Aluminum or Stainless Steel BP?

[abjonesiii]

Aluminum or Stainless Steel?

I am getting ready to buy a Halcyon BP/W and cannot decide between Aluminum and SS back plate. Everything I read, and everyone I’ve asked seems to say that I should get SS, but I don’t know? I am 5’10, 165lbs. I currently dive Worthington HP 100s (+ reel and HID light) with NO weight and I feel a touch heavy. I do plan in the next six months to go to Doubles (hp 100) thus making me even heavier, sooo it seems to me that SS will be even heavier. I think Al is what I need but I don’t know. Any help / opinions would be great.

 

[El Orans]

Get steel for local use, aluminium for travel.

 

[abjonesiii]

Oh and if it matters I curently wear a 5mm + hood and gloves, but plan also to make the switch to drysuit in 6 months or so.

Thanks

 

[El Orans]

Nope. Still the same answer.

 

[ppo2_diver]

I use AL for freshwater and SS for saltwater. I'd rather travel with a couple extra pounds than have to deal with trim/balance issues when adding weight at my destination. But I haven't traveled in a few years, so it isn't much of a concern right now.

 

[Darnold9999]

I am 5' 10" 170 - dive steel Worthington 100's but use a drysuit. You will want the extra weight of the SS to reduce the weight you need on your belt for the drysuit. I do have the AL for travel however as every pound counts when carrying camera gear.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Aluminum or Stainless Steel?

I am getting ready to buy a Halcyon BP/W and cannot decide between Aluminum and SS back plate. Everything I read, and everyone I’ve asked seems to say that I should get SS, but I don’t know? I am 5’10, 165lbs. I currently dive Worthington HP 100s (+ reel and HID light) with NO weight and I feel a touch heavy. I do plan in the next six months to go to Doubles (hp 100) thus making me even heavier, sooo it seems to me that SS will be even heavier. I think Al is what I need but I don’t know. Any help / opinions would be great.

You don't mention your exposure suit. I'm assuming from your VA location it's either a 7 mm wetsuit or a Drysuit.

For singles in a heavy wetsuit or Drysuit I prefer to be neutral at the surface, no gas in the wing and a full cylinder. My wetsuit will compress enough for me to hold my shallow stops with a near empty cylinder. If you exposure suit is at least 20 lbs positive a HP 100 + a SS plate should work fine.

For doubles you need to be negative by the weight of all your back gas, plus a bit more to allow for DS inflation when you are shallow. For double 100's that's 16 lbs of gas, and maybe 4-5 for fluffing up your DS. Starting out 20 lbs negative usually means the weight of a SS plate is welcome.

When is a lightweight plate useful? Typically when diving in warm, maybe fresh water with little buoyant exposure suit and heavy steel tanks.

Tobin

 

[H2Andy]

think of the backplate as part of your weight system

if you need less weight, use the aluminum

if you need more weight, use the steel

 

[rjack321]

think of the backplate as part of your weight system

if you need less weight, use the aluminum

if you need more weight, use the steel

And part of your trim system, many folks like aluminum to shift weight lower in doubles (lighter BP, heavier belt)

 

[reubencahn]

I'm going to disagree with the apparent consensus. If you're slightly overweighted with a standard BC and a single x7-100, with even an aluminum bp you're going to be very overweighted. Doubles steels will increase that weight. When you go dry you'll need that weight, but where on your body you'll need it can't be said. You will probably end up head heavy. If the steel bp gives you all the weight you need, you won't have the option to place weight lower on your body with either a weight belt or a tail weight. A steel bp might be fine but it might not. An aluminum bp will give you greater flexibility.