Backplates, and Wings, and STAs... oh my!

[mempilot]

Ahh, whatya gonna do?

If it works, copy it! Sell it a little cheaper, and waalla - increased revenue.

Everything is copied from somewhere.

 

[yogi_tala]

Couple of quick comments after having just gone through the same process. Check out the Oxycheq 45lb wing. It is designed to be very unobtrusive, and for a single tank wing provides significant lift (not sure it really is 45 lbs, but close enough for gov't work...). I traded my Halcyon 36 for it...

Second, a BP is a BP, but FredT (and some others) give you a lot of options as far as weight and sizing. I went with an AL for the tropics (actually two; my wife dives an identical rig). And, am saving up for a heavy ST for northern diving. Think about your diving habits (or potential habits) and you can customize your rig.

If you are going to DIY the harness, two opinions, FWIW. ReefScuba is your friend; they have everything from webbing (in colors, no less...), Drings, keepers, etc. plus bungie in different sizes and grades. I think Lubold, et. al. have posted required hardware here before. Second, FredT HW is very nice and a higher grade of steel for marine use, than others I have seen. They are flat, however...

Good luck...

 

[cstreu1026]

I spent a lot of time looking before I bought my setup. I started with a Deep Outdoors Matrix with a 40lb wing and a STA from S&W metal works. I have since removed the stainless plate and added a Halcyon harness kit and Dive Rite stainless cam buckles. With the plate, harness, wing, STA, and cam bands I have about $275-300 invested. Of course I am looking to get a wing specifically for single tanks so I will have to spend a little more money.

 

[yogi_tala]

The S&W Hammerhead plates are very nice, especially given their price...

 

[reubencahn]

Couple of quick comments after having just gone through the same process. Check out the Oxycheq 45lb wing. It is designed to be very unobtrusive, and for a single tank wing provides significant lift (not sure it really is 45 lbs, but close enough for gov't work...). I traded my Halcyon 36 for it...
..

There's a complete Oxycheq 45 setup on Ebay right now for $355

 

[neophytediver]

I greatly appreciate all the info all of you have posted. I think I've offically given into the darkside and am going to go with a bp/wing set up. However my head is swimming. To those of you that have provided links I am in your debt. Now if only everyone else who've said they got this here and this here would provide links or just say they did "the honorable thing" and went to their LDS.......
Thanks everyone.
Neo

 

[mattengstrom]

Full setup - harness, AL plate, STA, venture wing, and some tank-band-mounted Zeagle weight pockets - for about 360 clams.

 

[neophytediver]

What about a 45# Abyss wing? Suitable for singles?

 

[Spectre]

What about a 45# Abyss wing? Suitable for singles?

Should be fine with a wetsuit. Might be a tad big if you dive dry [I know you said wet, but in case you were considering going dry]

 

[neophytediver]

I'm wondering if any of ya'll out there have dove an Abyss wing with a single tank. I understand that there is a chance that the wing will taco around the tank. How much of a problem is that and is there a way to overcome it? I dove someone's Dive Rite rig once apon a time and had that happen to be with a single AL80. Not too much of a problem, kinda annoying but nothing I couldn't handle, but I wondered if there was a way around that. Bungees maybe? Sorry for all the questions I am a noob to the whole bp/wings thing.
Neo