2015Steadi-Newbies forum
Identifying an unknown stabilizing vest and finding replacement parts
What the thread found
- A vest that visually resembles Steadicam Tiffen components but includes non-standard elements may be a modified Progear design.
- Progear went out of business and their exact replacement parts are no longer available through the original manufacturer.
- A successor company called Steadicam Proline produces vests with similar specifications to the discontinued Progear models.
- Budget alternatives exist from Asian manufacturers like Cinecity or Filmcity, though they use lower quality materials than the original.
- The bridge connecting the socket to the vest can bend when supporting heavy loads, so positioning it at hip pad height without interference helps prevent damage.
Depends on
- The vest identification is based on visual similarity rather than confirmed documentation.
- The recommendation against cheap knockoff brands is based on general material quality concerns rather than specific failure data.
- No detailed specifications are provided for the original Progear vest or its exact relationship to Steadicam products.