BP&W vs. back-inflation BC?

[SkiDiver]

Newbie to the board, glad to be aboard.

It's possible that our long quest to get our (my wife/dive buddy and me) own BCs and regs may be ending soon, if we can swing it financially (fingers crossed!).

I've read all the raves about backplate and wing setups. I've also seen some positive reviews of back-inflated BCs. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems?

For the purposes of comparison, we can refer to the Halcyon Eclipse and Zeagle Ranger or (for my wife) the Seaquest Libra, but I'm more concerned about their general relative characteristics. (Once we settle on a style we'll get into more details on specific models.)

It would seem that back inflated BCs have an advantage with the weight integration, and perhaps with their padded straps. Perhaps BP&Ws are more streamlined in the water?

My inclination from reading here and elsewhere is to go with the BP&W, but I must admit the integrated weights of a back inflation BC are appealing. (My wife, in particular, is reluctant to go with a BP&W.)

Any thoughts?

 

[prthd9]

I too am looking into a BP/W and my research has found that BP/W is much more streamlined in the water. There will be less drag with the BP/W and your stability will likely be better. On the other hand the Jacket style is much more comfortable from what I am told. I am diving Halcyon Eclipse w/ 40 lbs of lift on Thursday (a buddy is letting me borrow it), so if you want to know how I like it send me a message.

Ryan

 

[Jarrett]

Gotta get in the water and find out what you like. See if you have someone locallly that will let you try them or see if you can rent them first. If not, try to buy some used and try them out. Sell the one you don't like. Otherwise, just gotta shell out the cash for new and find out the hard way. No amount of internet discussion is going to reveal your preference to you. Only using the product on dives will.

I'm on my 3rd BCD in a year right now... suffice to say I am going about it the hard way

 

[jepuskar]

Hi, and welcome to Scubaboard.

:sblogo:

:wave-smil :wave-smil :wave-smil

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Welcome to Scubaboard....I dive a Ranger. Nothing against BP/W just haven't had the oportunity to try one yet.

 

[RonFrank]

I dive a Zeagle Stiletto. I used to dive a Ranger. I recently dove a very nice Singles BP/W setup - Oxycheq 45# Standard wing (very streamlined) Hog Harness, croch strap, total DIR setup even with a 6' long hose!

Stability between the two, I do think the BP/W had a *slight* edge, but that may have ONLY been because that HOG harness was on me like a glove. If I tighten down my Zeagle, stability using singles is no issue.

Trim, and Buoyancy. Here is the cat's meow. My trim and buoyancy in the Zeagle is great diving wet (3mm tropical), no complaints. However diving dry, I found having 12lbs of weight distributed over my back with only 10lbs on a weight belt made for effortless trim when diving dry. Do I have a lot of issues with this in my Zeagle... no. But the BP/W was better.

You need to keep in mind that not all BP/W setups are *streamlined*. This has a LOT to do with the wing you choose. A 65lbs doubles wing is *hardly* streamlined compared to most BackInflate BC wings.

This holds true for the BC as well. A larger bladder with a lot of padding is NOT streamlined. However my Stiletto is VERY streamlined, and comfortable.

Comfort - Both are very comfortable UW. However the Stiletto is MUCH more comfortable walking around in. This is even true with a drysuit on, which has a LOT of built in padding. I don't find a weight belt all that comfortable on land, and the Hog harness definately is NOT as comfortable as my Stiletto. In addition, I can leave my harness loose in my BC until I'm about to get in, an then tighten up those shoulders. One could also do this with *some* of the harnesses on the market.

Getting in and out of the thing. So far, that has been an issue. I think as I'm borrowing a BP/W setup, it maybe a bit tight. But I have trouble getting out of my Zeagle if I have it on tight, so maybe it's just me.

Weight Integrated BC's are a good thing. Ironically there is no shortage of people dying only because they did not release their weights. A system like the zeagle is easier to release, vs tearing at a buckle. There is also the chance of the weight belt getting tangled when released which is exactly what contributed to two deaths at Boynton Beach in the Spring.

I think the key is practice, and I'm not suggesting that weight belts are bad, but IMO if you need to drop weight, the Zeagle system is fast, clean, and foolproof.

You should NOT make your wife get whatever you get just because you *think* it's going to work out better. Cost wise, BP/W's are generally MORE expensive for what you get. For $450 you get a good setup, like a DSS, but no weight pockets, and that is with a HOG harness.

I'm thining of a BP/W setup for diving dry. However I like my Stiletto a LOT, and there are many people who have tried BP/W's, and have stayed with Back Inflate BC's. There are also some who do both. Just like one can own a Ford AND a Chevy, one can in fact own a BP/w AND a BC, and many do. This board has a surprising number of BP/W users. Don't kid yourself, back Inflate BC's are more popular, and there is nothing wrong with that system.

The choice is yours. I'd suggest that if you don't have 30 dives, you are still not going to be able to judge this well as you are going to be struggling with weighting issues, trim, buoyancy, and diving factors in general. If you are diving tropical with Good vis you may just want to initially go with a lightweight travel Back Inflate. If you are considering tech, a BP/W is not really an option if you ever plan on Deco diving, just get one.

You don't have to buy the farm to get into equipment. According to PADI, only 21% of the divers certified (if I remember the stat correcty) stay with it, but something like 50% purchase gear. That is a HECK of a lot of barely used gear out there! Yeah YadaYada life support, don't buy used... well... BS. Once you have been diving for a while you will find that MOST divers just can't afford to get new everything, and we tend to have our ears up for deals.. for example, I'm looking for a Sig Series 45# Oxycheq wing as we speak... and it's only a matter of time!

 

[bwerb]

The mistake many new divers make is to equate "feels great on land while standing vertical" with...must feel great in the water.

I did my OW, AOW and Rescue all with various BCD's. I tried a BP wings and it was an immediate WOW! I know longer felt like there was "me" in the water and a BCD...it became just "me".

My wife had the same experience. The great thing about a BCD is 100% total customization to YOUR size. A backplate lasts forever, same set-up no matter what type of diving you do. Webbing is a few bucks and you can mix and match wings according to what/how you are diving.

 

[RiverRat]

I took a big chance and went for it right away. I was nervous but I did a TON of homework on the net and most of it here on Scubaboard. I love to tinker and build things so I was naturally drawn to building my own "rig". I got on all the websites, DIR etc. and learned how to thread the webbing. What type of plate to get, steel or aluminum, different types of tank adapters, weight calculations etc. etc. I ended up getting a custom FredT backplate and bought the oxycheq 45# wing. I went to Cayman with it and after about 3 dives I had it dialed in and never looked back. Just felt so stable and balanced right away. In fact I'm in the gear in my avatar in Grand Cayman. I was a new diver and that shot was about mid-week. Once I got my weight tuned up I just had an amazing week of diving out there.

 

[RonFrank]

The mistake many new divers make is to equate "feels great on land while standing vertical" with...must feel great in the water.

RU possibly suggesting that ANY new diver is going to feel GREAT in an exposure suit fully geared up with 80lbs of STUFF hanging off thier body standing vertically!

 

[bwerb]

uh...yeah...

It's just that "feels great" while walking around in the showroom doesn't equal works great underwater...how many divers have you seen in the LDS tying on BCD's to see "how they fit"...it's like trying a new dish by reading the recipie.