Question BPW help <3

[MWright254]

Hi! I am looking to switch from my hydros pro to a backplate/wing system. None of my LDS have options so in-person sizing, etc isn’t feasible for me. I would love to get some recommendations on a setup, including wing size, etc.

-I need something that can rally for cold, local California diving and travel for warm water diving
-Weight pockets
-can hookup an atomic SS1
-I’m a female diver, and very small. 5ft tall and weigh at any point between 100-110lbs.

Thanks!

 

[lexvil]

Start here
Dive gear express

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing Package

A basic DGX backplate/wing/harness package for single tank diving at a value price.

www.divegearexpress.com

 

[rhwestfall]

The thing is, at 5', I'll guess you are diving hp80's? The current favorite design of "long/narrow" wings are going to be risky with pinch flats (will work with the typical travel warm water al80). You probably need to be looking for the shorter/wider style wings (but still a single tank, not the "dual purpose" crap). A 30# +/- wing is kind of a "sweet spot" for cold water diving, and will work for warm. My wife is 5'-2" and has the same rig for warm and cold water (but we have to be careful). I go to an 18# wing in the tropics, but it is useless in cold water...

look at the length dimensions of the wings as you shop...

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

If you're planning to travel with a bp/w, I would say the Cressi Aquawing might be a good fit. It uses an "hourglass" aluminum plate to reduce the system weight, and has several models available (ranging from the 30 lbs of lift standard to the 38 lbs of lift for the aquawing max). Pretty cheap too, as these things go. I got my aquawing max for like, $520

 

[thomschoon]

I would contact the suppliers, I found Diverite & Halycon as well as Dive Gear Xpress to be very helpful and got zero sales push from all of them.

 

[BoltSnap]

Hi! I am looking to switch from my hydros pro to a backplate/wing system. None of my LDS have options so in-person sizing, etc isn’t feasible for me. I would love to get some recommendations on a setup, including wing size, etc.

-I need something that can rally for cold, local California diving and travel for warm water diving
-Weight pockets
-can hookup an atomic SS1
-I’m a female diver, and very small. 5ft tall and weigh at any point between 100-110lbs.

Thanks!

Why do you want to switch from the Hydros Pro to a BP/W? What are you missing from the Hydros Pro, and what do you think the BP/W will fix for you?

 

[landphil]

My wife and I both switched from Hydros Pro BCDs to Subgravity BPWs. I switched because I couldn’t get the weight distributed on my Hydros to properly trim out when I moved to drysuit diving. And my wife switched because her Hydros never fit her right (it was the right size for her height, but was a touch too tall for her actual body), which messed up her stability. Now she’s doing great on a short backplate and 30 lb wing.

At 5’ you’d almost certainly be more comfortable on a short backplate. And as a bonus, short backplates tend to have narrower harness spacing for your shoulders and waist and will fit an HP80 tank better than a standard size plate. Stainless gets you 4-5 lbs of weight evenly distributed across your back for cold water weighting; but you’ll have to carry that when you travel. I run a 10lb plate for cold water drysuit diving and have an aluminum plate I travel with (also have much softer harness webbing on my travel rig) For short backplates Halcyon, Subgravity and Dive Rite off the top of my head. I think DGX will even set you up with the Dive Rite short for a few extra $ if you’re looking at their BPWs

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I have a sub Gravity 3mm aluminum backplate for my travel BP/W and are going to get their 6mm stainless steel backplate for drysuit diving up here.

 

[NothingClever]

Long, narrow wings and HP80s don’t mix, regardless of plate length. @rhwestfall is right - pinchflat pity party will be happenin’ at your house.

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@NothingClever @rhwestfall Can y'all explain what you're talking about? Like, I'm trying to visualize how using an HP 80 (which, as I understand it, is the same diameter an AL 80, just shorter) could pinch a narrow wing? I dive a fairly broad donut (with 38 # lift) and AL 80's, so I'm rather unsure of what the issue you're talking about is, since I've never had cause to run into it, myself.