Most Comfortable BP/WING

[FrankPro1]

Most of my diving is done on the Palos Verdes Shoreline. Every dive site located on this strip of coastline, except two, require some sort of hike. Some of the hikes are quite steep and arduous. I am in the market for a new buoyancy device and would prefer to purchase a BP/Wing. My concern is that most BP setups that I've seen lack the padding and support which I want for those long steep hikes. I've checked out and fitted myself on a Zeagle Ranger LTD and really like the lumbar support and padding which it offers. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good comfortable BP/Wing setup, which would offer proper support and padding for the type of hikes I'll be doing.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

The problem with any "most" thread is no one has actually tried all the products out there --so everyone likes the gear they have and that's what they recommend. Some people have tried a few brands of various bits of gear, so they may have some insight.

I use a DiveRite aluminum backplate. I've used it with everything form a skin to a dry suit with heavy undergarment. I use a hog rig with no padding and it is extremely comfortable. I've used this backplate with single and double setups, as well as a rebreather. I've used it in every diving environment, boats, shore, caves, fresh water, salt water. I've used it to lug double 130 a long distance and frankly never really notice the backplate at all. I've used it with the single tank adaptor and without the single tank adaptor.

Personally, I don't think the padding is necessary and in some ways defeats the purpose of using a BP/W.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

 

[The Great Kazoo]

I have two rigs. I have a Dive Rite BP. Wing and Harness and an OMS BP, Wing and Harness for Dbls. My OMS IQ Back Pack is VERY comfortable. They are on sale now.
Check out oms closeouts. com

 

[bamamedic]

The only time I've ever noticed the backplate and harness was when I was wearing nothing but a bikini...and double LP85's. The backplate dug into my lower back, and the harness cut into my shoulders. Underwater, though, it was completely comfortable (or maybe I was just numb from the cold water? Either way...)

As long as you're wearing some kind of exposure protection, you'll probably find that you don't even notice the backplate and harness (as long as you have the harness properly adjusted...when I first rigged it, I made it way, way too tight). If, for some reason, it is uncomfortable to you, you can always get a pad for the backplate and slip on neoprene padding for the shoulder straps. I've worn my BP/W with a 3mm and a 7mm wetsuit and haven't had a single problem with comfort. To get into the water at my favorite diving hole, I've got to walk about 100-200 feet or so down a hill (and back up said hill to get out of the water). Not a particulary long trek, but it's no backroll off a boat, either.

When I first assembled my BP/W, I winced at the large wing bolts on the diver side of the plate...those things looked like they would tear into me! However, they are recessed into the plate....even with aforementioned bikini, I never felt them.

 

[TSandM]

I agree with bamamedic. I think the furthest I've walked in my gear is about a quarter mile, and that was in a 3 mil wetsuit. The rig (which has none of the optional padding) was as comfortable as any backpack with fifty pounds on it is going to be Unless you are diving routinely with no exposure protection at all, I don't think you need to worry about padding.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

on a few hikes the shoulder straps would start to dig in on me but that was with double tanks. If you wear exposure protection than I wouldn't be worried about anything causing issues. However if you wish there are several after market items that can help.

-Halcyon and OMS make backpads, which double as storage for a marker buoy.
-dive rite makes some simple neoprene tubing to slide over your shoulder straps.

among others.

I suppose you could look into sidemount diving if you are walking a long way with heavy tanks but then you need to make more trips...

 

[Joe21]

Try a pack they have most of the advantages of a plate but with padding. chek out dive rite trans pack.

 

[DwayneJ]

I have the OMS IQ which I use with a Steel BP and and a continuous webbing rigged harness with an Al BP. For hiking down the PV hills/RAT beach, the IQ was great.

Certainly I am sure either the Transpac or IQ would be fine.

I have fallen on the beach once - foot ware is critical.

 

[Mr.X]

Most of my diving is done on the Palos Verdes Shoreline.

For some reason I remember that in the olden days of PV diving the divers simply threw their cylinders down to the beach below? This saved them the trip down with a tank? I wonder if it was a California diving myth?

I don't think it's ever easy to haul tanks up and down. Even padded BP get heavy. I have often thought of using a mountainboard with tether, or all terrain dolly to carry stuff? In the end I skipped the whole carrying the tanks down the hill stuff because I took a charter boat, and because I'd have to secure more stuff on the beach so it wouldn't get ripped off. Lots-o-work.
Scrub Mountain boards - from our Scrub Mountain boards Kite Shop
Piano Dolly

x

 

[cool_hardware52]

Most of my diving is done on the Palos Verdes Shoreline. Every dive site located on this strip of coastline, except two, require some sort of hike. Some of the hikes are quite steep and arduous. I am in the market for a new buoyancy device and would prefer to purchase a BP/Wing. My concern is that most BP setups that I've seen lack the padding and support which I want for those long steep hikes.

If you are wearing enough exposure protection to dive these cold water sites comfort in most BP&W's should not be an issue, particularly in a single rig.

Back plates and wings are optimized for their in water function, and I would recommend against trying to make a BP&W into a "comfo pack, fully padded, pocket encrusted, floofy, floatly" BC. You will spend money you don't need to and you will defeat many of the advantages of a BP&W.

PV has some long hikes, and part of "comfort" is the total weight load. A BP&W, absent the inherent buoyancy of a padded BC, will likely reduce your total ballast requirements by 4-6 lbs. That can be 10% of your total load.

A properly adjusted harness, and a well fit, flatter bend plate is a good place to start.

Tobin