Info Beginners Guide To BP/W

[eelnoraa]

Your body shape does NOT play a role in wing shape and sizes. Generally, you want a narrow low profile wing. Most of the time, the wing is nearly empty, a wide wing will just fold up and wrap around tank, making venting difficult. You don't want that.

The X-tek wing shape is OK, nothing bad. But overall quality of the x-tek wing isn't the greatest at its cost IMO.

 

[purbeast]

Your body shape does NOT play a role in wing shape and sizes. Generally, you want a narrow low profile wing. Most of the time, the wing is nearly empty, a wide will just fold up and wrap around tank, making venting difficult. You don't want that.

The X-tek wing shape is OK, nothing bad. But overall quality of the x-tek wing isn't the greatest at its cost IMO.

I'm assuming with any of the SP things, you are paying for the name quite a bit, as well as reliability. When you say it isn't the greatest at it's cost, what exactly isn't that great about it? What do other wings at that price have that it doesn't have? And are you saying you can basically get same exact quality, just at a lower price point from another not as big brand?

I know they have a good rep for regulators too. My local shop that let me try out the setup in the pool is a SP shop so that is all they carry. I'm not 100% getting stuff from them though. There is something to having a shop local to just take stuff to if things go wrong, etc, and they have been very good to me thus far in letting me try out 2 BCD's and 6 different regulators (4 second stage, 2 first stage). If I don't end up buying from them, I am going to pay them for letting me try out the equipment though just to stay on good terms with them and it just feels right.

That DGX package for like $400 is extremely tempting though. I mean it basically looks like the same exact thing I would get from the shop, but at nearly half the price. The quote I got for the setup I tried was $728 + tax which brings it to $776. But that does include an STA which I need to look into more as to whether or not I need it. She recommended it and said that it makes things easier, but I've done some research and have found some negatives as well.

They are having an open house this weekend and having some in store specials that she said "would be of interest to me" but I don't know details yet. I have to go there on Saturday to see what they are.

EDIT:

Also, with most wings, can you fold them up when the backplate is not attached? Ideally I would like to fit all of my SCUBA gear into a carry on luggage when traveling (with the exception of my fins) so that is something I've been wondering about as well. If I can fit it into a carryon, then I don't have to worry about the weight of the backplate and regs, etc.

 

[ams511]

@purbeast

In scuba you may not get what you pay for. Looking at the SP wing it looks quite a bit like this one doesn't it? or maybe this one. My point is many companies use the same vendors. What is the country of manufacture for SP?

Scubapro makes good regulators but are they worth the price? For the price of their low range regulators you can get better regulators from DGX, HOG, Deep 6, DRIS, Divers Supply, etc. Regulators are a mature technology, there are not going to be any radical breakthroughs anytime soon.

The SP STA with cam bands is like $90 or so. An STA is an STA, buy a cheap DGX if you need one. Whatever their deals are price it at Leisure Pro to make sure the prices are in line.

Some wings you can fold and others you cannot. For example Halcyon wings can fold, Oxycheq you can not. I am not sure about Scubapro.

 

[dmaziuk]

Also, with most wings, can you fold them up when the backplate is not attached? Ideally I would like to fit all of my SCUBA gear into a carry on luggage when traveling (with the exception of my fins) so that is something I've been wondering about as well. If I can fit it into a carryon, then I don't have to worry about the weight of the backplate and regs, etc.

I can fit my kit into a "55l" backpack, with pretty much no room left for spare t-shirt, but it's a couple of inches longer than "regulation" size (not a problem in practice: since sides and corners are soft: it'll fit where "regulation" roll-aboards don't). So between the possibility of running into an a*al attendant during plane change someplace south of the border, and having to check in the sharpies anyway, I check the bag instead.

The "next size up": 25" or so roll-aboard fits everything comfortably and with room to spare. This is with accel fins, BTW.

Acona has a backpack where fins are tied to the outside, I don't know if anyone ever tried to get that past the little "carry-on size check" box at the gate with a pair of e.g. master frogs tied on.

 

[purbeast]

@purbeast

In scuba you may not get what you pay for. Looking at the SP wing it looks quite a bit like this one doesn't it? or maybe this one. My point is many companies use the same vendors. What is the country of manufacture for SP?

Scubapro makes good regulators but are they worth the price? For the price of their low range regulators you can get better regulators from DGX, HOG, Deep 6, DRIS, Divers Supply, etc. Regulators are a mature technology, there are not going to be any radical breakthroughs anytime soon.

The SP STA with cam bands is like $90 or so. An STA is an STA, buy a cheap DGX if you need one. Whatever their deals are price it at Leisure Pro to make sure the prices are in line.

Some wings you can fold and others you cannot. For example Halcyon wings can fold, Oxycheq you can not. I am not sure about Scubapro.

Yeah I hear what you are saying.

I have checked the prices and I added up the cost on LP and it was identical, so the prices offered in the shop are the same as the ones at LP. I had checked the regs as well a couple weeks ago after being in the store and getting prices, so I figured the BCD gear was the same.

 

[eelnoraa]

I'm assuming with any of the SP things, you are paying for the name quite a bit, as well as reliability. When you say it isn't the greatest at it's cost, what exactly isn't that great about it? What do other wings at that price have that it doesn't have? And are you saying you can basically get same exact quality, just at a lower price point from another not as big brand?

I don't agree necessary agree to that in general.

I have used x-tek 60lb double wing before. Overall, it isn't bad. There are two things I don't like. The corrogated hose is too long. The inflation is not standard. I would have switched these two items if I own one. I didn't get a chance to check the inner bladder material. If it is coated nylon like Halcyon or VDH, then it is good. If it is urethane like Oxycheq or DSS, I would definitely you can do better for the cost. But still, x-tek package cost is just high. From Leisurepro,

It is already $727. These are not ready to dive yet. You will need at least two cambands at least. For apple to apple comparison to what I am going to compare it to, let's add scubapro STA + camband, which is $85. Making the total cause of $812. Halcyon Eclipse for $825. I am not saying you should get Halcyon Eclipse, but since this represents one of the highest end of bp/w, brand name and blings. If I were to spend that much, I will definitely get Halcyon. The customer support from Halcyon is 2nd to none.

There are also plenty of good quality bp/w setup you can get for $500 or less. And I can't comment on the relationship between your and the dive shop. My comment is purely based on my personal view on bp/w.

Also, with most wings, can you fold them up when the backplate is not attached? Ideally I would like to fit all of my SCUBA gear into a carry on luggage when traveling (with the exception of my fins) so that is something I've been wondering about as well. If I can fit it into a carryon, then I don't have to worry about the weight of the backplate and regs, etc.

In this aspect, x-tek wing is very flexible and foldable and rollable easy to pack. But it is not unique to x-tek. I think the main items that has trouble fitting in carry on will be the fins. bp/w and regs are easy

 

[purbeast]

I don't agree necessary agree to that in general.

I have used x-tek 60lb double wing before. Overall, it isn't bad. There are two things I don't like. The corrogated hose is too long. The inflation is not standard. I would have switched these two items if I own one. I didn't get a chance to check the inner bladder material. If it is coated nylon like Halcyon or VDH, then it is good. If it is urethane like Oxycheq or DSS, I would definitely you can do better for the cost. But still, x-tek package cost is just high. From Leisurepro,

View attachment 522914

View attachment 522915

It is already $727. These are not ready to dive yet. You will need at least two cambands at least. For apple to apple comparison to what I am going to compare it to, let's add scubapro STA + camband, which is $85. Making the total cause of $812. Halcyon Eclipse for $825. I am not saying you should get Halcyon Eclipse, but since this represents one of the highest end of bp/w, brand name and blings. If I were to spend that much, I will definitely get Halcyon. The customer support from Halcyon is 2nd to none.

There are also plenty of good quality bp/w setup you can get for $500 or less. And I can't comment on the relationship between your and the dive shop. My comment is purely based on my personal view on bp/w.




In this aspect, x-tek wing is very flexible and foldable and rollable easy to pack. But it is not unique to x-tek. I think the main items that has trouble fitting in carry on will be the fins. bp/w and regs are easy

With that package you are showing up above, that is the same package I am looking at and tested without the back pad thing though. But that is replaced with the STA. The price is exactly what you calculated - $727.

I still need to look into STA vs. no STA though. I get it from a physical stand point that it makes the tank sit off a little bit from the back, but I also haven't looked into what it does functional wise and if it's just for time saving when setting up rigs.

 

[dmaziuk]

I still need to look into STA vs. no STA though. I get it from a physical stand point that it makes the tank sit off a little bit from the back, but I also haven't looked into what it does functional wise and if it's just for time saving when setting up rigs.

I'm not sure how the time saving thing is supposed to work.

 

[purbeast]

I'm not sure how the time saving thing is supposed to work.

Neither am I. I meant that I assumed that was one of the benefits of it. I don't really know what it is for and assumed all of them had that initially.

 

[eelnoraa]

Neither am I. I meant that I assumed that was one of the benefits of it. I don't really know what it is for and assumed all of them had that initially.

I think what dmaziuk means is there is no time saving at all. STA isn't about time saving. It does makes the tank feel a little more secure. It also does make tank sit a little further from your back. Both in practice don't make a difference in term of overall stability. It is more of a personal preference. It is however another piece of metal and 2 set of screws you need to bring, usually about 1-1.5lb. It may matter to you if you travel.