SS v. aluminum backplate - help me think this through

[grf88]

If you are going to travel then buy an aluminum one in addition to your SS for local. You can buy an aluminum one for very little $.

 

[Nemrod]

Most destination dive resorts have plenty of weights on the boat or to check out. If you are a glutton for punishment and just want to haul a heavy steel plate in your luggage, have at it. It is sort of like toting your own weights with you, why?

Frankly, I prefer these to metal plates for warm water travel diving(an assumption that is wHat you are intending since you did not specify, just going on a hunch):

Cave Adventurers - Ultra Lite Travel Plate *Black* - Marianna, Florida USA - Never Undersold!

Ultra Lite Travel Plate *Black*

www.caveadventurers.com

Put two excess camband pouches on your cambands, one each, two of these on your waist strap:

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Use stiff or medium stiffness webbing. Here is mine beside my VDH aluminum universal mini-plate:



That is a VDH univeral aluminum plate and VDH 23# wing on the left and an Oxy 18# wing and Oxy "Travel" plate on the right:



Not sure I understand the Americans and carry-on statement, I usually check two bags plus camera housing in carry-on. I think I am an American, maybe not, hmmm. I do not wear sneakers and cargo shorts either so maybe I am European just pretending to be an American.

James

 

[Scared Silly]

Neither Al or SS. As posted here:

After diving and traveling with a hard plate for a decade, I am done with mine for singles in most cases. Traveling with a hard plate is a PITA. I have gone to a polymer reinforced backplate, namely the Zeagle Express Tech. The only place I would dive my hard plate is in cold water where I needed some extra weight.

 

[rongoodman]

I don't see why a hard plate is a pain to travel with. Drop it into the duffel, take it out when you get there, just like the fins and wet suit.

 

[Brett Hatch]

I own an aluminum plate, which I pretty much never use. I mostly dive with a stainless plate and a 30lb wing, with a single-piece harness. It works for all the diving I do: cold water in a drysuit with a single steel tank, cold water in a drysuit with double steels (with a doubles wing), cold water in an 8mm wetsuit with a single steel, warm water in a 3mm wetsuit with a single aluminum tank. There are certain configs where an aluminum plate is worthwhile, like double steels in warm water, but many divers never do that.

I understand that many divers bring an AL plate to save the 3 lbs in their checked bag, but to me that sounds like the tail is wagging the dog.

 

[GDHLEWIS]

As other have said depends on your suit, but the difference is only a couple of pounds really . Im warm water diving so Aluminum is more than enough for me. But will look at having a steel plate available in the UK for when Im back home diving

 

[brsnow]

I go back and forth on this. I have aluminum but am diving more cold. Thinking of going SS now, have to figure even in shorts/tshirt with an AL 80 I shouldn’t be negative. I am a sinker though. Just hate adding an extra weight.

 

[Scared Silly]

I don't see why a hard plate is a pain to travel with. Drop it into the duffel, take it out when you get there, just like the fins and wet suit.

The issue is the extra weight, rigidity, and hard edges. Plus there are two plates.

 

[Eric802]

I appreciate the input. I think my initial instinct to go with SS is correct. I may be able to get away with no weights for swimsuit diving, and less added for wetsuit. If I’m traveling with my dive gear that’s another checked bag anyway, so the weight shouldn’t be a big deal.

 

[Gone for diving]

And never think that one bp/w is enough,,,
Some how (if you are in the sport for any length of time) you end up with more than one.... usually because the price was right...