BP/W -- Why yours?

[BKP]

After a few wreck dives, I've been bitten, and I'm going technical... Researching the appropriate series of certs to pursue, and the appropriate gear...

I'm not looking for a debate on what is "best" (way too subjective)... just for a few bulleted points:

Which brand/model components are your favorite (BP, Wing, Harness, Octo...), and why you chose them...

I'm relatively BP/W illiterate, however, I *am* research intensive... Since it's impossible to try every combination of components personally (although, I'm reading every scrap of info I can find), I respect word of mouth from y'all over commercialism... So... think of it as an opportunity to validate your own choices...

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I have the DiveRite aluminum backplate with two wings, the Trek Wing (better for doubles) and the Venture Wing (for single tank). The Deluxe Quick Releast harness is very easy to configure and get into and out of.

I like DiveRite, but I think Deep Sea Supply has some extremely attractive set-ups and when I need to replace this gear (probably not for a while) I'm going to take a very close look as DSS.

Jeff

 

[PerroneFord]

You are research intensive? Awesome. Hit the search button and read the thousands of posts that have touched on BP/Ws..

What certs are you looking to pursue, and with what agency or agencies? That might have a direct bearing on the gear you should purchase.

 

[BKP]

You are research intensive? Awesome. Hit the search button and read the thousands of posts that have touched on BP/Ws..

What certs are you looking to pursue, and with what agency or agencies? That might have a direct bearing on the gear you should purchase.

Exactly what I've been doing... You'd be surprised how opinions shift over time on this(Halcyon used to be the king... seems to have moved to DSS/DiveRite... Oxycheq suddenly coming on strong... etc. etc.). Highly diverse area... and apparently very 'time-period' subjective. So, I'm looking for current perspectives...

Looking at: advanced nitrox; advanced wreck; cave (no real interest in caving, however, I think the precepts of cave diving would be valuable in wreck penetration). The particular agencies aren't relevant for me... yet. Whomever offers the most comprehensive training (I assume TDI is a no-brainer in some areas).

 

[bluewatertoy]

If everybody kept using the search option for all of their questions. It would'nt be much of an online chat forum now would it.:mooner:

 

[PerroneFord]

Sounds like you're putting the cart before the horse a bit. I'd recommend you sort out the agency/instructor first, THEN narrow down your gear list.

As for the choices in BP/W being time dependent, I think you are seeing the power of market pioneers (like Halcyon and the single tank BP/W concept) followed by strong competitors like DSS and Oxycheq. The fact that the owners of DSS and Oxycheq are members here and quite active is also causing a spike in talk about these companies. Dive Rite was actually the first company to market a BP/W commercially back in the early 80s.

The fact is, lots of people make good BP/W. The only way you're going to find out what works is to go dive. So buy something and take some classes. If you have interest in GUE, things are kind of specific, but outside of that, just about anything will work.

What are you diving with now? In terms of gear?

 

[TSandM]

I have an Oxycheq plate and a DSS wing. Why? Because I bought this hybrid animal from Bob, who had lent it to me, and I refused to give it back and offered money instead. . .

I would make a soft recommendation against willy-nilly blending brands, though, because I found out the hard way that it doesn't always work. The spacing of cam band slots, etc., is not necessarily universally compatible.

I really like DSS because a) they produce a quality product b) I've gotten incomparable customer service from them and c) Tobin's always out there on the net, giving good advice, helping with the same issues over and over again and patiently answering the same questions. He also handled one of my best friend's order for a singles rig in a really wonderful manner. He refused to sell it to her until she had collected the data he wanted to be sure she was buying the right gear for her needs. A company that won't sell product until they're happy with it is like a surgeon who won't operate until he's sure the patient needs the procedure. It's admirable in my book

I've had a chance to dive the new Torus wing from DSS, and I really like the current iteration of the STA-less tank stabilizer. It's unfortunately not compatible with my backplate, but it's a real nice arrangement.

I dive Bob's Deep Outdoors wing for doubles, and just bought one of my own. That seems to be a nice piece of equipment, too.

I suspect there are a lot of good brands out there, and it's the intangibles that make the difference.

BTW, I'm SURE Perrone means that, depending on the agency you work with, there are specific recommendations for such things as inflator length, double versus single bladders, and bungies or not. He doesn't mean that certain agencies require certain brands.

 

[PerroneFord]

Absoluetly correct.

 

[Jason Ooi]

I have Halcyon Explorer 40lb Wing, I love it....many top brand in market Halcyon, DSS, OMS, Dive Rite, Oxycheq, ask you Instructor before buy....

 

[lamont]

My Halcyon 40# Eclipse and 60# Evolve wings are perfectly fine. The only thing that really hurt Halcyon BP/W systems was the whole SS inflator fiasco -- easily fixable either with a plastic inflator (I actually use a *cough* Dive Rite inflator on my Halcyon wing) or just through consistent maintenance and lubing up of the SS inflator... Apart from that the backplates are as bulletproof as any other backplate and the wings are great as well... The Evolve in particular is really nice for trim in big steel doubles...

Halcyon doesn't get a lot of love on the forums, but their wings and SMBs are pretty decent products....

I'd probably advise buying Halcyon, DSS or Oxycheq based on what my LDS could get me or what those around me were diving... They should all work pretty good... (And the only reason I don't mention OMS or Dive Rite is that I don't know anything about them...)