Are there disadvantages of using aluminum BPs?

[sphyrnidus]

A myth? I have a 5 kg (6mm SS) and an 848 grams weighing alu BP for travelling. There is nothing mythical about the >4 kg difference in weight. Especially when a lot of airlines require check in luggage of no more than 20 kg. Aside from lugging 4 kg extra, which is quite heavy too in the long run when travelling.

 

[eelnoraa]

I actually use more AL more than SS plate.

AL for all travel to save luggage weight. 4lb less than SS is almost 10% saving of the check in weight limit on trans pacific international flight (50lb). Not to mention shorter flight, check in limit reduce dramatically. It is definitely NOT a myth. AL plate also allow me to put more weight on upper cam bend to help trim. AL also for double steel tank, mainly to help trim out top heaviness of most steel double.

DSS kydex plate should work the same too but due to the flatness of DSS plate design, I can't really use it.

 

[WhiteSands]

Thanks for the great info offered. Aluminum sounds like a better option for me because I use only 2lbs of weight. I will probably be over weighted with a SS plate. Most of my diving is 3mm wetsuit in warm water. Also I fly budget for most diving trips & the check in limit is only 20kg.

Which aluminum BPs are the most highly regarded here?

---------- Post added September 15th, 2013 at 09:45 PM ----------

I actually use more AL more than SS plate.

AL for all travel to save luggage weight. 4lb less than SS is almost 10% saving of the check in weight limit on trans pacific international flight (50lb). Not to mention shorter flight, check in limit reduce dramatically. It is definitely NOT a myth. AL plate also allow me to put more weight on upper cam bend to help trim. AL also for double steel tank, mainly to help trim out top heaviness of most steel double.

DSS kydex plate should work the same too but due to the flatness of DSS plate design, I can't really use it.

May I ask why the flatness prevents you from using it? Thanks

 

[chrpai]

If you only wear 2lbs of weight, you might actually want to look at a Zeagle Express Tech. It's not a BP/W in the purist sense but it's pretty darn close. It uses a polymer non-metal custom backplate and might be spot on for your weighting needs. Even an AL plate might overweight you by a few pounds when you consider differences in inherent buoyancy of your old and new rig.

 

[ronscuba]

The Express Tech is basically a soft backplate. Diverite, Hollis and Oxycheq have soft backplates too. The Express Tech package is the most affordable. The Diverite, Hollis and Express tech plates have wide camstrap connections so you cannot use narrow wings like the Oxcheq or DeepSeaSupply. I would use a crotch strap will all of them.

For 10 years I happily used the Diverite soft plate package, the Transpac. I recently paired the Oxycheq soft plate with a DeepSeaSupply 17 wing. It dives great, it's tiny and weighs under 4 pounds.

 

[WhiteSands]

Hi all,
I'm actually already using a soft pac but would like to get an aluminum backplate instead.

What is everyone's favorite aluminum BP that can handle both singles and doubles?

Thanks.

 

[Centrals]

What is everyone's favorite aluminum BP that can handle both singles and doubles?

You will get various opinions.
The plates come in various shapes and sizes!!! Some will require STA also.
It is not one size fit them all!
We all have different idea and requirement.

 

[rivers]

I have a dive rite ali plate. Don't have a steel plate and am solely diving cold water these days. Use it for singles and twins, no issue

 

[JBFG]

@Rivers: how much weight do you use with your AL and dry suit? do you use a weight belt?

 

[NAM001]

i found it interesting the comments about shifting weight fromt he belt to the bp. i am using a steel bp and need no additional weight. In fresh water i am perhaps a pound or 2 heavy but that is ok. The story would be completely different if i were a lean mean diving machine instead of 30% bf. given that one would have to wonder if any significant % is of the lean nature that would require 4# less plate. I see some situations such as diving with no suit or lavacore (double whammy ... warm water). diving with steel tanks is another. So to take it a step further if you are diving in colder water and need full exposure suit , or in salt water, it should be almost a given that you will be using a steel plate. Granted that dss does not sell a al plate they do sell a kydex plate for those that can benifit from teh 5# difference from the steel.