Buy or rent BC for 14 year old

[Boarderguy]

Buy the BP/W and let him use that for the proposed 60 dives. No reason to have him trying to adjust to a rental setup for his diving. The BP/W will accommodate him for decades. If he does change his mind on diving you can sell a BP/W for nearly MSRP.

 

[rye_a]

Thanks, everyone. I’m going to go ahead and get him a BP/W setup.

I’m down to three options, all with a 32# wing:

The DGX package:

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

The HOG Hogarthian:

Shop Hogarthian Custom Harness Package at Best Price | Divers Supply

Hogarthian Custom Harness Package

www.divers-supply.com

Or the HOG TBCS:

HOG Total Buoyancy Control Scuba System Package for Sale | Divers Supply

HOG Total Buoyancy Control System Package

www.divers-supply.com

That do you think?

 

[lowwall]

Thanks, everyone. I’m going to go ahead and get him a BP/W setup.

I’m down to three options, all with a 32# wing:

The DGX package:

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

The HOG Hogarthian:

Shop Hogarthian Custom Harness Package at Best Price | Divers Supply

Hogarthian Custom Harness Package

www.divers-supply.com

Or the HOG TBCS:

HOG Total Buoyancy Control Scuba System Package for Sale | Divers Supply

HOG Total Buoyancy Control System Package

www.divers-supply.com

That do you think?

Not the TBCS. Probably the Hog Hogarthian for the red straps. It's nice to have a different color to easily identify your stuff.

But first, I'd ask your son what he wants. He may prefer to dive what his friends are diving on the school trip. Or maybe he'd be proud to have his own gear. Either way the $90 you'd theoretically waste on renting for the first trip is just a drop in the bucket in terms of overall cost.

 

[VikingDives]

Thanks, everyone. I’m going to go ahead and get him a BP/W setup.

I’m down to three options, all with a 32# wing:

The DGX package:

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

The HOG Hogarthian:

Shop Hogarthian Custom Harness Package at Best Price | Divers Supply

Hogarthian Custom Harness Package

www.divers-supply.com

Or the HOG TBCS:

HOG Total Buoyancy Control Scuba System Package for Sale | Divers Supply

HOG Total Buoyancy Control System Package

www.divers-supply.com

That do you think?

The HOG systems are both TBCS systems. Don't feel like you have to choose one or the other there. IIRC there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 36000 different configuration options on the tbcs.

The DGX is a little cheaper for a basic model, but if you compare features that you'll likely want (like dumpable weight pockets). It will outprice the TBCS pretty quickly. A lot of people love them here... That's probably a good sign

If you want to play around with TBCS configurations, I have a TBCS builder on my website that has all the possible options - that should give you a better idea of what you could build.

 

[rye_a]

The HOG systems are both TBCS systems. Don't feel like you have to choose one or the other there. IIRC there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 36000 different configuration options on the tbcs.

The DGX is a little cheaper for a basic model, but if you compare features that you'll likely want (like dumpable weight pockets). It will outprice the TBCS pretty quickly. A lot of people love them here... That's probably a good sign

If you want to play around with TBCS configurations, I have a TBCS builder on my website that has all the possible options - that should give you a better idea of what you could build.

Thanks. I guess the difference in the two HOG packages I listed are the deluxe harness VS. The Hogarthian harness. Diver’s supply has also recommended the soft plate for travel, but the consensus here seems to be to go with an aluminum or steel plate.

 

[VikingDives]

Thanks. I guess the difference in the two HOG packages I listed are the deluxe harness VS. The Hogarthian harness. Diver’s supply has also recommended the soft plate for travel, but the consensus here seems to be to go with an aluminum or steel plate.

I have used both soft and steel plates (on the tbcs) There's about a 4-pound weight difference between those 2. There's nothing wrong with the soft plate if that is what you want, but for the money, I'd say buy steel and pack less underwear .

The soft plate can't be used with the Hogarthian webbing either.

 

[Brett Hatch]

Thanks, everyone. I’m going to go ahead and get him a BP/W setup.

I’m down to three options, all with a 32# wing:

The DGX package:

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

The HOG Hogarthian:

Shop Hogarthian Custom Harness Package at Best Price | Divers Supply

Hogarthian Custom Harness Package

www.divers-supply.com

Or the HOG TBCS:

HOG Total Buoyancy Control Scuba System Package for Sale | Divers Supply

HOG Total Buoyancy Control System Package

www.divers-supply.com

That do you think?

I think you're on the right track here with the 30lb wing and single-piece harness. Between the DGX one and the first HOG one, the differences in cost and functionality are pretty small. I haven't personally used either wing, but they both have a good reputation and positive reviews around here. Either way, I'd recommend:

- A stainless plate
- 2 cam straps
- A pair of small trim weight pockets. I use 2 of the DGX 4lb pockets myself, they work great and are super cheap. HOG should have a comparable one on their site. I would not recommend the larger weight pockets with buckles, quick disconnects, etc. I own a pair of these, and have never once used them, they're too bulky, waste of like $60
- A single-tank adapter (STA) makes things easier to set up especially on a boat, but is not a necessity. If you don't mind coughing up another $40 or so, it's nice, but it can be skipped

Cheers

 

[Rob9876]

I’m debating whether to buy a BC for my 14 year old son, or whether to just rent. At 14 he is already 6’1” and 165#, so he is definitely not done growing.

While I agree with the BPW route as the easy long term solution, back inflate in general isn't everyone's cup of tea (my kids and I love BPW, my wife prefers jacket styles). I'd recommend at least pool testing a back inflate with him prior to spending money.

Rent. No doubt.

What would you do in this case?

While most of ScubaBoard pushes everyone to Backplate & Wing, as mentioned above it is not for everyone. In fact, the vast majority of recreational divers dive in jacket BCDs. Jacket BCDs will hold him a bit higher in the water on the surface, which some people prefer. Plus, while BP/W are customizable, most jacket BCDs already come with everything a recreational diver might want included (weight pockets, trim pockets, extra pockets for SMB, slate, spare mask, roll-up snorkel, etc.). Once you add all of the options to a BP/W to do everything a jacket BCD can do, the BP/W might well cost twice as much.

One thing I would want to know is how experienced is your son and has he used a BP/W in the past? If not, I would recommend as above that he either try a BP/W before you buy it, or just rent for these 2 trips.

To the OP's question "what would you do?": What I did do was buy my 14 year old son the Divers Supply Value System Package with the Scout jacket BCD, and upgraded to the balanced Covert reg and the 3-gauge console. He's now 18 and has over 100 dives on this set-up, and it has been great.

The Scout BCD, specifically, is quite adjustable for size (he's had a large the whole time, and ranged in weight between approximately 180 to 260 [he's plays football, and bulks up significantly for the season]). The Scout BCD has 2x10 lb. quick release weight pockets in front, and 2x5 lb. trim pockets in back, all likely more than enough to hold enough lead for him for cold dives in thick neoprene -- but unlike steel backplates it is pretty light for flying to warm water locations. The built-in pockets are big enough to hold an SMB and spool on one side (no dangly snag-hazards for swim-throughs) and a slate and/or spare mask and/or roll-up snorkel on the other side. Reflective accents are nice also for low light situations. It's really been a great BCD, and we have no regrets and feel no need to change BCDs anytime soon.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

While most of ScubaBoard pushes everyone to Backplate & Wing, as mentioned above it is not for everyone. In fact, the vast majority of recreational divers dive in jacket BCDs. Jacket BCDs will hold him a bit higher in the water on the surface, which some people prefer. Plus, while BP/W are customizable, most jacket BCDs already come with everything a recreational diver might want included (weight pockets, trim pockets, extra pockets for SMB, slate, spare mask, roll-up snorkel, etc.). Once you add all of the options to a BP/W to do everything a jacket BCD can do, the BP/W might well cost twice as much.

One thing I would want to know is how experienced is your son and has he used a BP/W in the past? If not, I would recommend as above that he either try a BP/W before you buy it, or just rent for these 2 trips.

To the OP's question "what would you do?": What I did do was buy my 14 year old son the Divers Supply Value System Package with the Scout jacket BCD, and upgraded to the balanced Covert reg and the 3-gauge console. He's now 18 and has over 100 dives on this set-up, and it has been great.

The Scout BCD, specifically, is quite adjustable for size (he's had a large the whole time, and ranged in weight between approximately 180 to 260 [he's plays football, and bulks up significantly for the season]). The Scout BCD has 2x10 lb. quick release weight pockets in front, and 2x5 lb. trim pockets in back, all likely more than enough to hold enough lead for him for cold dives in thick neoprene -- but unlike steel backplates it is pretty light for flying to warm water locations. The built-in pockets are big enough to hold an SMB and spool on one side (no dangly snag-hazards for swim-throughs) and a slate and/or spare mask and/or roll-up snorkel on the other side. Reflective accents are nice also for low light situations. It's really been a great BCD, and we have no regrets and feel no need to change BCDs anytime soon.

I wish I would have started in a BPW instead of the jacket/back inflate that I did. BPW is better in pretty much every way. Less cumbersome, more streamlined. There’s really no learning curve either…so idk what the big deal would be? You can get a BPW package for around $450-$457 with ALL the options. Some BCD’s cost twice that…

 

[VikingDives]

I wish I would have started in a BPW instead of the jacket/back inflate that I did. BPW is better in pretty much every way. Less cumbersome, more streamlined. There’s really no learning curve either…so idk what the big deal would be? You can get a BPW package for around $450-$457 with ALL the options. Some BCD’s cost twice that…

Maybe 4x that much. Spot on, though.