LDS say not to go with bp/w

[Charlie99]

Here is the real question. Does you lds sell backplates and wings?

I bet the answer is no.

They are just convincing you to buy what they sell.

I had an interesting experience when shopping for a 2nd BC a couple of years ago. Two separate people at the closest LDS tried to convince me NOT to get a Halcyon plate and 36 pound Pioneer wing. This is in spite of the LDS having the BP/W in stock, and not having my desired BCD in stock. (I was putting together another set of gear to be left at a different house, and my 2 choices were either convert to BP/W, or to duplicate my ML size SeaQuest ProQD.)
As you can imagine, I was rather shocked when two individuals independently steered me away from the BP/W they had in stock, even though they knew I'd buy the BCD elsewhere.

Even stranger, both persons dive BP/Wing ---- but only for doubles. Both of them love the backplate for doubles, but prefer a BCD for singles. Upon close questioning, it turns out that neither had actually tried out a singles BP/W rig.

OK. Let's try another shop. Same story, except in this case it was the shop owner I spoke with. He dives BP/W for doubles, a BCD for singles. He had tried a singles BP/W, but didn't convert, and didn't restock it when it sold.

OK. There's a third shop in the area. Yep. same story when I spoke with their "tech girl".

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I have tried out a BP/W with singles. Not an exhaustive test, but enough to get a feel for the difference in trim (the added weight of the plate up high requires me to move all weight on the belt to the front to keep from being rolled face up in shallow water with an empty wing) and drag. It will work, but it's no magic bullet by any means.

I suspect that some people get an ill fitting, or improperly sized BCD at the beginning, and never realize what really is causing their problem.

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Whatever you choose, dive it before purchasing.

 

[TSandM]

I started with a Libra, which is a back-inflate buoyancy compensator, and ended up with an Oxycheq plate and DSS wing. I like the BP/W setup better because it is infinitely adjustable. I have crossed the straps behind my back, and shortened them, and I now have a rig that stays glued to my back as though it grew there. That was not the case with the small Libra. There may very well have been an option for a smaller BC that would have fit, but the infinite adjustability of the harness made things easy, and I didn't have to look further.

As I said in my original post . . . the key is to have gear that fits and feels comfortable. Whether that's a jacket, or a back-inflate, or a BP/W, doesn't matter as much as that you like what you dive, and it feels good to you, and you can make it work.

The OP has been given the offer to try a BP/W in the water, and should take that offer. He may not like it, but at least he will have given it a try. One of the most frustrating things about gear purchases is that, all too often, you have to buy things before you have actually found out what it is like to dive using them. He has the chance to try it out, and should take that chance.

 

[wreckedinri]

. . . Even stranger, both persons dive BP/Wing ---- but only for doubles. Both of them love the backplate for doubles, but prefer a BCD for singles. Upon close questioning, it turns out that neither had actually tried out a singles BP/W rig.

OK. Let's try another shop. Same story, except in this case it was the shop owner I spoke with. He dives BP/W for doubles, a BCD for singles. He had tried a singles BP/W, but didn't convert, and didn't restock it when it sold.

OK. There's a third shop in the area. Yep. same story when I spoke with their "tech girl".

-------------

I have tried out a BP/W with singles. Not an exhaustive test, but enough to get a feel for the difference in trim (the added weight of the plate up high requires me to move all weight on the belt to the front to keep from being rolled face up in shallow water with an empty wing) and drag. It will work, but it's no magic bullet by any means.

I suspect that some people get an ill fitting, or improperly sized BCD at the beginning, and never realize what really is causing their problem.

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Whatever you choose, dive it before purchasing.

The scenario described by Charlie99 is quite common. Most of the people that I dive with prefer to use a jacket BC for singles and BP/W for doubles.

Dude, I'm sorry to tell you that if you get into this sport and get hooked on it that you will end up owning more than one BC! You will end up with a basement full of tanks, regulators, exposure suits (dry & wet), various weight belts, cameras (video & still). You will have no money, no "spare" time, you'll be totally consumed by diving . . . stop and get help right away if this does not appeal to you. Otherwise, you'll discover and witness amazing sights that non-divers can never appreciate, and you will make friends for life in the process.

Good luck with your decision, and enjoy the ride.

Capt. D

 

[The Kraken]

I don't own or work in an LDS, nor do I portray such on TV . . .

But one of my guesses why LDS's don't like to sell BP/W's is the fact that they are modular.

Being modular results is lower cost of repair or modification.

Also, instead of having to buy a complete new rig to move from one diving discipline to another, all one has to do is make a modification to the existing rig.

And then there is the issue of the shop employee having to ask knowledgeable questions about the combinations of modular parts instead of reciting the advertising propaganda printed in the product brochure.

the K

 

[dbg40]

They both work and many of the "recreational" BC's work pretty well. I do like the harness on the plate as it feels a lot less cluttered in the water. It also get's 5-6 pounds of weight off of your belt and up higher where it can help with trim.

If you are up for getting out and diving I can bring my old bc and you can try my plate in the water.

Well here's your answer. John has made a very generous offer, that you should seriously considder. I use a BPW after switching from a knighthawk. I find no reason not to use it for every dive, and the benefits are too many to ignore. HOWEVER, now that you have been given an opertunity to try both, I suggest you take John up on his offer. Then get what suits you better.

 

[paulthenurse]

Use John-O's rig and have a heck of a time. Ignore the big long hose he has wrapped around his neck. Baby steps.
PTN
FWIW, John and I have tentative plans to dive on Monday. Your welcome to come if you like. Hey John, we're still on, right? I've got my roommate about half talked into banging out of work and splashing the boat.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I don't own or work in an LDS, nor do I portray such on TV . . .

But one of my guesses why LDS's don't like to sell BP/W's is the fact that they are modular.

Being modular results is lower cost of repair or modification.

Also, instead of having to buy a complete new rig to move from one diving discipline to another, all one has to do is make a modification to the existing rig.

And then there is the issue of the shop employee having to ask knowledgeable questions about the combinations of modular parts instead of reciting the advertising propaganda printed in the product brochure.

the K

Good assessment, K.

 

[redacted]

I don't own or work in an LDS, nor do I portray such on TV . . .

But one of my guesses why LDS's don't like to sell BP/W's is the fact that they are modular.

Being modular results is lower cost of repair or modification.

Also, instead of having to buy a complete new rig to move from one diving discipline to another, all one has to do is make a modification to the existing rig.

And then there is the issue of the shop employee having to ask knowledgeable questions about the combinations of modular parts instead of reciting the advertising propaganda printed in the product brochure.

the K

My guess would be that they do not have the same competition controls as conventional BCs so potential profits are not as favorable.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

I'm not sure what you mean by competition controls awap but I think that there are alot of companies marketing the BP/W as a whole unit, DR, H, come to mind. For the little guys that are meeting a small niche with great service maybe (Oxy,Hammerhead, etc), but don't they all get sucked into the big company or starved out eventually?

 

[ScubaSarus]

Get yourself a nice quality BP&Wing that fits you nicely, is weighted perfectly, easy to use and within your competentcy and you'll be soaring like a stingray down there.

Whish I had done a BP&Wing Instead of buying 2 BC's whish the latest is now backinflation.