BP/Wing combo question.

[amascuba]

obviously these people (ill refrain from saying idiots as only 90% of them are) did not see that you travel for sure go with aluminum or plastic for sure. as for backplates and wings ive always leaned towards halcyon doesnt have all the useless holes etc for random junk. but if you get the HOG stuff id ditch the tangle knobs

I travel with a #6 SS backplate. Works just fine and with proper planning I haven't even needed to pay for over weight charges.

 

[rongoodman]

I've taken both my SS plate and weighted STA on my last couple of trips. I've been close, but not over weight.

 

[Anti-Hero]

obviously these people (ill refrain from saying idiots as only 90% of them are) did not see that you travel for sure go with aluminum or plastic for sure. as for backplates and wings ive always leaned towards halcyon doesnt have all the useless holes etc for random junk. but if you get the HOG stuff id ditch the tangle knobs

You have to appreciate the irony.

 

[Oside Jimc]

I travel just fine with my DSS SS BP, since no STA is required it is reasonably light and simpler, just spent 3 weeks in Hawaii diving (rumor has it that this is consildered tropical) and loved it!

 

[dschonbrun]

I have a DSS 5.1 lb SS BP/W. I have no trouble traveling with this weight, and find that I enjoy loosing the 3 extra pounds off my waist.

AL or SS would both be fine. It's a personal preference based on how you like to trim out your kit.

 

[orange_diver]

have you considered? www.deepseasupply.com

great stuff.

whatever you go with, i'd say your wing is too big. for your kind of diving a 26lb or even an 18lb wing is fine.

 

[I Dive]

obviously these people (ill refrain from saying idiots as only 90% of them are) did not see that you travel for sure go with aluminum or plastic for sure. as for backplates and wings ive always leaned towards halcyon doesnt have all the useless holes etc for random junk. but if you get the HOG stuff id ditch the tangle knobs

I always get a good laugh out of someone callng other people idiots as they are typing something with multiple puncuation errors!

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

My first BCD was a DiveRite Transpac with Venture Wing. The Transpac is a soft harness with lots of adjustable straps and pads for making the harness comfortable. The Venture Wing is designed for single aluminum and steel cylinders. It came with pockets for weights, and I needed them with both wet suit and dry suit.

You especially need weight when travelling to warm places, as most people rent aluminum cylinders on trips, whereas with local dives you can get steel cylinders a little more easily.

I have since purchased a more minimal steel back plate, and I am able to dive it wet with an AL80 without any weight or single tank adaptor. For me, this is a huge benefit as it makes level trim much easier. I also have a weighted single tank adaptor for when I dive dry with thick undergarments.

I have very limited experience, as you can tell, so please take this as just one data point. If I were doing it again, I would go straight to a steel back plate plus wing.

 

[John_B]

obviously these people (ill refrain from saying idiots as only 90% of them are) did not see that you travel for sure go with aluminum or plastic for sure. as for backplates and wings ive always leaned towards halcyon doesnt have all the useless holes etc for random junk. but if you get the HOG stuff id ditch the tangle knobs

I'm sure I must be one of your "90%" but I recently went to Roatan (which I think counts as tropical with 82°F water in November) with my stainless steel DSS and a 3/2 wetsuit and the ubiquitous AL80s, and having those extra 3 lbs. directly on top of the ol' internal BC (e.g. my lungs) really helps me trim out perfectly.

 

[PooDiver87]

option 3!! good stuff and the price is great. I love the hollis solo harness