I dive with a back plate and wing with a Hogarthian harness. I had the normal stainless steel buckle for the waist belt. After diving off the Outer Banks and several times feeling like I was being stalked by a barracuda, I decided I wanted to get rid of the very shiny SS buckle on my belt. I found out about this Clear-Path buckle and bought one. I've done several fresh water dives with it now and I really like it. I know it may sound silly, but more than one occasion I had a barracuda swimmin...g parallel to me, at my same speed, for over a minute. Each time, I slowly reached down and covered my SS buckle with my hand. In less than 2 seconds, the barracuda peeled off and swam away. Coincidence? Maybe. I'll still feel better the next time I'm diving down there!
The glass-filled nylon seems very sturdy, as does the stainless steel hinge pin. Threading my waist belt was much easier than threading my old SS buckle.
A side benefit was that my old SS buckle was very noisy/clanky when loose. I.e. when just moving my BC rig around, that buckle was annoyingly loud. This buckle is nice and quiet.
Weight is not really a big concern for me, but this buckle is quite a bit lighter than my old SS buckle, too.
XS Scuba's Clear-Path Buckle is a unique and innovatively designed weight belt buckle. Buckle can be used in conjunction with standard 2" (5.1cm) nylon webbing, is made from strong, noncorrosive and durable molded glass-filled nylon. Buckle is equipped with a 316-grade stainless-steel hinge pin for years of reliable use. Buckle is easy to use with its open webbing channel design and a secure webbing grip with high lift lever.
KENNETH K
This buckle has a 316 CRES hinge pin; my standard XS Scuba buckle has the Delrin hinge pins (concerned the pins might shear off); adding this for 2 buckles in series; almost lost my weights at a 100 ft depth recently from the buckle inadvertently had opened.
Stuart V
I have been using these for 7+ years now on all my harnesses. They are strong, light, quiet, and last seemingly forever. I have more harnesses now, so I bought more buckles.
JOSH W
past reviews
WALTER R
Best buckle around,easy to thread belt through and take up slack.
KEITH W
I needed something that would allow me to use the rather short webbing on my mokey rig without having the buckle hang half way open.