Are there disadvantages of using aluminum BPs?

[rivers]

3-5kgs, depending on whether I'm in freshwater or the sea. Keep 3kgs on a weight belt, and add a v weight for the sea.

 

[Ste Wart]

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.

The cheapest!

Go-Dive :: Wings, Harnesses & Accessories :: Ist Aluminium Backplate - Largest Selection of Diving, Scuba Gear & Snorkelling Equipment in the UK!

I have one of these and paid £50 GBP ($75?) 4 years ago. These days I exclusively dive in cold waters, whereas when I bought it I was travelling a lot. With my doubles, membrane drysuit and Halo 3D I wear 4 kg in salt, none in fresh. For singles I add a soft-weight p-weight and 5 kilos. I have no need for the extra weight of a SS BP, some do though.

 

[WhiteSands]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

From comments gathered online and in PMs, I understand that these are the features I should look for:

1) Anodized finish
2) Multiple holes at top centre for flexibility in mounting doubles and adjusting rig balance
3) Slot on the center bottom instead of holes so that it allows convenient fitting of doubles bolts when the bolts may not line up exactly
4) Bottom corners of plate should be bent away from body so plate doesn't dig into body when carrying doubles.

These are the plates I looked at:
Dive Rite - (1), (3)
Halcyon - (1), (4)
HOG - (2), (3)
Dolphin IST - (2), (4)
Oxycheq - (1), (2)*
Hollis - (1), (2), (3), (4)

Seems like Hollis is the winner? The crotch strap slot for 2" strap seems to be higher though.

Your critique welcome!

 

[halocline]

I don't know about the anodized finish, not sure it's necessary and likely adds some expense. Aluminum supposedly does not stand up to seawater quite as well as the highest grades of marine stainless steel, but my AL plate is several years old and works fine; it does look a little faded. So what...

Regarding the two issues of weight distribution and carrying weight, a SS plate weighs about 3-4 lbs more than an AL plate, and provides about the same in ballast, maybe a bit more because they're a tiny bit thinner and so displace a little less water. The generally accepted rule of thumb is 5 lbs ballast with a SS plate, that might be a bit high, I don't know exactly. But, if you're using an AL tank, that 4-5 lbs right against your back spread out evenly is very, very nice IMO. Putting weights on the cambands with an AL plate approximates it, but not completely. If I need an AL plate anyway (for doubles) I'll usually just take it on a flight, but it's not as nice as a steel plate with AL80 in warm water.

I agree with chrpai that it's not difficult to find 3 lbs elsewhere in luggage, and that it's worth it to dive with the best possible equipment. Most empty luggage weighs 10 lbs or more, that's a perfect place to start saving weight. I routinely travel to MX with a full single tank and double tank set up, including two wetsuits, clothes and other stuff in one duffel bag. I've never gone over the 50 lbs limit. But everyone's different with different priorities.

Someone recently posted an ebay link to a cheap AL plate that looked pretty good.

 

[WhiteSands]

I don't know about the anodized finish, not sure it's necessary and likely adds some expense. Aluminum supposedly does not stand up to seawater quite as well as the highest grades of marine stainless steel, but my AL plate is several years old and works fine; it does look a little faded. So what...

Regarding the two issues of weight distribution and carrying weight, a SS plate weighs about 3-4 lbs more than an AL plate, and provides about the same in ballast, maybe a bit more because they're a tiny bit thinner and so displace a little less water. The generally accepted rule of thumb is 5 lbs ballast with a SS plate, that might be a bit high, I don't know exactly. But, if you're using an AL tank, that 4-5 lbs right against your back spread out evenly is very, very nice IMO. Putting weights on the cambands with an AL plate approximates it, but not completely. If I need an AL plate anyway (for doubles) I'll usually just take it on a flight, but it's not as nice as a steel plate with AL80 in warm water.

I agree with chrpai that it's not difficult to find 3 lbs elsewhere in luggage, and that it's worth it to dive with the best possible equipment. Most empty luggage weighs 10 lbs or more, that's a perfect place to start saving weight. I routinely travel to MX with a full single tank and double tank set up, including two wetsuits, clothes and other stuff in one duffel bag. I've never gone over the 50 lbs limit. But everyone's different with different priorities.

Someone recently posted an ebay link to a cheap AL plate that looked pretty good.

That someone would be me lol! I went back and calculated the price + shipping and turned out it wasn't cheap anymore. But thanks for the inputs.

 

[ams511]

The cheapest al plate is the Storm one sold by Dolphin Scuba on Amazon. I think I paid around $50 for it with a harness.

 

[Progen]

The cheapest al plate is the Storm one sold by Dolphin Scuba on Amazon. I think I paid around $50 for it with a harness.

Yeah, that was what I found too when I was researching backplates. In fac, it was so cheap that I actually steered clear of it but I didn't lose out since I got a Scubapro AL rig for 'free' in the end.

 

[ams511]

Yeah, that was what I found too when I was researching backplates. In fac, it was so cheap that I actually steered clear of it but I didn't lose out since I got a Scubapro AL rig for 'free' in the end.

Free is always best but you shouldn't have avoided it because of price. It is fine quality wise and will do the job the same as an expensive backplate.

 

[vladimir]

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.

Yes. A lot of airlines (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, Air New Zealand, and Qantas, at least) in Asia have and occasionally enforce a 7-kg limit on carry-ons. If you travel with a DLSR, strobes, lenses, etc., as I do, you have already shed obvious sources of extraneous weight.

 

[ams511]

Yes. A lot of airlines (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, Air New Zealand, and Qantas, at least) in Asia have and occasionally enforce a 7-kg limit on carry-ons. If you travel with a DLSR, strobes, lenses, etc., as I do, you have already shed obvious sources of extraneous weight.

Maybe you should have a tailor make you a customized overcoat with inside pockets for your camera and accessories to get around the 7-kg carry-on limit. Although you may raise a few eyebrows going through security. Seriously, Cathay Pacific challenged me in Chicago over the size and weight of my carry-on which is a normal airline-approved carry-on. The agent even brought out a portable scale to weigh the bag. People forget that even though US airlines are cheap they generally don't hassle you over the size and weight of your carry-on like they do in other countries.