Moving from steel tanks and drysuits to wetsuits and aluminum tanks has forced me to completely change my bouyancy compensation equipment to find optimal trim, and my latest configuration is based around an X-Deep wing and custom harness.
Overview of XDeep wing with harness based on Andrew Goring’s SUMP UK hardware, optimized for the sidewinder.
It is good to note that we actually have two of these setups, Chrissy used the stock X-Deep harness, but had difficulties getting the sidewinder attached cleanly due to lack of adequately sized holes near the spine, requiring 550 cord loops. She slowly progressed to a harness similar to this.
Each of these parts is made by Andrew Goring. The two hole triglide (upper arrow) provides a place for the lower sidewinder cannister tie to clip so that it hangs from the lateral center of bouyancy (center of my back.) The shoulder strap/tanks attachment point brackets are one piece assemblies made by Andrew which serve a few purposes. The hole (lower arrow) provides an attachment point for the Oxygen bottle in a sidewinder configuration. It is essential to get the heavy oxygen bottle as far forward as possible to reduce weight required at the shoulders. If the bottle hangs low, laying on the legs, instead of up close to the butt cheeks, the longitudinal center of gravity shifts aft, and significant weight must be added at the shoulders to counter it. By clipping the tank close using these higher holes nearly at the waist belt, the tank is kept as far foward as possible, and lays against the back of the wing when inflated. Chrissy and I have also found that the stock X-Deep lower bracket brings the shoulder straps uncomfortably close together at the lower back, imparting a strange twist in the webbing. By using these brackets, the harness changes to an H configuration, and the straps carry the weight of the tanks directly when forced to stand with them attached, such as on a dive boat. (The horror.)
Here, the upper connection area. The type of shoulder strap connector here is irrelevant, however the double hole triglide here is critical, as is the placement. One of these could be placed with the standard X-Deep upper bracket. The upper holes should be used to mount your tank bungee. The lower holes provide a connection point for the upper tie of the sidewinder cannister. Placement of this is important- the bungees should run parallel to the ground (when standing, or perpendicular when swimming) just below/behind the armpit, so that the bungee does not impart a loading on the tank, more importantly, the upper sidewinder connection should be as high as possible to prevent pinching of the rather substantial wing, which results in a bubble wing shape, instead of a smooth low profile.
The underarm configuration. This is actually the lower of two d-rings- the upper is located at the collar bone, for proper below body stage management. Here, Another Andrew Goring custom part, a triglide with two loops- the interior provides a mostly unnecessary (for me) chest strap attachment. Women with large chests who have difficulties with the shoulder straps rolling out from the center of the body will need the chest strap arrangement. The outer loop provides a connection point for my bungee and also the bungee retention on the top of the sidewinder cannisters. The backup lights are tucked below the edge of the wing, out of the way. Though I was not originally a fan of the inflator across the chest, I am growing into it, and having it attached up near the shoulder is difficult with the sidewinder.
Configuration of the sidewinder canisters. The lengths of the center straps (550 cord, in this picture) and the length of the retention bungee are very important, and must be sized to each individual, and may even change between wetsuit and drysuit. It is important that when clipped to the harness and lying prone, that the sidewinder cannisters lay parallel to the floor. If the straps are too short, the tops of the cans will stick up above your back and hit everything above you. If the straps are too long, they will lay on your tanks and stick out away from the body,
The picture above shows the counterlung and canisters installed, minus the actual breathing loop. The counterlung sits between your back and the center back strap, but outside of the lower shoulder strap connection points. The wing tips are pulled up from behind in this view, between the counterlung and the canisters.
Here, the upper canister connections are shown.
Here, the lower canister connection. Notice that these will not end up between the harness and body, but on the outside of the harness.
In this picture of the left side as worn, you can see the bungee attaches to the outer loop of the chest strap/backup light D-ring. The wing is pulled underneath the canister and attached at with a double-ender to the other side, the inflator pulls with the wing under the canister, and my hoses are routed under the arm.
On the right side (as worn) my oxygen addition block is shown, tight to my shoulder strap, with the button oriented towards the center of the chest, and my offboard diluent feedline, which can feed from anywhere with a QC-6.
Finally, the view from the back. Hope this helps, and sorry to everyone who have waited a year or more for me to post this.
