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Front vs Back mounted Vest


Henry Northrop

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Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could help answer some questions for me in terms of front vs back mounted vests.

Presumably one isn't better than the other and it's down to the choice of the operator.

If so, what makes you choose one over the other?

If you're a back mounted operator why is that? Maybe because it distributes weight differently or the vests are comfier?

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
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Hi Daniel,

If you ask a vest designer for an opinion on that subject, you'll get a biased one, but here we go!

Wherever you connect the arm to the vest, the weight of the Steadicam is still out front, so let's first rule out any differential there. Connecting the arm to the back of the vest does not magically transfer the weight into your back.

Although the Exovest can be front or rear mounted, I use mine almost exclusively front mounted. The exception is when I'm using a 3rd arm section. The extra section has to go somewhere, and rear mounting provides the perfect solution of creating space.

The main difference in feel between front and rear mounting, in this case (as it's the only one I'm really familiar with) is that there's less torque bending your body forward, but that's because you now have some extra counterbalance weight out back. That might feel nice, but I'd rather build up a little back muscle than subject my hip, knee, and ankle joints to carrying around the extra weight that rear mounting entails.

Apart from the extra weight, there's the extra girth to deal with too. You're always going to be wider with a back mount, and there are often going to be situations when that's a liability.

However, and most importantly, comfort and confidence in the equipment is paramount. Whatever works for you is the right system.

All the best,

Chris

Chris

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Thank you very much Chris! My own experience with your vest and the X-Bone ends up pretty close to what you explain here.

Good to have your advice on this because I always wonder why some op fly front mount an other fly backmount...

Seems like there's not a big gap between those 2 setups though...

Your explanations fits with my own experience, interesting!

 

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