How much weight do you drop when using a BPW?

[DrSteve]

As some of you know I am switching to a BPW. I am trying to decide what weight of backplate to get...
With my 2mm in a pool using a SS wing and a steel tank (I don't recall which but it was shorter than an Al80) I was perfectly weighted. Of course if I dived like this in the tropics I would have a lighter Al tank and be in salt water)
In the tropics and my Ranger I carry about 16lbs
Locally I carry about 20-22lbs

So I am curious how much weight people drop when switching from a conventional BC to a BPW? Basically I'm trying to decide whether I should get the SS or Al backplate.

Cheers!

 

[divad]

You drop the weight of the back plate maybe the hardware.

 

[The Kraken]

Hard to pinpoint, but my estimate, based on the parameters given, would be approximately 8-10 pounds.

 

[DrSteve]

You drop the weight of the back plate maybe the hardware.

That would be the obvious answer...but most people apparently seem to be able to drop more than just the weight of the hardware. I've heard anywhere from 8-12 lbs of ditchable weight being removed. I need to make sure I still have some ditchable weight!

 

[jonnythan]

Plan for the weight of the backplate and hardware, plus a couple of pounds of positive buoyancy from your Ranger.

 

[Hop Devil]

Lots of Questions on this one. Where do you do most of your diving? Is it cold water or warm water? Drysuit or Wetsuit. Single tank or Doubles? My general recommendation is if your diving warm water go aluminum and use some ditchable weight on either a belt or pockets. If you're diving single tank you can add a STA which goes up to 5lbs. If you're diving dry I recommend Stainless. I have one of each so I can keep them both rigged and then just swap the wings around. The aluminum is great for travel and warm water.

 

[divad]

That would be the obvious answer...but most people apparently seem to be able to drop more than just the weight of the hardware. I've heard anywhere from 8-12 lbs of ditchable weight being removed. I need to make sure I still have some ditchable weight!

If you drop more weight than the obvious, its probably ancillary to paying more attention to what you're doing.

 

[cool_hardware52]

How positive was your jacket? Empty the bladder, throw it in the pool, and weight it 'till it floats no more. This is the first value. The negative of your BP and harness is the second value. Add the two. This is the minium you can remove from your belt. Might turn out to be more once you achieve nirvana, aka perfect horizontal trim.

Once you no longer have to scull, fin etc to maintain horizontal trim, and become conditioned to not moving to maintain position a few more lbs will likely be "lost"


Regards,



Tobin

 

[divad]

Oh yeah, I forgot about padding.

 

[DrSteve]

How positive was your jacket? Empty the bladder, throw it in the pool, and weight it 'till it floats no more. This is the first value. The negative of your BP and harness is the second value. Add the two. This is the minium you can remove from your belt. Might turn out to be more once you achieve nirvana, aka perfect horizontal trim.

Once you no longer have to scull, fin etc to maintain horizontal trim, and become conditioned to not moving to maintain position a few more lbs will likely be "lost"

Regards,

Tobin

All my education and I didn't think of doing that! I'll try it tonight in the bath! It'll give me some idea.