First BCD: an embarras du choix

[Zef]

This may just be folk lore but my understanding of the history behind the STA is as follows:

As indicated in other responses, early back plates and wings did not have cam strap slots cut into them as they were orginally designed to support a double tank setup. Lamar Hires' (owner of Dive Rite) wife wanted to try using a plate but wanted to dive with a single tank. Lamar took a backplate and cut out the center section, flipped it over and bolted it to another back plate while sandwhiching a pair of cam straps between the plate/wing and the cut out center section, and thus the STA was born.

Fast forward a few years and slots began being milled into plates and designed into wings for camstraps specifically so they could be used for single tank diving, but divers being a bunch frugal b@st@rds did not want to own 2 plates, one for single tank diving, and another for doubles, and threading cam straps in and out of plates and wings proved to be cumbersome, so that cut out center section found its use as means to quickly and easily convert a BP/W setup between single and doubles configuration.

It was never meant to be "roll control" for single tank bp/w setup....the fact that it offers that is a bonus, but at the cost of moving the tank further away from the diver's back.

Some of us swear that it is necessary for single tank setup. Some of us find we don't need it. Some of swear that some form of "roll control" is absolutely necessary, and some of us have never had a problem without any.

-Z

 

[Calatinus]

Ah, learning every day! Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Wibble]

I have a standard backplate — actually two, one stainless steel the other aluminium — to which is threaded a one piece harness.

I have two wings; a Halcyon Evolve 40 pound (18kg) doughnut doubles wing and a Halcyon Eclipse 30 pound (14kg) doughnut single wing. Neither have cam band slots. These wings are some of the best you can buy.

I have a simple single tank adapter for use with the single wing. This is trivial to attach using the two bolts with wing nuts. The "U" channel stainless adapter is lightweight (especially if the cam bands aren’t included).

I have three Velcro closing weight pouches threaded on the cam bands. I'll use the appropriate weight from the dive shop/boat, 1kg/2pound if warm with no wetsuit, or more if using a wetsuit.

Horses for courses.

 

[lowwall]

This was serendipitously posted in another thread. It's the same wing as the closeup in my previous post, but rigged with an STA (and trim pockets on the lower band in case extra weight is needed).

... a conventional STA also [with] double bands

 

[Calatinus]

Did some dives, and I'm going to purchase an XDEEP Zen BP/W with weight pockets it just feels right, intuitive, nice fitting. I guess the more backwards-drifted air distribution in the bladder helps for my heavy hips/legs.

 

[Cheizz]

So you've abandoned the 'standard parts' approach then...

 

[Calatinus]

So you've abandoned the 'standard parts' approach then...

The backplate isn't standard, but I went with the 'go for what works best for you' approach; one-piece webbing though.

 

[Cheizz]

The backlplate itself would be the only part I would definitely get in a standard version. Switching out harness options, wings, attached pockets, padding - those would be the variables for me. The backplate I would get standard though, so all these parts, whatever the brand, would fit on there. But that's just me, of course.

 

[ElCarlos]

I never ran into issues with compability with my Zen Backplate. About the harness, the only difference to DIR is the additional loop in the lower edges to get the waistband a bit higher. And I like the V-shaped crotchstrap.

I would probably be just as happy with Finnsub or Tecline but the Zen has a great price performance, ~USD 540/€ 500 here in Europe.

 

[Calatinus]

Well. Just an update. As charming as the exotically warm waters of Belgium and The Netherlands may be, as I get more and more comfortable in the water, my dives become shorter and shorter due to excessive cold.

In just a week or two I'll be joining Team Drysuit.