Pio once bubbled...
Where can she/he rent a wing/BC or a backinf.? I have never seen one of these on the boats.
That was a big problem for me as well. Bottom line: I just placed a lot of phone calls and did some driving to be able to find what I was looking for.
Interestingly, Halcyon (the favored bp/wing on this board) allows you to purchase their product and try it, risk-free for 30 days (liberal return policy). I don't know the specifics, so I recommend asking the salesperson about that. Extreme Exposure (
http://extreme-exposure.com ) can inform you of the specifics.
Pros Wing:
- best value vs. price relation
- more flexible (get different wings with different amount of lift but keep plate; more easy to switch between 1 or 2 tanks)
- risk of squeezing your chest is very low, also for beginners
- light weighted
- more streamlined under water
Cons Wing:
- Takes more time to setup (one test mentioned a 'falling apart when tank is disassembled' effect for some models)
- Trimming/getting used to it is more difficult
I agree. There are lots of models, however, that do not "fall apart when the tank is disassembled." Again, Halcyon makes quite a nice unit that doesn't do this.
There is some truth to the fact that since they're not as common as "regular" BC's, getting used to them can be a little intimidating. I will say, though, that for me, "getting used to it" took about two dives. It's different than a "regular" BC, but in good ways. Frankly, I didn't find it any more difficult to "get used to" than anything else I tried. Of course, it's still somewhat intimidating, since most people have never tried one before.
Bottom line: It seemed scarier than it actually was.
Pros Jacket:
- Most brands and models to choose from
- Very easy to assemble and to mount
- Very low cost models available
Cons Jacket:
- Can squeeze if fully inflated (a lot of beginners tend to put on too much weight and compensate this with the BC)
- Keeping balance/position when swimming sideways can be more difficult
Again, I agree. I think there's also a "Pro" that jacket-style BC's look like life vests, and therefore appear to be much less intimidating. Also, everything's made of plastic, rather than the scary and intimidating looking metal of a bp/wing. I believe that this "less intimidating" feature helps people to feel comfortable - a plus any time you're telling someone to breathe underwater.
Pros Back Inflated:
- Couldn't really find some which are only valid for this style
Cons Back Inflated:
- Can also give you some sort of constricting feeling if mounted wrong
A lot of people I've seen like the back inflates for exactly this reason... They're sort of a "halfway point" between jacket style BC's and a bp/wing. Some of the popular models include the Dive Rite Transpac II, the SeaQuest Balance, and the Scubapro Knighhawk. I've dived all three of those models, and they're quite nice, IMHO.
In the long run, I preferred the simplicity of the bp/wing and the stability of the hard backplate, which pretty much dissappears underwater. I also liked the fact that I could change out anything and everything; I could add and subtract D-rings, buckles, straps, mounting points, and everything in-between. I also liked the fact that it had the six pounds "built in" with the plate - a luxury that I didn't have with the back inflate.
Of course, the trim pockets took care of that, and what I gave up in modular changability I got in the fact that it was "already set up" and basically ready to go.
The only real complaint that I hear about back inflates is the fact that they tend to "push you forward" at the surface. Of course, redistributing the weight using the weight pockets can generally solve the problem.
Some questions I still have:
- Is there a difference in durability/longevity?
Like anything else you purchase, it really depends on the quality of the manufacturing. That said, the popular name brands like Scubapro, Halcyon, SeaQuest, Aqua-Lung and the like make some pretty nice stuff, especially in their higher-line equipment.
Assuming that you're asking if there's a significant difference in the longevity of the different styles of BC, I'd have to answer this way: With a backplate and wing, the metal backplate will last for many years (plastic generally has a limited life span, particularly in bright sunlight over time and in cold climates) and the entire harness is replacable for $10-$30. These are not true for a "regular" BC.
That said, most people find that most quality BC's last five years or more with regular use.
Maybe based on the materials used?
Yes.
Generally speaking, the heavier the material is, the more durability can be expected. Also, metal components will far outlast plastic ones for the reasons listed above. Metal also has the advantage of being negatively buoyant, whereas plastic is usually positively buoyant. While an individual buckle might not seem to account for much buoyancy, the culmination of all of the ones on a standard BC means that you might need to dive with another pound or two to be properly weighted. Metal fasteners, on the other hand, not only don't require you to add weight, but actually reduce the amount of weight that you need. Many people find that the net difference between the two can be three of four pounds... Which is nice to be able to take off of your belt/weight system.
Is it more difficult to get spare parts for Wing BCs? Are repairs more expensive?
No, and no. Surprisingly, it's the opposite. Since bp/wings are modular in design, parts are much easier to get and install than they are with "standard" BC's. Sure, they may have to be mail-ordered from Florida or Washington State, but they're available. Getting replacement parts for a BC from SeaQuest, Aqualung, Zeagle, and particularly Scubapro is much more difficult. Frankly, they're simply more interested in selling a new BC than helping you to fix your old one.
I've read about 'annoying and silly' crotch straps for Wing BCs. But when I look at the Dive Rite Transtec and others I cannot find them. So what's that story?
I've seen them available for the Transpac and for SeaQuest's Black Diamond, although they're usually a special-order item rather than something that's normally carried "in house" at your local dive shop.
The reality is that any BC can be used without a crotch strap, including a bp/wing. The SeaQuest Black Diamond, in particular, comes to mind as a BC that does well without a crotch strap because of the "semihard" sides of the BC which tend to keep the BC in it's proper place on your body.
The reality of crotch straps, I've found, is that they're a positive addition to a rig, particularly a bp/wing because of the fact that a bp/wing has no other way to keep itself from riding up on your torso (many other BC's have "walls" which accomplish this to some degree). However, like the metal backplate, a single crotch strap on a diver just
looks uncomfortable. Many people look at them and think, "That's not something that I want." for this reason, most manufacturers have steered away from designing BC's with crotch straps.
My recommendation is to try one out for yourself. I found that some were comfortable, and some were not. Those that were comfortable were ones that I could not tell were even there at all, except that my rig stayed "down" where it was supposed to be. I found that a wider, softer strap was best for me. I chose a Halcyon crotch strap, which is made of a polymer cloth that is very soft and supple. It's 2" wide; twice as wide as the ones offered by Dive Rite and SeaQuest.
Speaking of which... These were my findings about crotch straps, in order from least comfortable to most comfortable:
1. "Standard" 2" crotch strap, made of the same webbing that is typically chosen for the rest of a bp/wing rig. I found this to basiclly "bite"" into my thick thighs, right in the sensitive areas.
2. Gary Hoadley's "soft" crotchstrap, which is a version of the same material, but has not been "stiffened." I believe that this material is actually
thinner in terms of being maybe 1 mm thick instead of the 1.5 mm or so that makes up "standard" webbing. This is also 2" wide. While I found it better than a "standard" 2" strap, it still "bit" a little. My sweetheart, RavenC on this board, who's thighs aren't nearly so large has found this crotchstrap to be sufficient for her needs. However, her wetsuit now appears to be wearing a little in the crotch area due to this stiffer crotchstrap.
3. Dive Rite's 1" wide crotchstrap (also sold under some generic brand names, including one for the Black Diamond by SeaQuest). The narrower width of this strap was a positive thing for me, although the strap was more obvious to me at the surface. There was some discomfort during some of our rescue exercises, where I was being pulled around by my BC. I've heard horror stories about trying to scooter with a 1" crotchstrap.
4. My choice for crotchstraps: The Halcyon crotchstrap, which is made of a polymer material instead of regular 2" webbing. It was wide and comfortable, but never caused me any discomfort due to the wide contact area with my body and the softness of the material. The downside is that it's a $35 crotchstrap, which seemed pretty pricey for a piece of webbing.
Tell me what you think about my posting.
Jens
I pretty much agree with your impressions, and have found my impressions to be similar to yours.
You can find lots of information and help in trimming them.. especially on this board. Between you me and a Fence post, I own a SP Knighthawk(Back inflate), but I will be supplementing it with a BP/Wing (probably a FredT model) simply because of the options it allows for (Dual Tank, Cute Little Argon Bottle for Dry suit, bullet resistant harness, Centralized weight, and upgradeability with a Dewalt) :ninja:
