BCD vs BP/W

[cool_hardware52]

On a quality BCD's multiple vents allow equally effective venting.

Nothing screams quality and sound design like a half dozen vents.



Tobin

 

[lamont]

While some BCD's may require additional weight, most do not. They are designed to be neutral in buoyancy. Mine certainly is.

On a quality BCD's, multiple vents allow equally effective venting.

and introduce more failure points.

Here are the positives for BCD's over BP/w's:

1. Less expensive.

short term, or long term?

2. More comfortable, especially after four days of shallow three tank dives.

people's definition of 'comfort' must vary greatly. i'm comfortable hauling around double-130s on my back in BP/W, even over multiple days of diving.

3. They allow for more flexibility in distributing weight for trim.

using the correct backplate, STA, v-weight or tank weights you can distribute weight just as well as you can with a jacket BC.

4. For extented periods on the surface, BCD's require less effort to float in a heads-up position.

i really need to take a picture of me taking a nap on the surface in my rig.

 

[BSea]

There were two real reasons I went with a BP/W over my Zeagle.

1. Easier to put on. With a full wet suit, getting into my zeagle was a hassle if it was resting on a bench. I've seen this with several other's also. But the BP/W is much easier. This i think is mostly due to the fact that when you have weight in the pockets, it pulls the shoulders down on the zeagle. Then it binds when you put your arms though. Since the weight in the BP/W doesn't pull on the shoulder straps, it just is easier to put on. While this isn't a deal breaker, it was an added plus for the BP/W.

2. As others have mentioned, the PB locks the tank to your body, and there isn't any shifting of the tank on the dive. On a typical BC, the tank is locked to the BC, but it seems you just can't get the BC as tight to your body as a PB/W setup.

And of course it's way cooler. Since I'm 50, and my wife won't go for a convertible. I use my BP/W for my mid life crisis purchase. Next year maybe the convertible. Hey, she's over 50 too, she might forget.

 

[djanni]

Inherent buoyancy in the 3-5 lb range is probably on the high side. Often the inherent buoyancy of BC's is less than 2 lbs; i.e., a Zeagle Stiletto has less than 2 lbs and I would guess that a Zeagle Scout would have a bit less than that.

I know DSS advocates a minimalist approach, which is terrific, and as Tobin mentioned, helps one avoid that floaty effect.

However, that sure doesn't apply to other bp/w mfgr's who offer padding for their plates, weight integration pouches, add-on pockets, cummerbunds, padding in the shoulders of the harnesses and etc. The result is inherent buoyancy not unlike a that of most BC’s. Therefore while weight may be redistributed with a bp/w, the total weight one needs is probably unchanged.

Weight added to the rear weight pockets some BC’s, a Stiletto for example, can have the same effect as a plate in terms of redistribution of weight.

There are many BC's that are equally worthy, unrestricted, competent, reliable, stable and streamlined.

Where the Value is: If you're going to strap on twin tanks and side mount a nitrogen bottle and an oxygen bottle you'll be better off with a plate back there. Arguably, it's essential.

Where the Value is: If you're headed toward warm water and diving in a thin wetsuit or no wet suit and using a single tank there's nothing more luxurious than diving in a well made and good fitting BC. That's life at its best.


Having just gone back and read a couple of other posts I have to comment on failure points. To say a bp/w has fewer failure points is similar to saying a bird has fewer failure points than a modern day jet airplane. True but raised the question... and your point is?

 

[Halthron]

While some BCD's may require additional weight, most do not. They are designed to be neutral in buoyancy. Mine certainly is.

Almost all jacket style BC are designed to be positive by several pounds, not neutral. To test if yours is truely neutral, toss it in the water then toss a coin on it. If it starts to sink, it's neutral. If it doesn't, it's positive. Don't forget things are more bouyant in salt water.

 

[boomx5]

Where the Value is: If you're going to strap on twin tanks and side mount a nitrogen bottle

Nitrogen!?

 

[CompuDude]

However, that sure doesn't apply to other bp/w mfgr's who offer padding for their plates, weight integration pouches, add-on pockets, cummerbunds, padding in the shoulders of the harnesses and etc. The result is inherent buoyancy not unlike a that of most BC’s. Therefore while weight may be redistributed with a bp/w, the total weight one needs is probably unchanged.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. I would argue that there are only a couple of mfgrs that make bp/w's with actual padding. Even my TransPlate, which looks a little like it has padding, does not really have anything that could be truly called padding. Weight integratiuon pouches, which are are optional, not standard, do not have padding and are not buoyant, so that's a red herring. I challenge you to prove otherwise. Feel free to take the plate out of the picture. Toss the harness, D rings, and everything but the plate into a pool, and toss in a jacket BC and see which sinks.

Weight added to the rear weight pockets some BC’s, a Stiletto for example, can have the same effect as a plate in terms of redistribution of weight.

Not nearly as much flexibility. Enough, perhaps, but to claim the same effect in every situation is not the case.

There are many BC's that are equally worthy, unrestricted, competent, reliable, stable and streamlined.

I would say there are SOME that are very good. But it's hard to compare reliability figures without anything other than personal experience to back it up. I find it hard to believe the material used in the average jacket-style BC is as tough as 2" nylon webbing and a solid sheet of plate steel. So equally reliable? That's a stretch. Reliable enough? Sure, in many, but not all situations.

Where the Value is: If you're headed toward warm water and diving in a thin wetsuit or no wet suit and using a single tank there's nothing more luxurious than diving in a well made and good fitting BC. That's life at its best.

And that's where we disagree. I find my bp/w to be FAR more comfortable in the water than any traditional-style BC I have ever worn... and I've worn many over the years before I finally purchased a bp/w. The water temp is irrelevant. And no, I don't dive tech, or doubles. The inifinitely customizable fit, and the tank practically welded to your back (the thickness of a plate of steel away... far closer than any BC allows), all make it more comfortable, to me. You clearly feel otherwise and are thrilled with your BC. I'm really happy for you. But trying to say your BC is inherently superior for the reasons you cite is really over-reaching.

 

[PerroneFord]

Nitrogen!?

Should tell you everything you need to know.

 

[BSea]

Just out of curiousity, how many "VENTS" should a quality BCD or BP/W have?:huh:

 

[PerroneFord]

one