Backplate comfort

[Kern]

YouTube - Deep Sea Supply LCD20 wing on a Freedom Plate

The predominant inherent design flaw in most standard back plates
that knowone wishes to address is the top positioning of the straps.

You've posted a clip of a non standard plate. What is it about the top positioning of the straps on a standard BP that you wish to address? Or a non standard BP for that matter?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If you go with a HOG or DSS wing you don't need an STA so no bolts to worry about and the tank is closer to your back. This reduces the center of gravity and reduces tendency to roll with heavy singles like my lp 95's.

 

[Pauly854]

Disclaimer: I have never used a BP/W. I know next to nothing about BP/W, other than what I have read on here.

Having said that, I will say that it just doesn't look right to me. I can see the simplicity and the adjustability. The reasonable costs of purchase and upgrades.

What I cannot see is the comfort. How in the Hell can a metal plate strapped across your back, with a heavy metal tank strapped to it, be the least bit comfy? I have read enough posts from most of you guys to trust your opinions...but I just cannot comprehend it.

I am getting ready to get a new BCD, but I think I will skip the BP/W setup. One of these days, I would love to try one out just to see what all the fuss is about. But I will have to try before I buy. My mind says you guys have to be right, with all of your experience...but my eyes say it looks like a torture device.

 

[Kern]

Disclaimer: I have never used a BP/W. I know next to nothing about BP/W, other than what I have read on here.

Having said that, I will say that it just doesn't look right to me. I can see the simplicity and the adjustability. The reasonable costs of purchase and upgrades.

What I cannot see is the comfort. How in the Hell can a metal plate strapped across your back, with a heavy metal tank strapped to it, be the least bit comfy? I have read enough posts from most of you guys to trust your opinions...but I just cannot comprehend it.

I am getting ready to get a new BCD, but I think I will skip the BP/W setup. One of these days, I would love to try one out just to see what all the fuss is about. But I will have to try before I buy. My mind says you guys have to be right, with all of your experience...but my eyes say it looks like a torture device.

Some things I'v discovered about diving & life in general:

Perceptions are often more important to an individual than reality.

You'd be silly to buy something before giving it a few test runs 1st.

There is no need for everyone to use a BP/W.

You will die, & someone screwed your mother. The latter may no longer be true.

 

[cool_hardware52]

What I cannot see is the comfort. How in the Hell can a metal plate strapped across your back, with a heavy metal tank strapped to it, be the least bit comfy? I have read enough posts from most of you guys to trust your opinions...but I just cannot comprehend it.

What I can't comprehend:

How can a piece of fabric can adequately restrain a 40 + lbs cylinder and keep from flopping around relative to the diver regardless of the pads, straps, cummerbunds, and bold new graphics employed?


Backplates are comfortable primarily because:

1) They eliminate cylinder roll, the tank is securely attached to the plate and the plate spreads the load across the divers back.

2) They do not require eye popping tight harnesses (See above)

3) Because a well designed BP&W has no inherent buoyancy (many jackets are +3-5 lbs due to padding) the total weight the diver stands up with is less

Which group uses BP&W almost exclusively? Tech Divers

These folks routinely do looong dives, 2-3 hours is pretty routine with much longer runtimes common. If BP&W were a less comfortable option would they use them?

Tobin

 

[tw369]

Thanks for all the great replies. I would love to try before I buy unfortunatly I don't have access to one to try. Local dive shops up here stock very little B\P and wings. I have never dove with anyone up here in Indiana who uses one. I have read very few negative remarks. I like the back inflation and how it is not cluttered with pockets and straps up front. I am going with all the great advice on scuba board to make my decision. I will be using this for travel mostly to Florida. For divers that have used a Mach V wing is there much difference in size and drag between a 18lb and 30lb. Thanks again.

 

[tbone1004]

you can always use a transpac or one of the transplate style harnesses if you're that worried about comfort. The HOG harnesses are really comfortable in the water.You don't notice them hardly at all. Standing up and running around at the surface is where I don't like them, so I don't use them. A lot of people don't like that, but whatever. My transpac doesn't have the backpads or cummerbunds or anything, just the shoulder pads and chest strap, so it is infinitely more comfortable for me.
Jackets squeeze when you inflate them, that is incredibly uncomfortable and since many of them only have one cam band they tend to roll and flop around all the time which blows...

 

[knowone]

You've posted a clip of a non standard plate. What is it about the top positioning of the straps on a standard BP that you wish to address? Or a non standard BP for that matter?

The harness, of A STANDARD RECTANGULAR PLATE where it goes over the shoulders would fit and sit far more ergonomically if the top slots were closer together and at an angle.


The main issue of stability is addressed with a crotch strap that can be
fitted to any BCD.


Doubles already have a plate, the tanks.

And a single can, move around a bit, like an STA but who cares.
But with a good BCD that fits and you can dive what's movin where.

If these people stamped a W in the centre of the plate instead of
incorporating a requirement for a STA or strapping a tank to a
convex lump, then perhaps one could suggest they are providing
a service to divers rather than a bent piece of metal with holes.


Oh yeah. I made a plate 20 years ago, bought another one 12 yrs ago
and bought another one six months ago and use all the other stuff as well.

Still. As well.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

You've posted a clip of a non standard plate. What is it about the top positioning of the straps on a standard BP that you wish to address? Or a non standard BP for that matter?

The whole reason for having the straps come out of a single point on the plate is so that the the webbing forms a nice V as it leaves the plate and it makes the straps ride over the shoulders (trapezius muscles) very comfortably.

The design of the Freedom Plate is such that it has been shaped and designed to fit the contours of the human back. The cut away design allows for the plate to drop into the low area in between your shoulder blades for full freedom of movement and eliminating any chafing problems associated with the wider top areas of conventional designs, and allowing the tank to get as close as possible to the diver meaning less drag and better overall streamlining.
It also has the body hugging fit of the lower sides and curved away bottom. The plate features completely rounded over edges and slots.

Everybody who uses one in warm water with only a T-shirt or no shirt raves about the comfort. There is no need for added padding with the Freedom Plate.

You can ask anybody here who has one and has dove it in warm water with no wetsuit.

 

[Ragnar]

So the harness design coming out of the center of the plate is a design completely independent of the fact there is no edge of the plate, uh ok. I just don't see a problem with the harness coming out of the edges of a normal backplate, many other harness activities like skydiving have the harness coming over the shoulders in the exact same way, and guys can haul around double 130's with them.

I've been using DSS's Kydex plate which gives a little and is very comfortable, even when I forget my rashguard.........but it's definitely better to wear one simply so the webbing doesn't cut in. Also the DSS plates are a lot flatter than some designs, the Halcyon being the most curved that I've seen (due to the storage pak), but the flatter plate is ideal for singles since the tank is in the middle giving it a nice streamlined profile.