djanni
Contributor
Deep Sea Supply Challenge - BP/W Tryout Report
About 6 weeks ago I challenged Tobin George to lend me one of his rigs for a tryout. I was heading to Cozumel for an 18 dive, 8 day trip and would take the BP/W with me for a thorough tryout. If I liked it better than my Zeagle Stiletto I would buy it. If not, I would return it. Tobin took the challenge!
I want to say right up front that I decided not to keep the DSS. Yet I liked it a lot and would like to tell you about my experience with it and ultimately why I decided to stick with the Stiletto.
Tryout Report
The BP/W was the DSS Single Rig w/stainless steel backplate, 30# bladder and deluxe harness. No chest strap.
I usually carry a knife, mirror and folding snorkel in a BC pocket but with the DSS there are no pockets. Thinking I might buy a small pocket I called Joe at ScubaToys. Joe had 4 different pockets and said he would send all 4 to me. I pick one and send the others back. How do you beat a deal like that? In the end, I never used one of the pockets.
When packing for the trip I was surprised how compact the DSS is. It took up so little room in the suitcase I decided to pack the Stiletto just in case. However, once I started diving I stuck with the DSS for all 18 dives.
I cant say enough about the quality of the product. Every aspect of Fit and Finish was superb; far better than anticipated. The harness was thick, soft and pliable. Never rubbed or scratched anywhere. The metal pieces were just as impressive. No barbs or sharp edges and the harness slots have plastic inserts to reduce wear. The backplate, d-rings and poly-point rings feel good to the touch and look even better. The inner bladder is wrapped in a thick outer shell with a slight sheen to it which, to me, gave it a high quality look and feel. On the surface the corrugated hose seems a bit short but underwater its the perfect length and being center mounted made dumping air pretty easy. It was interesting that after a dive there would be very little or no water in the bladder.
Im 6 and 200 lbs. Tobin sent me a medium backplate and I took the rig to a quarry for a test dive. The fit was perfect. At first I thought I was going to need the optional chest strap but after a few dives in Cozumel it was obvious it wasnt needed at all. I thought I would miss the cummerbund. I couldnt imagine being able to tighten up the waist belt and get the same secure feeling you do by wrapping the cummerbund around you but the DSS felt just as secure.
On the surface the backplate distributes the tank weight across your back evenly and improves balance. It was easier to stand and walk than it is with the Stiletto. It was easier to climb the ladder too. Underwater the effects of the BP/W were less noticeable. The DSS felt stable on my back but probably no more stable than what Ive been used to. Perhaps more differences would have been noticed and/or appreciated if I wasnt already used to wearing a relatively small soft-back back inflation BC. Based on my recollection of diving with a jacket style large BC the differences would be more significant.
Managing the crotch strap took some time to figure out and Im not sure I got it right. If I put on the weight belt, then the DSS, then clipped the crotch strap to the waist belt the strap would be on the outside and over the top of the weight belt. BlueXTSea wants you to remove the BC in the water so they can pull it onboard. With the crotch strap over the weight belt I couldnt get the weight belt off without unclipping the crotch strap first. I could take off the DSS/tank first but then youre wearing a weight belt without lift assist. I started routing the crotch strap, once underwater, under the weight belt and then re-clipping it to the waist belt. That way, in an emergency, I could easily ditch the weight belt.
I was anxious to see how much total weight I would be able to drop but in the end it was 2 lbs of lead.
What I liked about the DSS:
I thoroughly enjoyed using the DSS and sincerely appreciate the opportunity. Having this experience opened my eyes to the fact that a BP/W rig can easily serve a wider range of diving situations than just Tech. I think I have a better appreciation for why so many feel so strongly about BP/W rigs. Tobin George was fun to work with, knowledgeable and very supportive. Did I mention his being justifiably confident about his equipment. I would like to have a DSS but in the end I asked myself this one question; Youre getting ready to fly somewhere for a long weekend of diving and hanging in your closet are both the DSS and the Stiletto, which one would you take with you? To match my needs and desires and for the type of diving I do it would be the Stiletto.
Thanks again Tobin.
Don Janni
About 6 weeks ago I challenged Tobin George to lend me one of his rigs for a tryout. I was heading to Cozumel for an 18 dive, 8 day trip and would take the BP/W with me for a thorough tryout. If I liked it better than my Zeagle Stiletto I would buy it. If not, I would return it. Tobin took the challenge!
I want to say right up front that I decided not to keep the DSS. Yet I liked it a lot and would like to tell you about my experience with it and ultimately why I decided to stick with the Stiletto.
Tryout Report
The BP/W was the DSS Single Rig w/stainless steel backplate, 30# bladder and deluxe harness. No chest strap.
I usually carry a knife, mirror and folding snorkel in a BC pocket but with the DSS there are no pockets. Thinking I might buy a small pocket I called Joe at ScubaToys. Joe had 4 different pockets and said he would send all 4 to me. I pick one and send the others back. How do you beat a deal like that? In the end, I never used one of the pockets.
When packing for the trip I was surprised how compact the DSS is. It took up so little room in the suitcase I decided to pack the Stiletto just in case. However, once I started diving I stuck with the DSS for all 18 dives.
I cant say enough about the quality of the product. Every aspect of Fit and Finish was superb; far better than anticipated. The harness was thick, soft and pliable. Never rubbed or scratched anywhere. The metal pieces were just as impressive. No barbs or sharp edges and the harness slots have plastic inserts to reduce wear. The backplate, d-rings and poly-point rings feel good to the touch and look even better. The inner bladder is wrapped in a thick outer shell with a slight sheen to it which, to me, gave it a high quality look and feel. On the surface the corrugated hose seems a bit short but underwater its the perfect length and being center mounted made dumping air pretty easy. It was interesting that after a dive there would be very little or no water in the bladder.
Im 6 and 200 lbs. Tobin sent me a medium backplate and I took the rig to a quarry for a test dive. The fit was perfect. At first I thought I was going to need the optional chest strap but after a few dives in Cozumel it was obvious it wasnt needed at all. I thought I would miss the cummerbund. I couldnt imagine being able to tighten up the waist belt and get the same secure feeling you do by wrapping the cummerbund around you but the DSS felt just as secure.
On the surface the backplate distributes the tank weight across your back evenly and improves balance. It was easier to stand and walk than it is with the Stiletto. It was easier to climb the ladder too. Underwater the effects of the BP/W were less noticeable. The DSS felt stable on my back but probably no more stable than what Ive been used to. Perhaps more differences would have been noticed and/or appreciated if I wasnt already used to wearing a relatively small soft-back back inflation BC. Based on my recollection of diving with a jacket style large BC the differences would be more significant.
Managing the crotch strap took some time to figure out and Im not sure I got it right. If I put on the weight belt, then the DSS, then clipped the crotch strap to the waist belt the strap would be on the outside and over the top of the weight belt. BlueXTSea wants you to remove the BC in the water so they can pull it onboard. With the crotch strap over the weight belt I couldnt get the weight belt off without unclipping the crotch strap first. I could take off the DSS/tank first but then youre wearing a weight belt without lift assist. I started routing the crotch strap, once underwater, under the weight belt and then re-clipping it to the waist belt. That way, in an emergency, I could easily ditch the weight belt.
I was anxious to see how much total weight I would be able to drop but in the end it was 2 lbs of lead.
What I liked about the DSS:
- Uniqueness it has a serious cool factor
- Quality - the product radiates quality
- No frills no fluff - never missed having a pocket or anything else for that matter
- No pockets
- Dealing with a crotch strap
- Dealing with a weight belt
I thoroughly enjoyed using the DSS and sincerely appreciate the opportunity. Having this experience opened my eyes to the fact that a BP/W rig can easily serve a wider range of diving situations than just Tech. I think I have a better appreciation for why so many feel so strongly about BP/W rigs. Tobin George was fun to work with, knowledgeable and very supportive. Did I mention his being justifiably confident about his equipment. I would like to have a DSS but in the end I asked myself this one question; Youre getting ready to fly somewhere for a long weekend of diving and hanging in your closet are both the DSS and the Stiletto, which one would you take with you? To match my needs and desires and for the type of diving I do it would be the Stiletto.
Thanks again Tobin.
Don Janni