Back Plate: Steel or Aluminum?

[Insta-Gator]

This is a Multiple Choice Poll. You can vote for both if appropriate.


I did not see a thread about this, but BP/W discussions have been around for a long time, so I may have missed it.

After you vote, if you would, please comment about your selection and what type of environmental protection you wear and the waters you dive with that kit.




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I use a steel BP. In salt water I wear a 3mm jump suit + zero weight. In fresh water I wear a 5mm jumpsuit + 4 pounds weight.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Can't help you because the poll doesn't have the option of "Yes." Single tank rig? Steel for ballast. Heavy steel doubles? Aluminum to avoid overweighting as much as possible. Heavy steel doubles but monster insulation under the drysuit and multiple empty AL deco/stages adding buoyancy at the very end of the dive? Maybe back to the steel.

 

[TSandM]

You need a category for both. I use steel with a single tank. I use an aluminum plate with steel doubles and heavy exposure protection in Puget Sound, so I can move some weight onto the bottom bolt to balance. I use a Kydex plate with double Al80s in fresh water in Mexico, again so I can move weight down to balance.

 

[chrpai]

Allowing multiple choice won't tell the real story. You need a third option for both.

 

[Insta-Gator]

Can't help you because the poll doesn't have the option of "Yes." Single tank rig? Steel for ballast. Heavy steel doubles? Aluminum to avoid overweighting as much as possible. Heavy steel doubles but monster insulation under the drysuit and multiple empty AL deco/stages adding buoyancy at the very end of the dive? Maybe back to the steel.

Multi-option poll. You could vote for both.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Ah, done.

 

[chrpai]

Multi-option poll. You could vote for both.

So how do you tell if it's 50% for one and 50% for the other or 100% for both?

 

[Insta-Gator]

Dark magic.


I'm not really trying to get an absolute count for each as much as I'm just wanting to get this info (type/use/environment) out there for newer divers. I'm very happy with my steel BP and only dive a single AL80. If I move to a larger steel tank I may consider acquiring an AL plate to offset some of the weight.

 

[bbarnett51]

I have steel currently because I can use the weight. However I will probably order an aluminum for travel.

 

[gypsyjim]

Both, either, depending on what the situation calls for, AL, if air travel is a factor.