Another BPW Question

[chrpai]

Curious, what BCD category does the express tech fall into ?

If I had to put a label on it, I'd call it a minimalistic rear inflation travel BCD.

I'll admit, I haven't dove one and I really can't say just how much merit the "it doesn't have a rigid plate" argument really has. I've heard it before many times though. I do know that if I was in Jamaica and I saw a bunch of stab jackets and an Express Tech to borrow, I know which one I'd grab. If there was also a SS BP/W I know which one I'd borrow. Either way, I'd be diving.

 

[halocline]

I dive a Dive Rite aluminum plate, Oxycheq wing, single continuous piece of webbing for a harness. The wing has stabilizers to keep the tank from rolling. I recently got an Oxycheq ultralite soft plate. Kept all my components the same, just switched the aluminum plate for the soft plate. Same piece of webbing, same D-rings, same wing, same cam bands, same buckle, same everything. If it's no longer a BP/W, what is it ?

I don't know what you'd call it, and I don't think the label is very important. But it definitely works differently, and you did not keep all your components the same, because the rigid plate is one of the components. I'm not saying the UL fabric plate isn't 'good', just a different type of system. There's a lot of confusion and arguing about this stuff on this forum, I don't want to get into a semantics battle.


I also use a AL plate (or a steel plate depending on the situation) and an oxycheq wing with a hogarthian harness. It's a great set up.

 

[ronscuba]

I don't know what you'd call it, and I don't think the label is very important. But it definitely works differently, and you did not keep all your components the same, because the rigid plate is one of the components. I'm not saying the UL fabric plate isn't 'good', just a different type of system. There's a lot of confusion and arguing about this stuff on this forum, I don't want to get into a semantics battle.


I also use a AL plate (or a steel plate depending on the situation) and an oxycheq wing with a hogarthian harness. It's a great set up.

No battle. Just a respectful discussion here.

I don't want to disrespect tradition and I do agree a soft plate feels different than a hard plate. If the only component changed is hard plate to soft plate, is it really now a different system ?

Tradition aside, Zeagle puts the ET in their backplate category. If you go on their website, the ET is in the backplate section. They sell the ET plate separately as the "Express Tech Backplate". Oxycheq markets their soft plate as the "worlds lightest backplate". Dive Rite markets the Transpac as a "soft backplate". It appears all 3 companies distinguish BCD from BP/W by the BP/W modularity to change the wing and other components such as pockets.

If people are not familiar with a product, then the label does matter as long as it is accurate. I guess one could say the most accurate label would be "Soft Backplate & Wing".

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Well I do use the Express Tech. Been diving one for four years now. And as far as the soft plate goes I honestly don't see any difference between it and my steel or al plates as far as single tank, relatively warm water, recreational diving goes. What it does have going for it is the ability to size it fast. Like really fast when you change suits or divers. If you add weight pouches to the cam bands and get them close to the plate you can fine tune the weight distribution to a very small degree. It is just as stable as metal plate. Steel or al. I dive mine with lp 72's, al 80's, and lp95's. And it is just as solid as my other rigs. I did go with the 35lb wing since the 24 is a bit small for diving heavy steels. And a crotch strap is not optional IMO. You need it.
For travel it actually is my first choice. Next is the HOG rig I have with the AL plate and 23 lb wing. After that any of my steel plate setups.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[phoenix31tt]

One question


is the ET customizable in the sense that you could add/remove anything you want from the harness by simply threading through it with the webbing?

 

[ronscuba]

One question


is the ET customizable in the sense that you could add/remove anything you want from the harness by simply threading through it with the webbing?

I don't own a ET, but you can see in the pictures the ET harness is just webbing. So yes, you can add D-rings, pockets, etc..

For single tank use, the Oxycheq ultra soft plate is the same. Difference being you can use pretty much any mfr. single tank wing with the Oxycheq. The ET is limited to wings with wide centers like Zeagle and Dive Rite.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Yes. No problem doing that.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[phoenix31tt]

then it seems to have all the features of a standard bp/w minus the hard plate... if i were diving with a ZET for single tank warm water, i probably wouldn't switch until i need a replacement due to wear and tear or enhanced diving (doubles etc)

 

[rhincodon]

Lots of great information here! Thanks for all the posts. I think it is a BPW system just with a soft travel plate rather than a metal plate. It is modular with a bp, wing and harness.

 

[halocline]

then it seems to have all the features of a standard bp/w minus the hard plate...

Yes, but again, the rigid plate is a big part of what makes BP/Ws work so well. It's really easy to understand why once you actually use this gear repeatedly. The cylinder must be mounted on your back one way or the other, and a rigid flat plate (or sort-of-flat) does this in a way that soft harness systems simply do not.