Harness Comparison - UK DIVE STORE

Compare Harness Systems with Confidence

Dive deep into a detailed comparison of Continuous Loop and Break-Point harness systems, focusing on reliability, ease of use, and adaptability to enhance your technical diving experience.

Continuous Loop Harness

Designed for seamless operation, this harness offers unmatched reliability and comfort, ideal for complex diving environments.

Reliability Under Pressure

Ease of Adjustment

Material Durability

Weight Distribution

Suitability for Conditions

Break-Point Harness

A versatile option favored for its modular design, offering quick release features and adaptability in various dive scenarios.

Reliability Under Pressure

Ease of Adjustment

Material Durability

Weight Distribution

Suitability for Conditions

Hybrid Harness System

Combining the strengths of both systems, this harness delivers enhanced safety and comfort for diverse technical dives.

Reliability Under Pressure

Ease of Adjustment

Material Durability

Weight Distribution

Suitability for Conditions

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Compare Continuous Loop and Break-Point Harnesses

This section describes the key features briefly.

Continuous Loop System

Offers unmatched reliability with minimal maintenance requirements.

Break-Point System

Designed for quick deployment and easy adaptability underwater.

Key Advantages

Provides greater flexibility in rigging for diverse diving scenarios.

Ease of Use

Simplifies gear management, ideal for both novice and expert divers.

Comparing Continuous Loop and Break-Point Harness Systems

Explore the key differences between harness types, focusing on reliability, ease of use, and adaptability in technical diving.

Continuous Loop Harness Advantages

Discover how the Continuous Loop design offers simplicity, fewer failure points, and seamless integration for technical divers.

Break-Point Harness Benefits

Learn how the Break-Point system allows quick adjustments and enhanced safety through modular components.

Choosing the Right Harness for You

Understand how selecting the appropriate harness improves dive reliability and comfort across varying underwater conditions.

Compare Harness Systems for Technical Diving

Discover the key differences and advantages between Continuous Loop and Break-Point harnesses to enhance your diving safety and performance.

Continuous Loop Harness

Offers robust reliability with minimal adjustments, making it ideal for stable underwater configurations and extended dives.

Break-Point Harness

Provides quick release options that improve emergency response times, suitable for diverse diving conditions and equipment setups.

Adaptability & Comfort

Designed to accommodate various body types and gear arrangements, ensuring comfort without compromising safety during prolonged dives.

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Continuous Loop vs. Break-Point Harness

In the technical diving community, the harness debate is often philosophical. The “DIR” (Doing It Right) purists insist on a single piece of webbing, while equipment manufacturers push complex adjustable systems.

For the UK diver wrestling a twinset over a bulky drysuit in a rolling boat, the choice is practical: Do you want maximum reliability or maximum ease of entry?

1. The Continuous Loop (The “Hogarthian” Standard)

A single piece of 2-inch (50mm) nylon webbing threaded through the backplate. No clips, no joins, no stitching.

The Pros:

Zero Failure Points: A continuous strip of standard stiff nylon webbing has a breaking strength of >2,000kg. It will not snap, pop, or freeze. In a survival scenario, this reliability is non-negotiable.
Stability: Once adjusted, it does not slip. Your kit stays exactly where you put it, which is critical for maintaining trim with heavy steel cylinders.
Cost: Replacement cost is ~£15 for 4 meters of webbing.
Low Profile: No bulky buckles to interfere with drysuit inflate valves or stage bottle clips.

The Cons:

The “Chicken Wing” Dance: Getting into a fixed harness while wearing a crushed neoprene drysuit and thick undersuits requires flexibility. You have to thread your arms through tight loops.
Sizing Rigidity: If you switch from a t-shirt (pool training) to a 400g thinsulate (winter diving), you must manually unthread the triglides at the backplate to loosen the straps. It is a 20-minute workshop job, not a boat-deck adjustment.
Rescue Anxiety: Some divers worry that without a quick-release buckle, they are trapped. ( Counterpoint: In a medical emergency, rescuers will use shears to cut the webbing instantly).

Verdict: The standard for serious technical diving. The learning curve for donning/doffing is worth the elimination of failure points.

2. The Break-Point Harness (Quick-Release / Adjustable)

Systems that incorporate a buckle (plastic or metal) on the shoulder strap to allow the harness to “break” open.

The Pros:

Donning/Doffing Speed: You can slip into the harness loosely and clip it shut. On a cramped RIB or hardboat lift, unclipping a shoulder allows you to roll out of the set effortlessly without dislocating a shoulder.
Mobility Friendly: Essential for divers with limited shoulder flexibility or rotator cuff injuries.
On-the-Fly Adjustment: Many systems (like the “cinch” style) allow you to tighten the harness by pulling the waist belt, accommodating different undersuit thicknesses instantly.

The Cons:

The “Weak Link”:
- Plastic Buckles: Standard acetal (Delrin) buckles become brittle in cold water. If a 1-inch plastic clip takes the load of a 40kg twinset during a boat exit, it can snap.
- Metal Breaks: Even stainless steel breaks introduce a wear point where webbing can fray.
Clutter: A buckle on the shoulder sits exactly where your backup light or stage bottle clip needs to be. It reduces usable “real estate” on the chest.
Slippage: Adjustable systems often loosen slightly when wet, causing the tanks to sag during the dive.

Verdict: Acceptable for recreational/light tech, or divers with specific medical mobility needs. Generally avoided for overhead/cave environments where equipment failure is not an option.

Comparison: The Failure Analysis

Feature	Continuous Loop	Break-Point (Plastic/Metal)
Breaking Strength	>2,000kg (Webbing Tensile Limit)	50kg – 200kg (Buckle Load Limit)
Failure Mode	None (Webbing must be cut)	Buckle snaps / Spring fails
Simplicity	High (1 part)	Low (Springs, pins, clips)
Ease of Exit	Difficult (Requires technique)	Easy (Unclip and roll)
Chest Clutter	Minimal (Clean D-Rings)	High (Buckles occupy space)

💡 Pro Tip: The “Third Way” (The Cinch System)

If you want the stability of a continuous loop but the ease of getting out, look for a sliding backplate adapter (like the Halcyon Cinch or similar generic versions).

How it works: The webbing is continuous (no buckles to break), but it passes through a specialized mold on the backplate that allows it to slide.
The Result: You can loosen the shoulders to get out, then pull the waist belt tight to lock it in for the dive. It offers the safety of a continuous harness with the convenience of an adjustable one.