best value for the money I could find. Can't wait to dive it this summer.
Excellent vid as always, I think that the backplate should have been covered as well, as it is an essential piece to comete the kit, specially for those who are transitioning from jacket to wing and might miss that essential bit.
Quality 2 inch webbing is worth it though. That stuff from DGX is pretty stiff and difficult to thread. And not the most comfortable. But it will work if you’re on a budget
so I agree with the spirit of this video but I have to say from personal experience not all 2" webbing is created equal. I got a basic harness set up for my first BP&W and the webbing as so stiff that it was nearly impossible to thread through the hardware and it was incredibly uncomfortable even after I had it all put together. I later upgraded to the Diverite Translate harness (a little pricey) but the webbing itself was much more pliable and the padding did a lot for my overall comfort.
Thank you James, I just have one question. So Is using different brands for one wing and backplate setup acceptable? So I am planning to get custom made backplate; thicker and heavier than normal so I don't need to wear the lead belt. It will look approximately as Apeks backplate, but I was thinking of buying xDeep NX ZEN wing. Do you think that will work out? I will be using this as single tank setup. Thanks for making these kind of videos as it is helping so much!
Thanks, James, this is very useful - one thing I wanted to ask: A lot of the modern harnesses sold by the brands will have shoulder padding to make the backplate wing setup still comfortable much like a backpack. Are shoulder pads for the harnesses something sold as a separate part? Also have to think about (ideally) 4 weight pockets, 2 on the hips, and 2 trim. With those pieces added, we're not looking at $42 anymore, so how close are we getting to it being more worth it financially to just buy a brand-manufactured set?
Love you content! Very helpful info usually and you've helped me on some decisions. Timing is great as I'm about to buy my first back plate and have been looking at different systems. Can you recommend any suppliers for the sliders, D rings, or webbing? Seems to be the only information you've left out. Especially since, not all webbing is created equally. As a Slackline guy I've learned a lot about webbing and it's breaking point under duress. I assume there is a similar correlation to webbing and technical diving harnesses?
Hi James, thanks for your videos, they're amazing. Are The difference of price cost you mentioned (brand name on it) applied in backplates? For example, an aluminum backplate... Aren't all aluminium backplates are made of 6061 Al alloy? Is the range of price because of brand name on it? Greetings from Brazil.
Thanks for this James. I’ve been thinking for a while to build my own and go FULL backplate and wing. My Aqualung Rogue BC has some issues I can’t seem to get over - no crotch strap, and the waist straps loosen so easily in the plastic clips. Too many useless webbing loops that make it less than ideal for me anymore. I’ll probably have to get a composite backplate since I’m very negatively buoyant to begin with. Any thoughts on that?
Hi James! What is the exact purpose of using a groin strap since that just looks and sounds uncomfortable. I personally use a Zeagle Ranger BCD and it has everything I have ever needed.
The crotch strap on a single piece harness is what provides stability and it does this extremely well to the point that if you were to slip your arms out of the shoulder straps your rig would still be stable on your back. A back plate and harness cannot function correctly without one. On a side note the benefits of a one piece harness and wing over a jacket bcd are tremendous. Not only do you eliminate multiple failure points found with a jacket (the plastic buckles on the shoulder straps, chest strap and waist strap) but as the buoyancy is on your back not back and sides you become far more stable in the water and maintaining proper trim is far easier. I also find them more comfortable than a jacket BCD and they are far more versatile.
DGX sells most of the standard hardware. Piranha Dive Mfg has a lot more variety, like the better fixed D-rings that Dive Rite uses. And there are a lot of niche companies like Sump UK.
aluminum is a lot lighter per volume, but only a bit lighter per strength. If you need something to hold, go for steel. aluminum is also a bit more prone to fatigue failure. Plastics are otherwise probably your best bet, if you replace them after a few years. (and I'd keep anything crucial still steel) but- the weight of some D-rings is not that much really. What do you need to save the weight for?
I did just set up a BPW while trying to save weight on every piece I could for travel purposes only warm water light or no wetsuit diving. I bought some Aluminum parts I could only get bent Drings and sliders so I mixed and matched the components. The Aluminum components were slightly thicker than their stainless counterparts so strength was there but besides the dpv towing example in the video, how much strengh do you really need to hang a flashlight or a dsmb, tanks for sidemount don't weight that much in the water so that's not really an issue either.
Great idea, you could make something custom fit for your body, I have a tall torso so most of the commercially available ones are a bit short for me I was thinking of just cutting it in the middle and welding in an extension so the belt would fit around my waist rather than my stomach.
@@DiversReady Thanks for the reply. I am literally re-watching your OW recommendation series along with your dream dive locker series right now (I saw this between dive locker II and III). Thanks for all that you do.
There is a company in Russia that makes titanium back plates and all the metal (belt clips, D-rings and sliders) also out of titanium. Not a cheap option, but what do you think of it as a material for these items re weight, strength, durability etc.?
It's a waist of money. Stainless steel (marine grade) is all you will ever need for D rings and buckles (aluminium stages being the heaviest thing you will attach to them are 1kg negatively buoyant when full and 1kg positively buoyant when empty) and Stainless steel is more than strong enough for a back plate and if you need a lighter backplate aluminium is still plenty strong enough.
If only James could continuously weave this content and harness the power of UA-cam.
I see what you did there...
Hi james, apa kabar? I'm from Indonesia....really love your channel
You've been diving for over 2 decades, can you make a video about your log book? And what's hints and tips for a new diver (like me :) ). Thank you!
Great suggestion!
Love that video. Wanna do a video about a DIY self setup? Backplate + Wing + Harness? That would be great.
What to buy and how to set up! Thx
It might be expensive, but after trying many different nylon webbing products from different vendors, the Halcyon harness material still seems to have mastered the perfect combination of stiffness and softness for me. Once one is done saving money in finding the cheapest way to assemble equipment, the next step is finding quality materials that meet your personal needs. $15 for the DGX webbing versus $28 for Halcyon webbing...not a deal stopper for me.
Thanks for the tip!
And of course some slices of spare bicycle inner tube.
For what?
@@samueldeter9735main uses are bands to secure loose ends of harness and to hold a back-up torch clipped to the shoulder strap😊
I bought a harness set for 39€ with everything included :D came with everything you need
Where did you buy it from? Thanks
Great tips James. I dive with a HOG harness and stainless backplate. I'll never go back to jacket style BCD.....unless I'm traveling and have to rent. How about a quick tips video on how to avoid getting cramps?
This is timed perfectly, I was planning on redoing my webbing here soon. I plan in narrowing the crotch strap to 1.5 or 1 inch to make it more comfortable.
One thing I grew to like on my harness recently are D-rings welded to their sliders. They don't flop about, so it's much easier to clip things onto and off of them without looking.
Another great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Diving is expensive- so many toys, bells & whistles. Nice to know where you don’t have to break the bank.
Love all your videos James. Would you be willing to do a diy video complete with a parts list for us rookies who want to upgrade to a backplate setup
Excellent video! I’ve been thinking of changing from jacket to wing BCD for a while, especially for traveling. I saved it and will refer to it when, after recovering from foot surgery, I work with my local dive instructor to build my wing. Thank you!
Hey James thanks for the great video, I'm looking at getting my first BC at the moment. You mentioned getting some bungie to secure things in this video - do you have any more tips about this?
Just bought my first BP/W kit. I went with the Dive Gear Express (DGX) Stainless BP kit, was the best value for the money I could find. Can't wait to dive it this summer.
Divers~hhow is it going?!Like- what a superb editing!all the best,🙃
Awesome video. I really love my halcyon bpw and want to build a second one for my warm water kit. Where can I find colored d rings and sliders?
Excellent vid as always, I think that the backplate should have been covered as well, as it is an essential piece to comete the kit, specially for those who are transitioning from jacket to wing and might miss that essential bit.
James! What kind of "jade" ring is that you are wearing 😁? Looks comfy
Is this used when diving side mount? What would be done different? Maybe you're going to make a video about side mount in general some time? :)
Quality 2 inch webbing is worth it though. That stuff from DGX is pretty stiff and difficult to thread. And not the most comfortable. But it will work if you’re on a budget
so I agree with the spirit of this video but I have to say from personal experience not all 2" webbing is created equal. I got a basic harness set up for my first BP&W and the webbing as so stiff that it was nearly impossible to thread through the hardware and it was incredibly uncomfortable even after I had it all put together. I later upgraded to the Diverite Translate harness (a little pricey) but the webbing itself was much more pliable and the padding did a lot for my overall comfort.
Thank you James, I just have one question. So Is using different brands for one wing and backplate setup acceptable? So I am planning to get custom made backplate; thicker and heavier than normal so I don't need to wear the lead belt. It will look approximately as Apeks backplate, but I was thinking of buying xDeep NX ZEN wing. Do you think that will work out? I will be using this as single tank setup. Thanks for making these kind of videos as it is helping so much!
Thanks, James, this is very useful - one thing I wanted to ask: A lot of the modern harnesses sold by the brands will have shoulder padding to make the backplate wing setup still comfortable much like a backpack.
Are shoulder pads for the harnesses something sold as a separate part? Also have to think about (ideally) 4 weight pockets, 2 on the hips, and 2 trim. With those pieces added, we're not looking at $42 anymore, so how close are we getting to it being more worth it financially to just buy a brand-manufactured set?
Love you content! Very helpful info usually and you've helped me on some decisions. Timing is great as I'm about to buy my first back plate and have been looking at different systems.
Can you recommend any suppliers for the sliders, D rings, or webbing?
Seems to be the only information you've left out.
Especially since, not all webbing is created equally. As a Slackline guy I've learned a lot about webbing and it's breaking point under duress. I assume there is a similar correlation to webbing and technical diving harnesses?
I know what I’m going to work on next!
Hi James, thanks for your videos, they're amazing.
Are The difference of price cost you mentioned (brand name on it) applied in backplates? For example, an aluminum backplate... Aren't all aluminium backplates are made of 6061 Al alloy? Is the range of price because of brand name on it?
Greetings from Brazil.
Good advice "Help 🤣"
I use a Halcyon and I'm no help at all 😂😂
Thanks for this James. I’ve been thinking for a while to build my own and go FULL backplate and wing. My Aqualung Rogue BC has some issues I can’t seem to get over - no crotch strap, and the waist straps loosen so easily in the plastic clips. Too many useless webbing loops that make it less than ideal for me anymore.
I’ll probably have to get a composite backplate since I’m very negatively buoyant to begin with. Any thoughts on that?
Are the various degrees of stiffness for the nylon straps and if so which is the best choice ?
Hi James! What is the exact purpose of using a groin strap since that just looks and sounds uncomfortable. I personally use a Zeagle Ranger BCD and it has everything I have ever needed.
The crotch strap on a single piece harness is what provides stability and it does this extremely well to the point that if you were to slip your arms out of the shoulder straps your rig would still be stable on your back. A back plate and harness cannot function correctly without one.
On a side note the benefits of a one piece harness and wing over a jacket bcd are tremendous. Not only do you eliminate multiple failure points found with a jacket (the plastic buckles on the shoulder straps, chest strap and waist strap) but as the buoyancy is on your back not back and sides you become far more stable in the water and maintaining proper trim is far easier. I also find them more comfortable than a jacket BCD and they are far more versatile.
Is that a new bezel or bezel cover on your Garmin? If so do you mind shooting a link on where to find it. I'm always looking to upgrade my MK2i.
I think that's the new Teric Journey or whatever it's called
@@lukem2889 Thanks. I'll check it out.
Nice video, do you have any advice for making webbing less stiff? Thanks
Where do you recommend buying these parts?
DGX sells most of the standard hardware. Piranha Dive Mfg has a lot more variety, like the better fixed D-rings that Dive Rite uses. And there are a lot of niche companies like Sump UK.
Any thoughts about aluminum weight holders and d-rings as weight saving alternative?
aluminum is a lot lighter per volume, but only a bit lighter per strength.
If you need something to hold, go for steel.
aluminum is also a bit more prone to fatigue failure.
Plastics are otherwise probably your best bet, if you replace them after a few years. (and I'd keep anything crucial still steel)
but- the weight of some D-rings is not that much really. What do you need to save the weight for?
I did just set up a BPW while trying to save weight on every piece I could for travel purposes only warm water light or no wetsuit diving. I bought some Aluminum parts I could only get bent Drings and sliders so I mixed and matched the components. The Aluminum components were slightly thicker than their stainless counterparts so strength was there but besides the dpv towing example in the video, how much strengh do you really need to hang a flashlight or a dsmb, tanks for sidemount don't weight that much in the water so that's not really an issue either.
how about making a backplate if you know some machinists? what are the minimum requirements for a back plate?
Great idea, you could make something custom fit for your body, I have a tall torso so most of the commercially available ones are a bit short for me I was thinking of just cutting it in the middle and welding in an extension so the belt would fit around my waist rather than my stomach.
Do you also add a serrated slider on the baseplate backside shoulder to waist transition or do you allow it to slide?
You can. I personally don't feel it's necessary.
What am I doing wrong? I cannot find the webbing you have listed even when searching on Amazon what you have in the screenshot.
Have a look on Dive Gear Express.com
@@DiversReady Thanks for the reply. I am literally re-watching your OW recommendation series along with your dream dive locker series right now (I saw this between dive locker II and III). Thanks for all that you do.
There is a company in Russia that makes titanium back plates and all the metal (belt clips, D-rings and sliders) also out of titanium. Not a cheap option, but what do you think of it as a material for these items re weight, strength, durability etc.?
It's a waist of money. Stainless steel (marine grade) is all you will ever need for D rings and buckles (aluminium stages being the heaviest thing you will attach to them are 1kg negatively buoyant when full and 1kg positively buoyant when empty) and Stainless steel is more than strong enough for a back plate and if you need a lighter backplate aluminium is still plenty strong enough.
H for Help 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thought this was brilliant too. 😂
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SumpUK makes innovative hardware.