BP/W choices

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I have not used any plates I can only go on what I have read/heard and It seems that no matter what plate someone gets they absolutly love it but you occasionally hear a "but I wish it had..." comment. I'm not in the market to piss off a manufacture or offend anyone I just want to get the right item for me and I am always picky and have a tendancy to change/alter/customize everything I buy because thats how I am.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I have not used any plates I can only go on what I have read/heard and It seems that no matter what plate someone gets they absolutly love it but you occasionally hear a "but I wish it had..." comment. I'm not in the market to piss off a manufacture or offend anyone I just want to get the right item for me and I am always picky and have a tendancy to change/alter/customize everything I buy because thats how I am.

I take no offense, but I would suggest that you consider what is currently available before reinventing the wheel.


Good luck in your quest.


Tobin

 

[MSilvia]

Since you mentioned them, I like the hammerhead plates I've seen, but the STA that comes with it I'm not crazy about. No doubt it works fine, but the bolts are not fixed to it, so you need to be careful about not losing them, and line them up manually whenever you reconnect the STA to a plate.

 

[PerroneFord]

Northwoods, honestly, on your back, the plates all feel remarkably similar. The biggest difference you will notice over time is how you trim out with the plates and your choice of tank(s). My SS plate (Halcyon) is great. I've also used a Dive Rite, Koplin, and Golem. All remarkably similar. Honestly, in terms of backplates, I feel the DSS is the best out there right now. Other manufacturers have their "thing" and that's fine too.

Right now, I am in the market for my second backplate because my SS plate trims me out terribly in my drysuit with steel tanks. I'm too head heavy. My choice is the DSS Kydex plate. It's the right tool for the job, but that BP won't be my choice for diving wet. My SS plate does a far better job for that.

Good luck in whatever you choose, but take note as to who is on here answering questions. Tobin is here every day helping new users. That speaks volumes. Jakub (owner of Golem Gea) isn't here as regularly, but does come here. Patrick (Owner of Oxycheq) is here. Jordan from Dive Rite is here. These people stand behind what they sell, and really put themselves out there for the customer.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

since we are on topic of plates. can owners of the specific brands get out the caliper and tape measure and answer something for me.

I am comparing size and material thickness for the companies but there are a couple that dont list that info online. The stainless plates I still need dimensions (width at widest point and length) for are: OMS, Halcyon, and Hammerhead. And I am looking for the thickness/gauge (in thousanths of an inch) for: OMS, Dive Rite, and Halcyon. I know some companies make different size plates like DSS does but I dont think I need size info for any of those companies. Thanks

 

[docmartin]

wow, looks like quite the project. IMO a bp is a bp is a bp. The only one who has done anything innovative to the bp is tobin with his webbing-wear-reducing coating. nice to have. personally, i own halcyon and hammerhead. if i were to buy just another bp (i.e. not a set including wing etc) i'd get a hammerhead because i do not notice a difference and the price is right. However, in your situation i'd probably get a setup from one manufacturer to save some $.
btw, i am not crazy about my halcyon for a reason that will probably make you laugh: they are too shiny. i like to dive with big sharks and looking like a fishing lure makes me nervous.

 

[cool_hardware52]

wow, looks like quite the project. IMO a bp is a bp is a bp. The only one who has done anything innovative to the bp is tobin with his webbing-wear-reducing coating. nice to have.

All Backplates are similar, kinda like all bicycles are similar, but that doesn't mean there are no differences.

In no particular order:

Over all shape, i.e. fairly square corners, or larger radius corners.

Height

Width

Overall bend angle

Depth of center channel

Width of center channel

Total offset from divers back

Cam strap slots or lack thereof

Position of cam strap slots

Perimeter holes

Number of holes in the center channel for mounting doubles or STA's

Finish overall

Slot and hole finish

Available accessories

Material


Tobin

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I wish I had a LDS that carried every brand of Back Plate so I could do a real life hands on comparison without buying a plate from every manufacture (which I am not going to do). I would definitly appreciate the answers to the size questions I asked earlier.

 

[docmartin]

All Backplates are similar, kinda like all bicycles are similar...

hey, hey - i am very particular about my bicycles

 

[PerroneFord]

I wish I had a LDS that carried every brand of Back Plate so I could do a real life hands on comparison without buying a plate from every manufacture (which I am not going to do).

If no one has given you measurements on the Halcyon plate, I'll do it Sunday night, but right now it's packed for my dives this weekend.

Honestly man, all this comparison and stuff is great, but none of it means JACK until you get in the water. That's where you need to be to suss out the differences in the gear.