Lessons BPW vs Jacket BC

[Chavodel8en]

For my local diving, I really like that my BP/W has no extra padding (and hence no added lead), and the SS plate gets some lead off my hips.

However, for tropical diving, Im fine in a jacket BC - I have a back inflate, but with little need for buoyancy, and it will be empty at depth anyway, a poodle jacket would be fine. As long as you're weighted correctly, it will trim out fine.

Like you, I prefer an adjustable harness. Makes donning and doffing easier. My ideal local rig would be a BP/W with an adjustable harness. Some dudes like to geek out on their tech gear, but for recreational diving, esp. in tropical waters, a poodle jacket is just fine.

 

[johndiver999]

As I became more serious about diving over the past few years, I delved deeply into technical diving—exploring doubles, sidemount, CCR where 90% of my dives are on my SF2 ECCR. With a "tech-oriented" mindset, I naturally gravitated toward using a backplate and wing (BPW) setup, even for single-tank rec dives.

Recently, I've come full circle and have been diving more single-tank recreational dives due to the convenience and increased dive opportunities on boats in my area.

Last week, due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to use a rental jacket BCD and regulator for a dive trip. It had been over 10 years since I last used a jacket BCD. With my tech-oriented mindset, I had always been discouraged by them, but this recent dive trip made me reconsider my stance. I was perfectly weighted (I guessed the weight but nailed it on the first try), there was no more gas in my BCD than required during the dive, and I felt incredibly comfortable and perfectly in trim. There was no "squeeze" around my body during the dive and the convenience of donning and removing the gear on the boat truly humbled me and made me question my previous judgment about always recommending BPW for single tank rec dive as the only way to dive.

Looking to see if anyone else has done a full circle and has gone back to the basics.

I have several BP/W's and I also started (a few months ago) using a standard BC for diving. It is a basic Scuba pro BC with no weight integration. I had to add a couple of D-rings and rigged a crotch strap.

I really appreciate that it is easier to get on (if I first fully inflate the BC) and how much. much more secure and comfortable it is at the surface. I love being supported in a vertical position on the surface, as I look around for the boat. I switch around which BC and harness configuration I use on a pretty frequent basis.

I also love the independent shoulder pull dump on the SP BC. I have to add a good bit of air in and out of my BC probably 15 times each dive, so this is a convenience that I really like.

I really don't need/like the cimmerbund and fastex clip - I would prefer a belt and buckle, but it will be a pain to retrofit that effectively.

It was a pain rigging a decent attachment point for the lobster bag on the cummerbund, but it just took a little time and a hot poker.

I did notice that compared to the BP/W, I was noticeably less dense in the water. Normally I can dive easily, even if I forget my weightbelt, but for this rig, I am a lighter than I like (if/when I forget my 6-7 lb weighbelt).

For single tank, recreational diving, I think many people on this forum are a little too fanatical about BP/W. But this is personal preference and comfort, so I don't think one opinion is more valid than another,

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Like you, I prefer an adjustable harness. Makes donning and doffing easier. My ideal local rig would be a BP/W with an adjustable harness. Some dudes like to geek out on their tech gear, but for recreational diving, esp. in tropical waters, a poodle jacket is just fine.

This is what I have on my Sub Gravity BP/W. It's clean, simple and no plastic parts.

Adjustable Harness System - SubGravity

Simple but adjustable Harness designed to be used in conjunction with a backplate. The steel QR plates replace traditional plastic buckles, allowing for the same ease of adjustment and removal, without the risk of breaking seen in plastic. A single D ring on each shoulder strap and one D ring on...

sub-gravity.com

 

[Umuntu]

This is what I have on my Sub Gravity BP/W. It's clean, simple and no plastic parts.

Adjustable Harness System - SubGravity

Simple but adjustable Harness designed to be used in conjunction with a backplate. The steel QR plates replace traditional plastic buckles, allowing for the same ease of adjustment and removal, without the risk of breaking seen in plastic. A single D ring on each shoulder strap and one D ring on...

sub-gravity.com

Subgravity also sells sliders to use at the bottom of the plate where the shoulder straps turn into waist straps. This makes a one piece harness adjustable when the waist buckle is opened.

You searched for Slider - SubGravity

sub-gravity.com

Below post also shows both the subgravity slider and a DIY solution …
Hogarthian Adjustable Shoulder Strap Solution

A pair of sliders (black only) are also available here for less …

2 Stück Tauch gürtel Rutsch halter für 2 Zoll Gurtband Anti-Rutsch-Fixateur D-Ring Tauchen ersetzen Zubehör - AliExpress 18

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[Luca Brasi]

I have been diving B/PW for many years. I think it is overrated for recreational diving. I used a cheap BCD in Soccoro recently and was more comfortable with better trim. I use only 6 pounds with my 5 mil . I’m thinking of trading down to a cheap travel bcd