first dive with BPW

[KentB]

Even with conversion to CAD, taxes and credit card exchange a backplate and wing should never cost that much. DGX ships internationally.
DGX Custom - DGX Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing Package

cheaper price for sure but i need 32lbs of weight with my 149 steel so once you add some weight pockets to that its $440 USD before any of the other fees so bank on probably $750-800 by the time its at my door and its a 25lb wing Im not comfortable diving with a big steel tank and that much lead with a 25lb wing.

I will try it tomorrow keeping a better fit in mind and update my thoughts.

"That's how they stay rich" is a stereotype for a reason.

For whatever reason you had a disconnect between your expectations and the actual oomph delivered by the product you bought: buyer's remorse, whatever. Happens to all of us. I was pointing out that higher price tags tend to amplify that.

not really buyers remorse just shocked by how much praise they get on here and I wasn't impressed. BUT like I said i went from a quality back inflate BCD so it wasnt really a huge difference. I noticed a HUGE difference from a jacket style cheep rental BCD to the back inflate and at the end of the day it was $1100 which in the big picture isn't that much money. not even counting on what Id be able to sell it for if I so choose. Realistically Im still going to keep it, in the water i noticed no difference it was only on land and I mainly bought it for the easier ability to sling a pony.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

cheaper price for sure but i need 32lbs of weight with my 149 steel so once you add some weight pockets to that its $440 USD before any of the other fees so bank on probably $750-800 by the time its at my door and its a 25lb wing Im not comfortable diving with a big steel tank and that much lead with a 25lb wing.

A 149 in almost 13# negative when full. Add to that six pounds for the backplate and 32# of lead and you're beginning each dive with more than 50 pounds of negative weight. I would suggest a weightbelt instead. They are much cheaper than weight pockets sold as accessories for backplates. I dive in Canada every year, including my next trip next month. I know you can get a decent backplate/wing and weightbelt for a lot less than 1100 CAD.

 

[KentB]

A 149 in almost 13# negative when full. Add to that six pounds for the backplate and 32# of lead and you're beginning each dive with more than 50 pounds of negative weight. I would suggest a weightbelt instead. They are much cheaper than weight pockets sold as accessories for backplates. I dive in Canada every year, including my next trip next month. I know you can get a decent backplate/wing and weightbelt for a lot less than 1100 CAD.

dive 2- kept shoulders much looser, felt much better.

Im not sure if your criticizing how much weight I need or where you got your numbers for negative 50 lbs. also keep in mind i need to account for drysuit and undergarment bouyancy as well and I naturally float. swimming i can breathe out completely and I don't sink. the 149 its -9.41 full. 32 lbs TOTAL weight not 6# backplate plus 6#STA plus 32 lbs. that leaves me with a completely empty wing and a slight drysuit squeeze with 500 PSI at safety stop. anyways still 20 lbs lead on just a belt isnt going to be easy to keep in decent trim or trying to get the belt tight enough to hold that much weight on it and still allowing air movement in a drysuit. and congrats about diving in Canada every year its beautiful here. and since you seem hell bent on the cost of the backplate and wing lets just end the conversion at I obviously make more money than you do. please do not talk to divers in the PNW about the cost of their primary lights you will have a heart attack.

 

[Bubblesong]

Well I got my new Freedom Contour Back plate with 32lb Hog wing wet in the pool today. I spent an hour with a GUE instructor, dry, adjusting fit, (he nipped off some of my d-rings and Akimbo rollers to simplify things), then three hours of pool work on weight distribution to get it trim, plus time for frog kick finning.
I was surprised i didn’t lose weight to carry, but i also had on a new floaty 7mm

The weight re-distribution towards waist, (not cam bands) was big for me though, and Crotch strap was necessary to keep tank from shifting up towards head.
But once in trim, little frog kicks really inch me along, definitely a more tranquil dive experience.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Im not sure if your criticizing how much weight I need and since you seem hell bent on the cost of the backplate and wing lets just end the conversion at I obviously make more money than you do. please do not talk to divers in the PNW about the cost of their primary lights you will have a heart attack.

Sorry, I wasn't criticizing you. I just hate to see divers pay $1100 for something that isn't any better than a $299 version. Also, I'm sure you do make more money than I. I think everyone else on Scubaboard makes more than I do.

 

[undrwater]

he nipped off ... Akimbo rollers to simplify things

Did he mention what was "complex" about the rollers?

 

[Steelyeyes]

dive 2- kept shoulders much looser, felt much better.

Im not sure if your criticizing how much weight I need or where you got your numbers for negative 50 lbs. also keep in mind i need to account for drysuit and undergarment bouyancy as well and I naturally float. swimming i can breathe out completely and I don't sink. the 149 its -9.41 full. 32 lbs TOTAL weight not 6# backplate plus 6#STA plus 32 lbs. that leaves me with a completely empty wing and a slight drysuit squeeze with 500 PSI at safety stop. anyways still 20 lbs lead on just a belt isnt going to be easy to keep in decent trim or trying to get the belt tight enough to hold that much weight on it and still allowing air movement in a drysuit. and congrats about diving in Canada every year its beautiful here. and since you seem hell bent on the cost of the backplate and wing lets just end the conversion at I obviously make more money than you do. please do not talk to divers in the PNW about the cost of their primary lights you will have a heart attack.

I have a 12 lb weight belt I wear with my dry suit. I got some suspenders so I don't have to crank the belt down and impede air flow in the suit. It works pretty well.

 

[Bubblesong]

Did he mention what was "complex" about the rollers?

His view is that the straps shouldn’t move, “Set and forget” and it was fine for pool use.
I found for myself, that although i am not skinny, my waist strap does not have enough room to move through a Rolex to alter shoulder straps for easier dinning/doffing. The OMS ballast ditchable weights system, line cutter and crotch strap all seem to take up a bit of belt space. But this was just a first set up. I know that trying different set ups could work out differently.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Sorry, I wasn't criticizing you. I just hate to see divers pay $1100 for something that isn't any better than a $299 version. Also, I'm sure you do make more money than I. I think everyone else on Scubaboard makes more than I do.

Congratulations on managing to retire. A lifetime of frugality does pay off. The discussion in this thread of cost versus benefit brought to mind another recent thread: Retirement plan to support my "habit"

 

[BDSC]

I now dive the Scubapro Litehawk. It is the greatest BC ever made. It is far superior to any BP/W ever made. It is greater than any other jacket or back inflate ever made. Why? Because it's the one I bought.