BP/W - Which one?!

[DBPacific]

The Dive Rite XT is a sweet series, my buddy has one.

For parts and hardware, I use Dive Gear Express. Very inexpensive and quick shipping. With you being outside the US though, I'd check their shipping policies. They might be slower and less practical for you.

Like kelemvor said, it's helpful sometimes to focus on features you want. For me, I wanted an inexpensive but good quality BPW that was modular, simple, with pull dumps, and I could fiddle with as necessary and switch out plates easily. I got the DGX singles 30lb wing and it's served me well in cold water. I can add D-rings, pockets, weight pockets, and adjust the straps til the cows come home. I have a SS plate for cold water and local diving where I dive steels and the plate means I barely need any weight, and an AL plate for travel.

If you haven't been in a BPW already, I'd go to a LDS and try on a plate to get an idea of how the plate sizing fits you and if you need a longer or shorter plate. That could narrow your choices down a bit and save you a bit of grief. There are some set ups that are back inflate and very similar to BPW but have soft backs instead of a plate.

 

[jadairiii]

Interesting re: the Halcyon wing - it's one I've been looking at.

Background, I've been diving a "wing" since about 1977, had a few. I now dive with a Halcyon wing, have been since about 2000. They have been rock solid, I have a 30 for singles and a 40 and a 60 wing for doubles. Customer service is excellent. With my 30 I had a inner bladder leak, sent it in, within 2 days I had a new inner bladder, no charge. Then the outer shell started to fray (after quite a few years), called them, they had me send it in, 2 days, had a brand new wing. Add to that I have beaten the crap out of those wings in caves and wrecks without a hitch.

 

[UFOrb]

Hi fellow Brightonian,

Earlier this year I bought an X-Deep Ghost with the integrated weight pockets, and have happily used it on two trips so far. It's very light for travel (3kg for deluxe version incl pockets) but the 37lb (17kg) single tank wing has enough lift for UK diving too.
So far I've used it in Thailand with minimal thermal protection & 4kg lead and in Red Sea with a 5mm full wetsuit (10kg lead) and it was a joy to use. I opted for the deluxe version as I thought the padding on the shoulders would perhaps be nicer for shore diving, esp with a lot of weight, and I like the QR clips (controversial I know!). The standard version is just a simple webbing. The y-shaped crotch strap is very comfy.
Not sure it’s the type of set-up you had in mind but may be worth considering!?
I managed to find a cracking deal from ScubaStore who are based in Spain, saving around 200 quid on UK prices.
Overall I'm very happy with it. It feels very well built and sturdy and I'm sure it's gonna be good for many years of diving.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@Wonder__Frog

It is hard to get a BP/W configuration that will work in both warm water and cold. For travel to warm water destination, the Xdeep Ghost is an amazing rig. I regret selling mine (I've moved onto sidemount for my primary configuration for diving locally in the Puget Sound and travel).

For cold water, since you are in the UK, I'd recommend going with Xdeep. Xdeep, Halcyon, Deep 6, and more all make great gear, stand behind their product. I do like the way that Deep 6 has more adjustment points than Xdeep which has more than Halcyon. A little bit of adjustability can be quite nice.

So I'm recommending two configurations. Xdeep Ghost for travel, Xdeep Zeos (which I've also owned before going to sidemount) due to your location.

 

[Diving Dubai]

In UK Apex is a sound and solid brand - can't go wrong. I use Dive Rite and X-Deep here because the Apex Store never has what I want when I want it, and "wait" isn't in my vocabulary when I'm shopping

As usual the question is weight and lift.

I use a 36lb lift (Dive Rite) wing with my Steel 15l, but its a little OP for an Al 80, but I deal with it - I wouldn't want to go more.

I use a different Harness and Plate for diving dry to diving wet. I guess it depends on how you spread your load when cold dry diving - Weight pockets, weight harness etc. It is possible to use a Cold rig for warm, but it will only be optimised for one and a compromise for the other

Kinda depends on how much you'll use it in the warm

 

[formernuke]

It is hard to get a BP/W configuration that will work in both warm water and cold

I disagree I dove my stainless in the Caribbean and in 30 degree F new England waters. The extra weight is less off your belt or pockets, you wear the same weight either way. This is where thg he cinch system is so nice I didnt to adjust the webbing to go from drysuit to 3mm as the cinch just had me make the belt tighter around the waste.

TSA at first wasn't sure about my bp/w with regs and computer in carry on so they opened it but no big deal delayed me getting to the gate by a whole 2 minutes.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I disagree I dove my stainless in the Caribbean and in 30 degree F new England waters. The extra weight is less off your belt or pockets, you wear the same weight either way. This is where thg he cinch system is so nice I didnt to adjust the webbing to go from drysuit to 3mm as the cinch just had me make the belt tighter around the waste.

TSA at first wasn't sure about my bp/w with regs and computer in carry on so they opened it but no big deal delayed me getting to the gate by a whole 2 minutes.

Some people can get away with a SS plate in warm water. Not everyone. You certainly don't want to use the same wing.

 

[formernuke]

Some people can get away with a SS plate in warm water. Not everyone. You certainly don't want to use the same wing.

Yup same wing a little bulky but dove just the same, I did get weird looks diving with that setup and after we got out people thought I was a dive master (reality AOW with 30 dives). Its about being comfortable in your gear.

 

[Wonder__Frog]

Some people can get away with a SS plate in warm water. Not everyone. You certainly don't want to use the same wing.

Why not the same wing...??

I know my lift requirements will be different in warm vs. cold based on the weight equations, but diving warm in a 30 pound wing shouldn’t be overkill right?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Why not the same wing...??

I know my lift requirements will be different in warm vs. cold based on the weight equations, but diving warm in a 30 pound wing shouldn’t be overkill right?

You could dive in an overly large wing, but it isn’t optimal. Considering how much one spends to go on dive trips, a properly sized wing for war water is a small expense.