Any BCD that is both good for frequent cold water diving( like California) and light travel diving?

[noj3333]

http://www.leisurepro.com/p-ocnblmd...^157353905593-sku^OCNBLMDBL@ADL4LP-adType^PLA
I'm very happy with my Oceanic Biolite. 32-38 lbs of lift, very minimalistic design.

 

[Scubagolf]

I have been diving a Zeagle Brigade with a 35 lb. bladder in California and all over the world for the last 12 years.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

You can make anything work for warm water but not everything works so well for cold water.
If you're going to do that then you would need to pick a unit that can handle the weighting needs and lift requirements for cold water and put up with the bulk and lugging it along to warm water places, taking up a lot of room in your baggage.

Probably the best option if you are weight conscious for flying is an aluminum plate and wing combo. Aluminum plates are only about 3 lbs lighter than stainless and the extra weight needed in cold water can be easily placed on a belt or cam band. Or just get a stainless plate which is more ideal for cold water and figure to lug it around airports. Many people do that. You would need to start with something like a 30# lift wing and use it for both cold and warm. Then when money allows you could get a small 18# warm water travel wing. The nice thing about plates and wings are everything else like harness, cam bands, plate, stays the same for all diving.
BP/W are very compact compared to overstuffed full featured jackets and back inflate hybrids.

 

[turnburglar]

I dive with my SS Bpw and 25# wing in Cali, and wouldn't change a thing if I was gonna travel. The plate is pretty small, super thin, and we are only taking a 2-3 POUND penalty in the weight department. I save enough luggage weight elsewhere that I can carry the 2 extra pounds. It's really no big deal worth buying a 2nd plate.

 

[northernone]

I've been enjoying the MRS style bladder and harness from my cave gear both warm and cold. Packs away to nothing, but requires a weight belt and some non ditchable as well for the drysuit dives. Very minimal rig, if that's within your requirements.
Enjoy,
Cameron

 

[ScubaDoo83]

I agonized over the decision between SS and AL backplates prior to purchase. I ended up going with the Al because I will be traveling for a majority of my dives and I wanted to be able to do only carry on luggage for a one week dive trip. I cannot speak to performance yet as it will be my first pool practice in the new rig tomorrow. However I am able to pack up my ENTIRE dive rig in a single carry on bag! I then have clothes/ camera/ electronics in another carry on backpack. Very cool.

As far as weight is concerned I went ahead and bought weight pockets for my cambands and hips. I plan on putting a majority of the weight needed in my cambands for trim then adjusting with lighter weights in my hip pockets. I attached them upside down so they are dumpable if absolutely necessary but I want to achieve as light a rig as possible so that I can just swim it up.

 

[RyanT]

I also travel with my SS back plate. It's perfect...provides about 6 lbs of weight to help offset the buoyancy of my rented AL 80s and stows compactly in my luggage with a wing.