Levigarrett
Registered
As I prepare to buy my first BP/W after having dived jacket-style BCs for some time, it seems to me that it is much more true that all BP/Ws are similar to each other than all jacket-style BCs are similar to each other. It seems to me that manufacturers of jacket-style BCs go out of their way to provide things that differentiate their brand from others, whereas manufacturers of BP/Ws can't and don't do much to differentiate themselves from each other. A more expensive BP might have a nicer finish than a cheaper one, but I suspect many divers don't care. And there might be some differences in wing construction quality among manufacturers, but those differences still seem minor to me in comparison with differences among jacket-style BCs.
Am I right?
Clearly my quote was a bit petulant. I think you're probably on the right path here. I have two BP's and two wings. One of my setup's is Scubapro (SS Doubles setup) and the other is a combination Hollis/DiveRite (Al singles setup). I certainly think the quality of the Scubapro BP is superior to the Diverite but it's also more expensive and I couldn't honestly tell you that the extra funds spent are going to provide an ounce of greater life/usefulness.
I think your post rings true for the most part. The BP/harness particularly, as for the wing, I think quality and workmanship are a bit more important and I'd spend the extra funds on that component if I were forced to choose one. Take care, best of luck.