First BCD - BP/W?

[Tank601]

Looking to make the splurge this year and buy my own bcd. Thinking of a Backplate and wing. Can you guys give me the pros and cons and recommendations? I have rented the jacket style before - never dove with a back inflation -
One think is for sure I hate a lot of weight on my belt! - That's why I was considering purchasing a zeagle ranger that was integrated until I read this article and it makes sense.

Why a backplate and wing - DIR Explorers

Any backplaters out there? How do I rig it? Can you go with little or no weight with a shortie? Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!

 

[keithdiver]

First of all. What kind are you looking at? How much $ is in your budget? Are you going to be going to doubles or staying with just one tank? All of these factors need to be taken into consideration when making that transition. This is just MOI. Do you dive wet or dry?

 

[Rhone Man]

There are a lot of upsides to BP/Ws, depending upon what type of diving you do. I do most of mine the Caribbean, so I like the fact that it is small, light (I used a kydex backplate) and easy to travel with. Underwater they are nice and streamlined, although (whatever others on the board may say) they can chafe unless you at least wear a shortie. Some people in the Caribbean prefer jacket style because it means they have more pockets to shove their crap in - personal preference.

Some people in colder waters like BP/W because with a steel backplate you can shed some weight from your belt. They are also modular - so if you switch to wearing doubles, or use a bigger or smaller wing, you don't need to completely retool.

Downside is usually price. You can pick up a cheap jacket style BCD new on the internet for about $120 (although obviously there are many that cost more than that). A new BP/W runs about $420 or so.

I like a BP/W, but I am not militant about it, and some people don't get on with them. I'd certainly recommend if possible you try before you buy. Tobin George at DSS (who will probably chime in on this thread before too long) is really helpful and friendly if you give him a call.

 

[Tank601]

I dive wet - warm water with shorty - one tank - no deep diving! i want to stay low in cost but i want it to last also ... few hundred for the plate and wings - i heard these setups were the cheapest route??

 

[Tank601]

There are a lot of upsides to BP/Ws, depending upon what type of diving you do. I do most of mine the Caribbean, so I like the fact that it is small, light (I used a kydex backplate) and easy to travel with. Underwater they are nice and streamlined, although (whatever others on the board may say) they can chafe unless you at least wear a shortie. Some people in the Caribbean prefer jacket style because it means they have more pockets to shove their crap in - personal preference.

Some people in colder waters like BP/W because with a steel backplate you can shed some weight from your belt. They are also modular - so if you switch to wearing doubles, or use a bigger or smaller wing, you don't need to completely retool.

Downside is usually price. You can pick up a cheap jacket style BCD new on the internet for about $120 (although obviously there are many that cost more than that). A new BP/W runs about $420 or so.

I like a BP/W, but I am not militant about it, and some people don't get on with them. I'd certainly recommend if possible you try before you buy. Tobin George at DSS (who will probably chime in on this thread before too long) is really helpful and friendly if you give him a call.

What do you use for pockets? Are pockets attached to the harness?

 

[keithdiver]

I agree with Rhione man, give Tobin a call, he will do you some justice in the Matter. His number is 626-799-5078. LOL

 

[goaliemn]

I picked up a Scubapro Knighthawk. Its a back inflate, but feels like a jacket in most other ways. A good deal and a great BCD.

 

[Rhone Man]

What do you use for pockets? Are pockets attached to the harness?

I do wear a wet pocket on the belt, but I am quite unconventional that way. Most people clip their extra gear onto the harness in some fashion or other (most rigs have 4 D-rings, although some have more). If you use a drysuit (which you clearly don't), then the drysuit usually has pockets.

Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but BP/Ws developed in cave country, and the idea was to keep the rig as streamlined as possible, hence the normal absence of pockets.

What works for the caves of Florida also works rather well for the lobster ledges of the Caribbean, although I have never found a completely satisfactory way to clip in my wide mouth game bag.

few hundred for the plate and wings - i heard these setups were the cheapest route??

You can put them together quite cheaply if you are willing to go second hand (no reason not to - nothing complicated about them) AND you are willing to build up using different components (ie. get a blackplate here, wings there, single tank adaptor from another place - webbing and D-rings are cheap and easy to source). DevonDiver posted a useful "how to" on this recently which you might be able to find with a search, but I wouldn't recommend trying to do it for your first one.

There are plenty of videos on the web about how to rig them (including a good one on the DSS website).

 

[M_Bipartitus]

If you look for a package online you can get everything you need for $200-$300. Though this will be the most basic variety (which some divers prefer). My second BP/W setup was this: TECHNICAL SCUBA BCD PACKAGE @ Divers-Supply.com . My first was a larger brand name and about twice the price. Both are pretty close in apparent build quality.

For any single tank setup you need to be sure you have at least

- backplate - Aluminum or kydex for warm water

- harness - basic Hog harness works well

- crotch strap - very helpful to keep the backplate in position, especially on the surface

- wing - get a singles wing for a singles tank

- cam bands - most often you need two

- Single tank adaptor - Optional with some BP/W combinations, but often recommended anyway.

- d-rings, Belt Buckle, belt slides - Stainless steel preferred, these will often come with the harness.

For pockets, I agree with a number of others on the board that pockets glued to your wetsuit (drysuit for me) are better than pockets that attach to the BP/W. You can add pockets to the waist band on a BP/W, but it is often easier to use pockets on your thigh. There are also shorts that you can wear over your suit with attached pockets (for example, http://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/highland-neoprene-pocket-shorts-p-2702.html). I've never had to try these myself.

 

[pcheney]

Halcyon Infinity - all the advantages of a DIR setup, plus easy to get on and off. I was instantly sold on the BPW concept after a test-dive, but liked the way I could get out of a conventional BC by loosening the straps. The Infinity gives you that in a DIR-compliant way. As a bonus, you can instantly resize it for different suits, or let a friend use it. You will notice that a BPW locks your tank into position really well (two straps, and a stainless-steel tank saddle), and that the weight and lift are ideally distributed. If you don't like the Infinity, go with something like a DSS and put on the harness with quick-releases. The DIR guys don't like it, but it achieves the easy-on, easy-off objective. But the Infinity does it without add-ons, so I think it's the best.
My .02
Pete