BP/W Questions

[fisheater]

a-c). No need for no stinkin' pads. Really. No need.
d). Weight belt. Simple. If you need a lot of weight, put some into a weighted STA or, even better, use a DSS backplate and get weight plates.
e). Check with Tobin at DSS.


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[Tortuga68]

a) Backplate pads - are these to be recommended? I'm buying a setup for both me and the wife, she is most likely to want the padding benefit b) Should I look at a backplate pad that also holds an SMB? The HOG one isn't even described on their website, so not sure if it holds an SMB

For padding, it's not required, especially with just a single AL80. The Halcyon-style "MC storage pack" is a handy place to stow an SMB, but some brands of pad you won't fit an SMB in there even though they do have a pocket (eg OMS, HOG looks similar to me) and some are just padding with no pocket. There are other good storage options for SMBs. NB if you take a GUE class in the future they specify minimal BP padding

d) Weights - this is where i'm really confused. Nick told me to look at tank weights and weight pockets. Neither brand does a tank weight system (does only Halcyon do this??). DR does a weight pocket, but it seems expensive to me. The whole weighting system in the GUE system still confuses me. What should I be looking at buying? Assuming I wear 24lbs with my current setup, and the plate weighs 6, do I need enough pockets for 18lb's?

Halcyon make a weighted STA (single tank adaptor). They - and other mfgs - also make cam band trim weight pockets, and ditchable weight pockets that go on your waist harness... I have some of these for the rare occasions when I dive in Melbourne. I hate wearing a weight belt. Yes you subtract the weight on the BP from what you used previously - and the weight of the STA if you use one. You'll be able to manage without a weight belt using the various options mentioned

I have an alloy BP for travel but for 3# difference you'll be better off with an SS - although I have dived the alloy plate in Port Phillip Bay wearing a 5/7 farmer john, still without a weight belt

 

[Griffo]

So thanks again to everyone for the advice.

I have one last quesion, which I hope I don't get laughed at for asking.

The missus hates black diving equipment. She likes to be able to easily identify me underwater by colour.

Does anyone other than Oxycheq make non-black wings?

 

[Tortuga68]

Halcyon make a pink camo trimmed version of the Eclipse and OMS wings come in red

 

[DevonDiver]

Oxcheq do a pink Mach-V

 

[Blue Sparkle]

The wife is 5'4". Will a standard plate be OK, or should I be looking at a brand that makes different sizes?

I would say there is a reasonable possibility the "standard" plate would not be the best fit for your wife. I find that it depends not just on height, but also on torso length, i.e is she "short-waisted" or "long-waisted."

I'm 5'5" and I'm very uncomfortable in a "standard" plate (which is usually around 15" or 15-1/2" tall, l believe). But I'm short-waisted, so I'm probably more like 5'3" in Torso Equivalent Height™

When you think about it, it makes sense that the same plate might not fit someone, say, 6' tall and then also someone 8" shorter (not even accounting for potential shorter-proportioned torso).

I found that for me, a 14" plate (for example, Halcyon's Small plate) was better, and a 13" plate was best (DSS Small plate). One nice thing about the DSS Small plate (not sure how others compare; they may be similarly adjusted) is that it's not just a shorter piece of metal; the cam band slots are proportionally spaced as well (but the holes are the standard 11" on-center spacing so you can use any STA if you choose to go that route).

I believe that Halcyon, Oxycheq, DSS, and Agir-Brokk all made at least one smaller-than-standard size as of a little over a year ago. Others may as well.

Blue Sparkle