Back Plate/ Wing question.

[NaCl H2O]

To the OP as an option:
Like MidOH I have 2 rigs, one in SS one AL. Got most of the gear used and in perfect shape off this site.
Webbing from DGX on both, would say it is stiff but have no issues with it. Don't care for the soft.

Use both at home in FL with steel tanks. SS in winter, AL in summer. I air travel with the SS due to aluminum tanks and my preference of weight distribution from the plate.

While money may not be a factor, I have 2 rigs at a similar cost for 1 new. Maybe something to consider and
I can fine tune most any dive situation and always have a backup.

 

[Tournesol2000]

I bought my Zeagle set from http://www.zeagleexpress.com/about-us.html with Alum backplate. I use a weight belt for the extra weight and am happy with this set up. When I got it years ago it was a great price. I prefer the shape of the wing compared to DGX wing but that is personal choice. I owned both at one point.
I love the Zeagle set up. . I just recently bought a SS plate because I do irrational things from time to time. I have not used it yet.
I prefer med to stiff webbing as it makes donning and doffing easier for me but I have gear already hooked up to D rings and i have my dive computer and compass already on my arms, so it is an art to thread my arms through. But that is my process.
Hope my 2 cents help.

 

[SlugLife]

I've been diving for many years with a BC and have had a few opportunities to use a BP/W, but it was with doubles. DSS had a great package, but I did not order it earlier enough. I'm internet/dealer shopping, but local dealers only stock a limited selection. I think I have read most of whats in the forum on BP/W and and am still trying to make a final selection. I get cold eaisly, I'm 5-10, weigh about 150.

I generally dive with a 5mm wet-suit and 3mm hooded vest. Single tank. 99% of my dives involve travel and are tropical in water about 70-80 degrees. I think I need a Stainless Steel back-plate, vs a so called light travel plate. Wing selection somewhere between 20-30 pounds of lift. Harness preference is simple soft vs stiff. I'm open to advise, packages, suggestions and recommendations. Cost is my last concern.

If cost and travel is not a concern, definitely steel backplate. Definitely a single-wing (20-30 should be enough). I'd also recommend "donut" wings for less air trapping.

I'm a sidemount diver, but if I was BM and had a budget, the one backplate I'd love to get would be the "Freedom Plate." Good luck finding one for sale though. Ed is still around on these forums, but hasn't really had the time to produce many last I checked, and there are probably 100 or more people on ScubaBoard who would snatch up one in a moment if it become available.

I have to admit, I'm curious about DGX's new softpack bp/w for my wife. I just haven't heard any feedback yet.

I didn't know DGX had a soft backplate. I've used soft backplates for a custom sidemount rig, to add some stability/rigidity, while not sacrificing flexibility. I have no idea how it would be for backmount, but I'd definitely be okay with using one for BM & travel.

This brings up a question that I've had for awhile. I've seen mention of too stiff, too soft and Goldilocks webbing. I have been known to cuss at the webbing that came with my unit because it is SOOO stiff. But what is a good texture (wrong word, I know, but best I could come up with on the fly) for working with when assembling a back plate? Does too soft mean that it's hard to thread through the slots?

Slight hijack, but OP may find it useful if they decide to put together their own.

Thanks
Erik

I've also experienced webbing that was too soft or flexible. This stuff is a medium flexiblity and available in several colors.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

If cost and travel is not a concern, definitely steel backplate. Definitely a single-wing (20-30 should be enough). I'd also recommend "donut" wings for less air trapping.

I'm a sidemount diver, but if I was BM and had a budget, the one backplate I'd love to get would be the "Freedom Plate." Good luck finding one for sale though. Ed is still around on these forums, but hasn't really had the time to produce many last I checked, and there are probably 100 or more people on ScubaBoard who would snatch up one in a moment if it become available.


I didn't know DGX had a soft backplate. I've used soft backplates for a custom sidemount rig, to add some stability/rigidity, while not sacrificing flexibility. I have no idea how it would be for backmount, but I'd definitely be okay with using one for BM & travel.


I've also experienced webbing that was too soft or flexible. This stuff is a medium flexiblity and available in several colors.

This is it here DGX Gears SoftPack BCD Package

 

[Shabaday]

Again, hoping to add to the discussion and not derail it. Do any of you own both SS and AL backplates? Do you keep both harnessed up and swap the wing back and forth or do you have two separate complete systems or do you completely re-assemble the harness between to the plates?

I have probably 5-6 BP/W and I have them as full set ups. All of the time I use the xDeep Ghost for me to travel with. My wife uses an Aluminum HOG set up with Zeagle weight pockets. We both use STA. My cold water local set ups are SS HOG/SS Dive Rite/SSxDeepZen and wife has a SS HOG set up. I use to have two OMS as well but sold those

 

[DanBMW]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions and links. I think I'm going with the DGX package, SS Backplate and #30 wing. A few weight pockets if needed and I should be set.

 

[Shabaday]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions and links. I think I'm going with the DGX package, SS Backplate and #30 wing. A few weight pockets if needed and I should be set.

I have 6 of the DGX 30# wings...good wing..very narrow...and my little quirk is I can't stand diving without a STA. I have to bring two sets of gear one for me and one for my wife....I got hit with heavy baggage fees when I brought 2 SS BP/W...that is why I went with xDeep Ghost and HOG aluminum....the HOG set up has a DGX wing

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

One thing I found out about webbing.
I used to buy rolls of webbing from Trident to sell with my plates. There was some material they had years ago that was the perfect goldilocks webbing, it was not too floppy not too stiff, perfect. It was also a tad thicker than other ones on the market.
Then Trident changed their webbing and began to source it from somewhere else, or the company they were buying their webbing from changed the recipe or something? Now Tridents webbing is a tad thinner but stiffer with more resin. They soak webbing with different resins to achieve the desired stiffness. It can make it difficult to set them up, it’s hard on your fingers, and the webbing tends to take an”set” when a D-ring is installed and then you want to move it there is a kink where it used to be. Eventually these kinks work themselves out but they are still annoying.
Then there is crotch strap webbing. It’s usually much thinner and softer than harness webbing so it doesn’t chafe and become uncomfortable in that tender area. I found a good local source for the thin soft webbing but it’s not that good for harnesses because it’s too soft and floppy.
So my point is, webbing seems to change even within the same suppliers part numbers based on what they can get, where they source it, and even the same manufacturers changing the webbing in the same plant.
I’ve ordered harness kits from certain manufacturers who assemble these kits like Oxycheq for instance, and even one kit to the next a few months or years apart will have different webbing based on what they are sold at that time.
It’s constantly changing and It’s very frustrating.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions and links. I think I'm going with the DGX package, SS Backplate and #30 wing. A few weight pockets if needed and I should be set.

I have one, you’ll love it.

 

[MidOH]

If you can, grab 2 bungie weight plate things, while youre there.

They allow weights onto the shoulder straps, instead of the cam bands.

I kept my waist belts kinda long. The buckle side doubles back, and I trim it before it hits the wing. Leaves enough slack to put weight onto the waist belt. When you add weights, snaking the webbing through, eats up a ton of webbing.