I have a couple of questions, does anyone else do this, having one BP for home and one for travel, and if so, do you also have an Alu STA and lighter can bands as I was intending to use my steel STA (£35 for Alu STA and £35 for composite can bands). Additionally do you have a second harness or just rethread the same one? Mine came threaded and I've not yet dared to remove it and rethread!
I have several BP rigs, including a couple of SS plates, an AL plate, and a couple of 'soft' units (an Apeks Travel Plate and a Zeagle ET plate). Over time, I have reached the point where:
I use a steel plate for most of my diving (wet / dry, salt / fresh, singles / doubles). I use the AL plate for doubles with a wetsuit (and have rigged it specifically for that).
It is most functional - for me - to travel with my SS plate. In warm, salt water, with a 1mm exposure suit and an AL80, I can dive without added weight - the rig is just heavy enough.
All of my plates are rigged with a harness, and I do not re-thread for different exposure suits / environments - way too much trouble.
I use only, and therefore travel with, SS cam bands.
I use Kydex STAs.
My travel 'scuba luggage' is a Akona dive bag fit inside a large cloth duffel bag. This set-up is very light weight but quite durable, and I have the option of using the Akona bag on boats if I need to (I usually don't). I carry the duffel (usually packed to 49 lb) on my shoulder when walking (into / through the AP, to / from transport vehicles, etc.). At 64 I can still do that. If / when I am no longer able, I may go with a wheeled bag.
I fit my SS BP / harness into the laptop slot on my backpack.
There is not 'one and only one' right way to travel to dive destinations. What plate you travel with is influenced by a) your inherent buoyancy characteristics - you may find a SS plate to overweight you in warm water / thin exposure suit conditions, for example, and b) whether weight is an issue is affected by your travel lifestyle - I just spent a week on Bonaire and used one pair of shorts, 2 collared shirts, 2 T-shirts. 3 pair of undershorts, and wore (only) a pair of Crocs the whole week, for everything on shore. I was not 'dressed to kill' by any means but it worked for me. Your needs and preferences may be different.