if you are wanting a bp/w, buy a package

[Texas_Aggie06]

I thought like many that I could piece mine together for much cheaper than I could buy it online as a package. After I finally get all my pieces, I am only going to save like 40 bucks. In the end, it's not worth it. I tried hard to find good deals as well.

 

[docmartin]

that depends a little. while i generally agree i believe the numbers vary depending on which particular setup you are looking at and what matters most to you. if you like a halcyon wing but are agnostic regarding the brand of your bp etc you can probably save more than $40 by getting a bp, webbing and cam straps from a different manufacturer. on the other hand, if you like golem you won't save much (if any) money.

 

[docmartin]

and then there is the fact that many do not consider (re)searching different bp/wing combinations a cost but rather see it as the next best thing to actually going diving...

 

[Texas_Aggie06]

one of the problems is shipping. the more sources you buy from the more you pay in shipping. I actually got an amazing deal on my oxycheq wing. I mean amazing. i am comparing mine to deep sea supply packages. I am saving 40-60 dollars. oh well, live an learn.

 

[docmartin]

good point. shipping is easily overlooked.

 

[*Floater*]

It depends. I've recently thought a lot about this question because a friend of mine is getting into diving and he's asked me for help in putting together a bp/w rig.

If you buy used and have time to wait for good deals then I think you can save a bunch. For example, I've seen AL plates with hog rigs sell for as little as $60 shipped. He'd take one for about $75 shipped. He also found a heavy STA with cam straps for about $60 shipped. And if he gets an Oxy Mach V from Scubatoys it'll be about $250-60 shipped after discounts. So he's expecting to pay about $385-395 for the rig.

For about $419+shipping he could get a DSS kydex plate/hog harness/torus 26, which many here would probably prefer. Since I prefer an STA, donut wings and zippers on wings with separate outer shells that's also what he prefers ex-ante, so while he's saving only about $40 (not much I admit) the real benefit will be getting a heavy STA and zipper on his donut wing. The plate/harness will be used, but that doesn't matter when it comes to backplates.

However, if DSS rigs represent your ideal bp/w systems then just buy one of them because buying something else to save money will not be worth it.

 

[nereas]

If you are cost conscious, then an aluminum plate is your best bet. However the whole idea of a steel plate is to move more weight to your back and off your weight belt. So in most cases steel is more appropriate. (Not always, just in most cases.)

For 15 ft of webbing you won't pay more than $20.

For 4 D-rings and keepers, and a steel belt buckle, another $50 at most.

The most expensive part will be the wing itself. Oxycheque has good prices on these, around $350 each in various types and styles. Oxycheq has cams built into their tank straps, which hold the tank in place, and so you don't really need an STA, which saves you about $150.

Sure, you may have only saved yourself about $50, but the satisfaction of building your own gear is priceless. And you did save.

 

[Texas_Aggie06]

Sure, you may have only saved yourself about $50, but the satisfaction of building your own gear is priceless. And you did save.

true, but in the beginning i honestly thought i was going to save quite a bit more than this. oh well. :kopfab:

i guess i should have titled don't do it for the money. do it because you want to.

 

[*Floater*]

If you are cost conscious, then an aluminum plate is your best bet. However the whole idea of a steel plate is to move more weight to your back and off your weight belt. So in most cases steel is more appropriate. (Not always, just in most cases.)

For newbies I think AL plates should be more often recommended than they are on this board because for what you save by not buying steel you can probably get some type of a channel weight that will add another 4# to the AL plate basically making it equivalent to the steel plate, but for travel or other needs you can just use the AL plate without the extra weight.

If you want more weight then just add a heavy STA or a v-weight between the tanks if diving doubles. And if that's not enough non-ditchable weight then yeah, maybe it's time to get a steel plate, but at the point a weight belt might be a better solution even though everyone hates them.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

Hmm...

If saving money is the number one goal, then either buy used from a reliable source or wait for killer deals.

I recently sold a complete DSS rig with SS plate for $300.

I see that Jakub is selling a complete Golem rig for an insane price of $390... the lowest price you will find for a top tier BP and wing... Golem 35 Lbs SS Combo

You also have to be careful about comparing a rig that you put together vs a package deal. Sometimes you may not be comparing apples with apples. For instance, DSS rigs don't come with a SS STA... they should be cheaper than a rig that includes one.