We've seen plenty people struggle to don and doff their continuous loop harness because: (1) they are unable perform the required "chicken wing" maneuver due to limited mobility in a shoulder, or (2) they are wearing a heavy dry suit and undergarment, or (3) they simply have a preference for exceptionally snug harness fit. There are a lot of solutions to making the shoulder strap of webbing harnesses more easily adjustable on backplates, but most involve using either plastic devices or cutting the webbing.

The stainless steel Loop Adjustment Ring (LAR) allows the left shoulder strap of any 2-inch continuous webbing (aka 'hogarthian', aka 'DIR') harness to be freely adjustable, making your harness much easier to doff and don. Easy to install without cutting the webbing, the LAR is especially useful with drysuits and for those divers with limited shoulder mobility. Made of marine grade stainless steel, the device works with a 2-inch continuous webbing harness and any metal backplate (although the use of some force may be required to initially snap the ring in place on some plates.)

During initial assembly of your webbing harness just insert the LAR into the back of the diver's left waistband slot on the plate prior to threading the webbing. Instead of weaving the left side of the harness waistband through the plate, simply thread it through the LAR. The left shoulder webbing becomes freely adjustable, yet remains completely secure. It's also easy to add to an already assembled plate and harness; remove the waistband buckle and any left side accessories such as your knife plus the D-ring, unweave the waistband webbing only from the left side of the plate, insert the LAR, thread the waistband through the LAR, then reinstall the D-ring and buckle.

Using the LAR is easy - before donning the harness increase the length of the left shoulder webbing by pulling the webbing back through the device until the waistband is stopped by the left waist D-ring. Don the harness starting first with your left arm then your right arm, next pull the left waist band straight out from your body until the should strap is snug as you like, finally thread your crotch strap then add your right side accessories and buckle the waistband as usual. Once the harness is fastened and the webbing is under load, the upper part of the device grasps the waistband webbing as securely as if it were threaded through the plate.

The LAR could alternately be installed on the right side or even on both sides. However, when used on the right side then something such as a belt slide or D-ring must be permanently installed as a stop, which might cause issues with positioning the right side accessories such as light canister.