BP/W help

[Lukas]

I don't know if its just me, but it seems there are so many positive reviews out on almost all bp/w setups that i still have absolutely no clue which one to get. The price range I'm looking at maxes out at about 600$ US. I'm a rec. diver and use a single tank though i might want to look into doubles at some point so having that option would be good. I dive wrecks in cold water and I feel that a jacket style bc is annoyingly unstable and unreliable to use. I looked at the halcyon eclipse and I like what I've been seeing with some of the OMS wings but again, they have so many different setups that I'm just not getting any good progress here. If someone here feels like giving me some advice i would appreciate it, i just dont know what to get, and yes there are threads where there are bp/w reviews, but there are just too damn many to choose from!!!

 

[reefugee]

Lukas - I feel your pain. I just finally had to bite the bullet and purchase a BPW system. Like you, I must have read all the threads on BPW. That didn't make my decision any easier because all of them looked quite good. I ultimately went with a Dive Rite system because that's what my LDS carries. They actually carry Halcyon as well. But I went with the Dive Rite because most the instructors and DM at the shop uses them. Anyway - my LDS spent a lot of time making sure the Dive Rite Transplate fit me properly. They trimmed the harness to the proper size for me. In addition, I didn't like the fact that the Transplate did not have a tank band for assisting in putting on the tank. My LDS help me "make" one out of nylon strap. Over all, I probably spent $50 more (if you factor in the tax, but remove shipping) - but the service was worth it!

Here's some of the common things I read:

1. If you are using a single tank, make sure you pick a wing that is designed for a single tank. Don't use one of those single/double tank wings.

2. A lot of people like the hog harness, but I picked the transplate harness system because it looked more comfortable on land.

3. Since I dive cold water - pick the SS backplate.

Good luck!

Minh

 

[Rainer]

I recently purchased a DSS kit (torus wing, ss bp, weight plates, and pro-fit harness). Excellent construction, a good price, and pleasant customer service. The only thing I regret is getting the pro-fit harness. I can already tell I'll be switching to a hog within a month... I strongly suggest you take a good look at DSS.

 

[S. starfish]

For 600 USD I think you're best looking into Oxycheq. They're good quality wings and comparatively, they're not that expensive. Halcyon and OMS have good quality gear too but they tend to be quite expensive, especially halcyon - I know that here in vancouver a halcyon wing alone can go for just over 500 CAD. Which is a little nuts. My advice would be one of the 30lb oxycheq wings, ss backplate and a single tank adaptor. Make sure that if you do order this to order it with cam straps as the STA doesn't come with them.

 

[Rainer]

To follow up on my last post, the DSS basic singles tank kit is $450 (this is *not* what I got, but might be right for you).

 

[ToddK]

I'm a cold water (not as cold as yours!) diver who likes wrecks also, and went with a Halcyon Pioneer 36lb wing, and stainless steel backplate. The backplate I bought used off of Ebay, and is an older Halcyon. Getting some weight off of the belt and onto the backplate was great! I then bought 12 or 14 feet of 2 inch webbing from Reef Scuba, and did my own harness. So far I love the Halcyon wing, and my dive buddy loves his OMS wing. I'm not sure that you can go terribly wrong as long as you buy a singles wing with an appriopriate amount of lift.

 

[UWupnorth]

I dive Halcyon bp/w, I have an eclipse for single tanks and an evolve for doubles. If you are diving dry the weighted single tank adapter is good for six more pounds off the belt. They also have weight pockets so it is just like all the other bc's with intigrated weights. You can't beat this setup. I have had really good service from the lds and halcyon (my light flooded)

 

[radinator]

Go with the DSS and hog harness (the basic setup mentioned above). You'll be glad you did. I've had mine for 1.5 years now and still thoroughly enjoying it. They put lots of nice design features into it. Everytime I loan my setup to someone they are out looking to buy one the nest week.

I've tried some other manufacturers setups, and even own some stuff, but DSS is my favorite.

 

[Lukas]

Wow, thanks for all the responses, i really appreciate it. Btw, while cruising through some wing designs i saw oms wings that have 94lbs lift!! isn't this overkill? i thought around 30lbs is all you needed. And also, whats the deal with bungeeing, is it bad, i can't really imagine any disadvantages of a lightly bungeed system, except for snagging.

 

[Lukas]

Wow, some of these wing setups are actually cheaper than a lot of normal style bc's
By the way, the DSS torus wing, is it actually advantageous to not have a zipper? What happens if you need to replace the bladder, etc? i would see this as a disadvantage, but maybe im wrong?