a plate is a plate...or ?

[fredhue]

I have been diving with a seaquest pro qd bc for just over a year, and am thinking of switching to a plate and wing for a single tank. I've looked at a few,...... dive rite,halcyon,and hog. I have also been given some advice, like a plate is a plate, and a harness is a harness. I have also been told, No ... there are vast differences from mfg. to mfg. I know that right now leisure pro has dive rite ss plate $100, transplate harness $60 and assorted dive rite wings $200-240. I have also looked a Deep Sea Supply online, it looks like a similar rig is about $550. Anyone out there used both and have an opinion on whats better....and why? Thanks, Mark

 

[eelpout]

I would ask to try any BP/wing system in the water. If you are buying it from a LDS, somebody should spend time with you in the water. Based on your body shape, type of diving (cold- warm, salt- fresh, wetsuit-drysuit) would make a difference in the coice of BP/wing combo.

If you are buying from any source other than a LDS, I would find somebody to mentor and help you with this decision.

Advice in writing will not help much, other than giving their personal opinion when it comes to which system is better for you.

Just my 2 cents,
Jim

 

[SteveAD]

There is a big difference in size and shape. DSS plates come in at least 4 different sizes. If you're "average" just about any standard plate (or a DSSmedium) will work for you. If you are of an extreme size you might have to try harder to find one you like.

 

[LowVizWiz]

A plate is a plate and the differences between the different vendors is minimal IMO more personal preferences, finish quality and features, unless you need a plate with something very specific such as size or weight.

If you're and average size diver most regular size plates will fit you well. If you're smaller or taller then your choices are less.

 

[ShakaZulu]

Not true, mine has little vertical fins on it to channel the water flow and reduce turbulence and drag....

 

[TSandM]

Plates vary in material (SS vs Al, and type of SS), quality of finish, placement and number of slots and holes, and angle of bend. Deep Sea Supply's plates also have an elastomer insert in the lower harness slots, to make adjusting the harness easier, and to cut down on abrasion. My husband dives a DSS SS plate and loves it. He also loves the weight plates Tobin makes for his setups, which allow him to put 8 more pounds on his back in a very streamlined fashion. (These weight plates are not compatible with, or available for any other plate that I know of.) He bought a Dive Rite plate when we were in Florida, but it put the harness straps in a different place, and after a few dives, he sold it.

Harnesses come in two flavors: simple Hog harnesses, and fancy harnesses. The simple harness is a length of 2" webbing, onto which you thread triglides and D rings and position them appropriately. The fancy harnesses may have padding, more D-rings, quick releases, and the like. Some people like them and don't mind the additional outlay; everyone I know who began with a fancy harness has converted to a simple one over time, just because they're more flexible in terms of being able to adjust them perfectly and position all the hardware exactly where you want it.

The only minor point I'll mention about DSS stainless plates is that the angle of bend is optimized for single tank use. Some sets of doubles don't have bolts long enough to use with DSS plates. If you aren't diving doubles, this is immaterial to you.

 

[halocline]

The angles do vary from plate to plate and it does make a difference. Oddly enough, my favorite plate for single tank use is dead flat, the old jet harness plate. I don't know why, but it's the most comfortable. I wouldn't recommend buying one though, the guy is out of business, although I have heard rumors that someone is starting it up again. Anyhow, there are only a couple of wings (dive rite travel wing) that work with it.

One other difference in plates is where the slots for the cam bands are located. That's important if you want to use the set up without a STA (single tank adapter). This is one advantage of deep sea supply; it's an integrated system and it's very well designed.

A nice reasonable set up is the oxycheq mach V wing on either an oxycheq or dive rite plate. You can find a good deal on those at a place called caveadventurers.com.

Whatever you get, I'd recommend a single piece hogarthian harness.

 

[rstofer]

I have a few plates and none of them compare with the quality of the DSS plates (which I also have). Don't underestimate the utility of the elastomer grommets. They keep the harness in adjustment.

I don't know how you calculated the price but the DSS Complete Rig configuration tool comes up with $470 for the SS backplate (large), HOG harness and LCD-30 wing. The Pro-Fit harness adds quite a bit to the cost. I have that harness and I like the quick disconnect but I would be willing to use the HOG configuration as well. My other BP/W's have the simple web harness.

I'm not sure you can buy the bits and pieces to come up with a rig like the DSS and do any better on the price. You certainly won't do better on the quality.

Richard

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I would also point out that some manufactures make various sizes of plates amd some are even out of thicker metal to cut down on lead ballast.

FredT, from here on the boards, makes plates in different sizes, thicknesses, and materials so I would bet he has the largest selection but they come unfinished or somewhat finished but really its only a basic debur with no anodizing or polishing like the name brand plates. This is what I own.

Tobin at DSS makes different size plates in different materials but they are a fixed thickness unlike Fred's plates. Tobin overcomes this with bolt on plate style weights.

so of all the manufactures of plates: Dive rite, Halcyon, DSS, OMS, Hammerhead, Zeagle, FredT, Oxycheq, Salvo, etc it is my firm belief that DSS and FredT offer the greatest selection and probably the best prices for what you get.

Also take into account that DSS plates dont require a single tank adapter and everyone else does, this may or may not be a factor for you.

If your traveling and going for the lightest plate possible your probably best off going with a DSS Kydex plate or the Oxycheq travel SS plate or any one of the aluminum plates on the market. the DSS version doesn't need an STA and is very light and the Oxycheq version is light and very compact and frankly I just think it looks cool.

If your going for heavy so you dont need any or little lead then DSS or FredT are going to be your best bet because they offer the heavier plates. The weights for the DSS plate however are pretty expensive. You could probably make something similar for any other plate if you tried.

For me there is only one logical harness, a simple hogarthian harness setup made from a single piece of webbing.

 

[halocline]

Actually, there's another cool option for single tank use, it's the freedom plate made by a SB member named Eric. It's kind of retro-looking like an updated version of the old backpacks, works great with the oxycheq wing, and is good for travel.