Posted by kelphead on July 16, 2001 at 19:11:04:
In Reply to: Re: on webbing... posted by tleemay on July 16, 2001 at 17:38:20:
"With the looped material, does it make the
thickness (not the width) thicker than a single
piece - non-looped web strap?"
--no, it is actually thinner; remember i mentioned
that the weave is finer, meaning the flat webbing
has a courser weave, making the flat webbing actually
thicker than the tubular webbing.
"Does it make threading on the buckle and d-rings tri-glides
difficult to install or adjust for those first few dives?"
--OH, MY GOD!!!!! the tubular webbing is SOOOOOO
much easier to slide d-ring holders and the buckle
on and off--what a God-send!!!!! i hated having
to thread and re-thread that very stiff webbing
just to adjust the (damn) harness. i found it
infinitely easier to thread and re-thread the
webbing through the buckle to make adjustments
over and over and over again. remember, i mentioned
how much more flexible it is compared to the
stiff webbing, and this flexibility is what makes
it very easy to work with. (very diver friendly.)
"And how long do you suspect the softer material
will fare at the BP threading points, polished
slots or not?"
--good question. i don't have polished slots,
so i can't speak to that. i was wondering the
same thing myself, but the flat webbing that
i bought from jim hoffman's shop at the beginning
of this year (six months ago now) is 'dive rite'
and it has already started to show signs of
fraying at the slot locations. soooo, i would
have to say that only time will tell in regards
to how well the tubular webbing will hold up
to the stress of slots. (...if you're really
interested, i can file a report 1 year from now...)
i can ask my hubby, or we can collectively ask
jrm, if tubular webbing in climbing is subjected
to the same stress as it would be exposed to
w/the backplate slots. if so, then i guess that
wouldn't be an issue; if not, then only experience
will answer that q.
"And one other observation; could you do a doff and
don with the softer straps in a slight current on
the line?"
--have no idea. 1st off, i haven't even tested
this new harness in water yet. 2nd of all, i guess
only experience will tell.
"It sounds like the softer material wouldn't
hold their 'memory' as well as stiffer ones that
pretty much retain their shoulder shapes when the
diver is out of the rig (perhaps 'memory' isn't the
best term, but I hope you know what I mean)."
--good point, but as i understood it, the flat
webbing that is conventionally used now for
backplate rigs is supposed to get soft over time
anyway, right...?...
as for "memory", i don't really care if my straps
retain it or not, just as long as my harness fits
me fine the 1st time around, i could care less
about memory b/c once the harness length is established,
one doesn't have to tinker w/it anymore. length
is length and "memory" doesn't play a role in that,
as far as i am aware.
also, remember i mentioned how much more flexible the
tubular webbing is which would result in no need
for "memory"--it is easy to get in and out of
and the flexible material will shape to one's shoulders
as soon as it is on--doesn't matter how it looks
when the tubular webbing is off one's shoulders.
b/c they are so flexible, they will always 'shape'
to a diver's shoulders as soon as the rig is
donned.
b/c i was unfamiliar w/tubular webbing and b/c it
looked different (ie, much 'smoother' looking) i
was more concerned about it stretching in water
and that would obviously be a problem, but i was
assured that it doesn't, so as long as my shoulder
straps fit me time and again w/o constant adjustment,
i'm happy.
...perhaps i'm missing something about the issue
of "memory", why would "memory" be important for
shoulder straps...?...
to each his/her own.
kelphead.