Originally posted by bobafett21
So, is the jury still out on the "Advantage"? I still feel good about the back-inflated "tech" BC. I was concerned about the way the Advantage handled the weights, however. Is that something to worry about in this style of BC?
The Advantage has two non-releasing trim pockets located rather high up and right next to the tank. They will hold 5 pounds each and will need to have weight in them with an aluminum tank. Otherwise you are doing a face plant in the water. The two releasable pockets on the cumberbun will hold an additional 26 pounds of weight together. However, as the BC will need to be balanced as to weight fore and aft, it may not be practical to load the front pockets with that much weight unless you add some kind of additional weight to the back also i.e., a tank weight. The problem, as stated, is that the releasble weights are not supported by the shoulder straps and thus the cumberbun becomes a squishy weight belt with less pockets. This could be fixed if there was simply a D-ring located on the belt directly above the weight pockets that could be attaced to the lower D-rings on the shoulder straps.
The back plate and wing configurations that have been discussed (correct me here guys if I don't get this quite right) give you a lot more options and also require a lot more decisions. Normally, with this kind of configuration a lot of weight management will come from a stainless steel back plate and a pair of steel air tanks. In addition, and especially with a single aluminum tank, you have the options of purchasing a variety of weight configurations including weight belts, add on trim pockets, bolt on weights, pockets that connect to the tank strap, etc. The options that are available will vary with the brand of BP and wings that you buy. Here, as with the Advantage, the weights will need to be balanced front to rear, etc. In all cases, they are add-on pieces, that must be worked out through trial and error for the configuration that you are going to be diving. Keep in mind, these weight decisisions come after having settled on a back plate (there are usually three types?), the webbing or harness or shoulder straps (there are about three options here as well) and the wing or bladder (again there are several to chose from.) (Did someone say simple?) Personally, I am not sure that I have the knowledge to put such a system together without someone to help or without making a lot of mistakes. Perhaps Uncle Pug, etc. can suggest a typical setup for those of us who are planning on diving the next little bit with one aluminum tank and in my case a lot of neoprene?
I am not sold yet on the Advantage but I don't know if I could piece together a BP/wing setup without help. Personnally, I wish that I had spent a little more time looking at some other options including Zeagle, Dacor Flyt Pak, Dive Rite's Recreation BC, etc.
If like me you are confussed, that is good. Remember, confusion is a heightend state of awareness and allows you to learn faster?
Anyway, so much for my rambling, mayhaps those of you who know what you are talking about should jump in and save the day.
