2020Vests forum
Comparison of back-mounted versus front-mounted exoskeleton vests for camera operation
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Back-mounted configurations shift the center of gravity farther back compared to front-mounted vests, which some operators report as a noticeable difference in leg fatigue.
- Front-mounted exovests that contact only the pelvic bones and shoulders may allow easier diaphragmatic breathing and better stamina compared to vests that press on organs or spine.
- Some operators have experimented with relocating the socket block from front to back on standard exovests as a cost-saving alternative to purchasing dedicated back-mounted systems.
- Back-mounted setups may reduce interference with monitors and provide more central weight distribution than front-mounted configurations.
- Back-mounted arm positions may offer advantages for lock-off shots compared to front-mounted configurations.
- Attempting to adjust socket blocks while wearing a back-mounted arm setup can be difficult due to lack of comfortable positioning options.
- Back-mounted arm positions may limit the range of motion beyond the standard rig position compared to front-mounted setups.
- Operators report different physical experiences with back-mounted setups, with some finding improved comfort and others experiencing asymmetrical weight distribution that affects posture and footprint size.
Depends on
- Experiences compared front-mounted exovests to back-mounted configurations without having personally tested both on the same model.
- One operator's experimentation with back-mounting a standard exovest socket block was limited to arms under 45 pounds and not representative of heavier camera setups.
- The comparison between Klassen back-mounted and exovest configurations remains untested in this discussion.
- Individual operator experiences with the same configuration differed significantly, suggesting body type, posture, and personal technique play important roles.
- The discussion includes anecdotal reports rather than systematic comparative testing.
Gear in this thread
Same gear or parts
- 2026Buying strategy for a 25,000 USD entry-level rig: used Artemis-1 with Flowcine X-Arm versus Rever-Evo Sled, and the case for learning on budget equipment firstDisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Comparison of Pro Titan arm versus Smart System X1 arm performance and tuningGeneral Discussion
- 2025Load capacity limits on the Steadicam® Axis: arm choice, bottlenecks, and compatible upgrades.FacebookSteadicam operators group
- 2025Choosing low/high mode kits for ARRI Artemis2 with Xarm Neo arm: compatibility of Pro and Tiffen options.SteadiHub