Going with a BP+W

[DCDivenut]

Okay.. score another one for the dark side...
I have been reading this board (and every other one) for the last 2 months, I have visited 4 different local shops to look at options, asked 7 dive shop guys 100's of questions and I am almost ready to make a decision....

Hey.. give me a break , the last time I bought a bunch of gear without doing all the research it got me where I am today, buying a lot of new stuff!!!

I have decided that I definitely want to do a BP+wings vs. a back inflate or a Transpac. Based on the type of diving I currently do and the type of diving I would like to be doing in the next 2-3 years I really think it offers me the maximum flexibility and expandability.

So what is my question... well I have a few...

1. Basically a back plate is a back plate right? Whether a single tank requires a STA depends on the wing, right? All back plates have the same cutouts so you could use Halcyon wings with a OMS plate and a Dive rite Harness?

2. Wings.. this is where it gets tricky... there are deifinitely a lot of options. At this point I am looking for a wing to dive singles with. When I move into doubles I figure that I can move up to a bigger wing. From what I can figure you want the smallest profile wing for the application.

3. I am definitely looking to go with an LDS on these purchases. I have one that sells Dive-Rite and one that sells primarily Halcyon , altough they also carry OMS etc. Any feedback either way with wings for single tanks?

4. I really like the diverite transpac harness. It is really comfortable and I think it would work great with a skinsuit/t-shirt. Any real negatives on this?

Anything else I am not considering? I am looking at getting an AL plate now since I fly to 100% of my dives and then getting a SS when I start doing VA/NC wreck diving and I am driving.

 

[JeffG]

1. Basically a back plate is a back plate right? Whether a single tank requires a STA depends on the wing, right? All back plates have the same cutouts so you could use Halcyon wings with a OMS plate and a Dive rite Harness?

Not all plates have the cutouts for the Pioneer wing with the built in STA's

2. Wings.. this is where it gets tricky... there are deifinitely a lot of options. At this point I am looking for a wing to dive singles with. When I move into doubles I figure that I can move up to a bigger wing. From what I can figure you want the smallest profile wing for the application.

Get a wing that only for a Single tank. The wings that try to be both usually do not do a good job of either. YMMV

Anything else I am not considering? I am looking at getting an AL plate now since I fly to 100% of my dives and then getting a SS when I start doing VA/NC wreck diving and I am driving.

I use a Alum plate with a Channel weight...dump the weight for traveling, add it for the local cold water dives. So you could do it with with just one plate...Mind you I was thinking of picking up a SS plate myself

 

[MikeS]

1. Basically a back plate is a back plate right?

No, there are different materials, sizes and hole patterns. The best description of the differences I’ve seen came from Fred-T.

Whether a single tank requires a STA depends on the wing, right?

Yes. I prefer a separate STA as it gives you more options (i.e. weighted versus non weighted).

All back plates have the same cutouts so you could use Halcyon wings with a OMS plate and a Dive rite Harness?

No. Different plates have different hole patterns. You need to make sure that the plate you get is compatible with the wing and STA you will use.

3. I am definitely looking to go with an LDS on these purchases. I have one that sells Dive-Rite and one that sells primarily Halcyon , altough they also carry OMS etc. Any feedback either way with wings for single tanks?

I like the Halcyon wings. I think they are well thought out and well built.

4. I really like the diverite transpac harness. It is really comfortable and I think it would work great with a skinsuit/t-shirt. Any real negatives on this?

You might also want to check out the transplate harness.

Anything else I am not considering? I am looking at getting an AL plate now since I fly to 100% of my dives and then getting a SS when I start doing VA/NC wreck diving and I am driving.

I would skip the AL plate. My Halcyon Pioneer and Back Plate weighs within a pound of my Balance BC and folds up smaller. It travels just fine.

Hope this helps,
Mike
__________________
If all the world's a stage to play on.. then I hope you can act in fins!!!

 

[domino22]

oh my head still hurts from going down this road. I ended up with a zeagle ranger which I love and a zeagle aluminum bp and wing for travel, which I am trying to devolope a relationship with the jury is still out but I may end up liking it more in the future than I do now after Coz. Got stuff to figure out but with each dive and an adjustment here or there it has potential. So now I am looking at the zeagle scout for travel hey $215 at LP that is just two throws at a craps table!

 

[DCDivenut]

Thanks for all the info. From what I can tell, most of the major manufacturers stuff seems to be pretty good, there isn't much "trash" out there, and there is a lot of personal preference. I guess it will come down to what I think after the pool and which system is the best price.