Buying my first BP/W question

[Gone for diving]

I want to get a lighter bc for travel. Any suggestions?

Get and aluminum or titanium or a "want to be" titanium plate.
Or look at a freedom plate if you are diving single tank only.
I don't travel much but when I do I take my SS plate,

Sold! - "Titanium" backplate and STA from AliExpress, $50

Brand new, never used, titanium backplate and single tank adapter for sale. I recently purchased it from AliExpress from a store called "inwater is calling". If you search AliExpress for "titanium backplate", you will find many stores selling these items. Backplate weight is 1240 grams (2.73...

scubaboard.com

Gauging Interest in DH backplates...

All I have ever used was the plastic and metal shaped plates for singles and doubles. Figured I would make a plate to facilitate diving DH with modern accouterments. Of course I am not the first guy to do this...from what I know, it started with Seacraft... Then VDH, and now not to be had...

scubaboard.com

 

[Lorenzoid]

there is no steel plate, I want to get a lighter bc for travel. Any suggestions?

As Centrals said, the answer is to get an aluminium plate rather than a steel plate.

Nevertheless, in my opinion--and others have different opinions--a steel plate is the better choice for diving in a wetsuit with a single Al 80 tank, as the weight of the plate allows me to wear less lead. With a thin 3mm wetsuit, I need almost no lead at all.

This may be a lesser concern, but I also appreciate that the weight contributed by the backplate is on my back, i.e., aligned with my center of buoyancy, thereby helping me maintain horizontal trim. With a lightweight plate, I would need to carry lead in a less ptimal location for achieving horizontal trim, such as on a belt or in pockets. But again, this may be a lesser concern to most divers.

 

[Gone for diving]

To be clear when I say steel plate I mean aluminum or SS or titanium. That is steel,
Composite or plastic is not steel,

 

[Lorenzoid]

To be clear when I say steel plate I mean aluminum or SS or titanium. That is steel,
Composite or plastic is not steel,

"Metal" plate, then?

 

[Gone for diving]

You are correct, metal is a much better word.

Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant need typically an additional 11% chromium

 

[Centrals]

You are correct, metal is a much better word.

Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant need typically an additional 11% chromium

We all know the actual meaning of steel plate for diving. SS plate is a lot shorter to type!