BP&W or Axiom (Aqualung) or Black Ice ( Apeks ) ?

[Corleone]

how much should the whole unit cost ?

 

[Barrod]

I'll tell you I love my axiom i3. It makes you look a lot better in the water. Buoyancy adjustments are so easy it keeps you in complete control as you descend and add air/ ascend and vent air. The DM's let me go on some more advanced dives even though I was new to diving because my buoyancy was "so dialed in".

 

[MrChen]

I don't have a BPW nor am I trying to steer you away from it. Heck, I want one

But I do have the Apeks Black Ice BCD. It's a very comfortable BCD with integrated weights. It's rugged and has metal d rings. I really like it but it's retail price is expensive. I got mine used (with like 5 dives on it) from my instructor who doesn't like black inflates. He sold it to me for his cost, which was a killer price, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it at full price. When it's time to replace it, I'll replace it with a BPW, but I fear it may last awhile. The best part about the Black Ice verse other BCD's is how adjustable it is. The BCD is bolted together and has several other holes allowing a single BCD to span several sizes. This also gives you more adjustments for fit based on body shape and increases comfort. The harness system holds the tanks well, as advertised on their website.

 

[BoltSnap]

I'd go with the Black Ice over the Axiom for sure.

 

[bbarnett51]

Really nobody can answer this question but you. All are quality options and come down to personal decision.

 

[victorzamora]

I have read some bad critics regarding bpw and weight pockets?

So, I'm one of those people that's against pockets. I cannot STAND pockets to be added to BCD's. It makes them big, bulky, heavy, messy, and it makes it a pain to find anything. I would rather dive with an AL80 and no BCD than a BCD with pockets. However, BPWs with weight pockets can be had and are readily and cheaply available to those that want them. There are certain advantages to them. Trim pockets on your cambands are MUCH more acceptable to me than pockets near your waist. The owner of my LDS is a HUGE fan of pockets. He has like 8 weight pockets on his BPW (2 on each camband, and 4 on his waist). He uses two of the waist pockets for storing stuff other than weights. It really is whatever floats your boat.

aren't they kinda big/huge for penetration?

Exactly the opposite. In fact, if you keep it minimal and don't put pockets and crap on there, you'll forget you've got anything on you. The amount of equipment that is visible/noticeable in a clean BPW setup is impeccably low.

As for the cost, you can get a BPW for anywhere between $300 and $1000. No need to spend over ~$450, though. Also, don't worry about any padding....it is VERY unnecessary. Get a one-piece harness with no clips or padding. It takes about 15 minutes to "assemble" and quite a while to get adjusted JUST right....but it's VERY worth it once you get it. There's no need to get a singles wing with over 40# of lift. There's no wing that works well for singles and doubles. Backplate and harness brands mostly don't matter. Wing brands matter, but a lot of the "big names" in Rec diving represent very overpriced or low quality options in the Tech world.

As for "trying tech once".....I thought the same thing. To get to 60m will involve a LOT of training, time, practicing, classes, equipment and effort. A LOT more than you'd think right now. 60m requires (practically, let's not start deep air argument here) Trimix and a lot of deco. It's not something a rec diver can train for over the weekend or just follow a dive guide to. I was told long ago (about 18 months, but a lot of money, time, trianing, and practice) that there's no way to "dabble" in tech diving. It's a very high-risk portion of the sport, and has to be taken very seriously.

 

[bbarnett51]

Weight Integration is the most overrated "advancement" in scuba. And I fell for it hook line and sinker! Of course this is just my opinion. Usually integrated pockets are stuffed around your love handles or just inside. If you are diving warm water that might be ok but if I'm in my 7mm suit and I have to cram 20lbs in there it sucks. A weight belt spreads the weight around for better comfort and often better performance.

It's also not unheard of to have the weight pockets fall out at depth. This can be a dangerous situation. The manufacturers have to balance the ability of the pocket to be easily removed Yet strong enough to hold the weights in. Usually this is achieved with plastic buckles.

Don't get me wrong. They are fine and I'm not trying to play the scare game but after 20yrs of diving both I feel a weight belt is the superior system. Plus they are cheap and easily replaceable.

 

[ams511]

It's also not unheard of to have the weight pockets fall out at depth. This can be a dangerous situation. The manufacturers have to balance the ability of the pocket to be easily removed Yet strong enough to hold the weights in. Usually this is achieved with plastic buckles.

It is also not unheard of for weight belts to slip off at depth either as the suit compresses. This is not a problem with integrated weights. Some pockets use velcro to hold the weight in which can slip. Others use a plastic clip which is quite reliable unless you over stuff the pocket. Even Halcyon sells weight pockets

Your example is a bit contrived also. If you are doing a lot of cold water diving then steel tanks and a backplate would reduce the amount of lead around your middle.

 

[bbarnett51]

It is also not unheard of for weight belts to slip off at depth either as the suit compresses. This is not a problem with integrated weights. Some pockets use velcro to hold the weight in which can slip. Others use a plastic clip which is quite reliable unless you over stuff the pocket. Even Halcyon sells weight pockets

Your example is a bit contrived also. If you are doing a lot of cold water diving then steel tanks and a backplate would reduce the amount of lead around your middle.

just my opinion that weight belts are less likely to fall off. I dive in cold lakes and my example was for my setup. 20lbs around the mid section sucks.

BUT the good news is that you don't have to agree. Just my opinion having used both for many dives.

---------- Post added November 9th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ----------

I also need to add that I am a fan of the i3 system. I dove the AL Dimension i3 for a year or two. It's a solid system that is extremely easy to use. If I went back to a jacket style then I would get the i3 again.

the only thing you will need to be aware of is that your instabuddy won't know about it. So you need to show them how it works before you buddy up.no big deal.

I have gone to bpw and love it but again it's personal preference.

 

[ams511]

Some people love pockets and some people hate them which is good news for the OP. If he wants to try them all he needs to do is go on eBay or place a want to buy ad in the Scubaboard classifieds.

I used to live in Pennsylvania and did quite a few quarry dives there in a 2 piece 7 mil wetsuit. I would have over 20 lbs on the belt and submerging meant having 1 hand used for equalization and another with my hand on the belt until I got to depth and readjusted it. I wish I knew at the time about weight harnesses, they would have made my life easier.

From what I remember integrated weights started showing up on BCs in the early to mid 90s. The early versions used velcro to hold the weight which is not as secure and the newer pockets using clips. Most of the lost pockets were do to diver error, loading too much weight into the pockets or not securing them properly. Usually the latter. I use wieght pockets with clips (Halcyon and Dive Rite) and don't have a problem.