After my first dives after my OW/AOW certification this past year, I knew I was hooked and started looking into getting my own gear. The local dive shop had both a Hydros Pro and a BP/W that they let me try out in a pool.
I tried the Hydros Pro first and while it felt good, it didn't feel that much different than a normal jacket style BCD. I don't have much experience to compare with but I didn't find it anything special, especially for it's price. It actually felt bulkier than I expected it to.
I then tried on a BP/W and within 5 seconds knew that is what I wanted to buy. The minimalist feel of it is just something that you can't really explain and is something you have to feel.
To make a long story short, I ended up getting a SS plate from DGX and a VDH 35. I was torn between the 18 and 35 because I am going to primarily be doing vacation diving only, but I went with the 35 just in case I do eventually do some cold water diving, and because the 35 really is NOT much bigger than the 18, especially when deflated.
I haven't taken it into the ocean yet and will be doing so in 2 weeks, but I have tested my setup out in the pool with my 3mm wetsuit on and I'm negatively buoyant without any weights on. I will have to play around with weight once in salt water though but I'm thinking I will need between 0-4lbs.
As far as travel goes, I did a lot of research on carryon bags to fit all of my stuff into and purchased 4 different pieces of luggage and finally found the perfect one. I can fit everything in it other than my fins, simply because they are too long. But I've been packing those in my checked on luggage for decades to snorkel.
My BP, wing, cambands, wetsuit, booties, regulators, weightbelt (probably dont need this though), trim weight pockets, snorkel, mask, computer, etc all fit into it so I plan on just having my carry-on luggage for all of my SCUBA gear, other than fins.
