Question My debate - go with a BP/W or stick with a back-inflate BC?

[Divin'Papaw]

Ditto. But, @scubadada now has me thinking about maybe taking one of mine off my BP, just to make it that little bit lighter and easier to pack.... I might just have to at least try it....

(j/k )

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Divin'Papaw

Fortunately, we can all dive what we like. My cylinder is held very stably by combination of the cradle and the band. I like how quickly and easily I can switch over at the surface interval, particularly on a rocking boat.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

One thing I enjoy about a jacket style are the pockets. I feel like I have a good amount of easy to access storage right at my side.

What exactly are you storing in those pockets?

How do people handle storage with a backplate & wing? Pockets only?

DSMB clipped off to my butt D-ring. One backup light clipped off to my right D-ring and held down with a piece of a bicycle inner tube. Cutting tool on my waist strap. Camera with lights is clipped off the left D-ring. If I needed more, I'd get tech diving shorts for diving in a wetsuit.

 

[lexvil]

Hi @Divin'Papaw

Fortunately, we can all dive what we like. My cylinder is held very stably by combination of the cradle and the band. I like how quickly and easily I can switch over at the surface interval, particularly on a rocking boat.
View attachment 806277

The S tek STA is just like this.

 

[Saboteur]

That may be so, but I just don't "like" one tank band. I want the bottom of the tank held as firmly in place as the top. Now I've been in a BP/W since dive #7 so I haven't had to worry about it. YMMV. If I were forced to use one, I would want it to be one of those ScubaPro style cinch bands.

A lot of youse have a helluva lot more dives than me and you may not have had a tank strap come loose. I dive pretty much exclusively warm water DM led dives and I’ve seen single tank bands loosen (and tank hanging) twice and once on a drysuit course on one of the students. For me, I’ll use two.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

A lot of youse have a helluva lot more dives than me and you may not have had a tank strap come loose. I dive pretty much exclusively warm water DM led dives and I’ve seen single tank bands loosen (and tank hanging) twice and once on a drysuit course on one of the students. For me, I’ll use two.

Do you make the straps wet before putting on the cylinder?

 

[Saboteur]

Do you make the straps wet before putting on the cylinder?

I leave that up to the valets . I worry more about them using one strap instead of two… which has happened a few times.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

My trip to the Red Sea and having to doff gear in the water has made me reconsider some things. Getting into and out of a traditionally Hogarthian rigged BP is a PITA! But there I was in 86 degrees water with an 22 pounds wing and it was the perfect size. Most back inflate BCs including the Hydros Pro have way to much lift. There is no circumstance, NONE, diving a single tank even in heavy exposure suits that I would need more than 30 pounds of lift. And so many of these back inflate BCs claim to be travel friendly and most people do not travel to cold water to dive so exactly why are they so gigantic?

A BP/wing will hold you are encourage you to be horizontal in the water just by their nature even compared to back inflate BCs. I have several plates and wings of differing sizes, I have that luxury as my wife points out to me as why do I need all of that stuff! My favorite BP/wing is a Oxy 18 pounds lift wing and the Oxy soft textile Travel plate and just accompanied me a few days ago to Cozumel. The other favorite that went to the Red Sea with me a few weeks ago is a VDH aluminum plate and VDH 22 pounds lift wing:



And for more temperate waters I use a stainless steel Freedom Plate and a Oxy 30 pounds lift wing. All are weight integrated.

So I am torn, I want something easy to get into a out of and that is lightweight and soft on me. Yes, soft. I am so tired of getting mashed, bruised, smashed, cut by metal tri-glides, metal D-rings, metal buckles, metal cam bands and stiff webbing. By the end of a few days of diving, just from getting in and out of the dxxn BP, I look like I have been run over by an Egyptian diesel Isuzu driven by a wild and crazy driving Bedouin, bruised, scuffed, cut and bleeding . I have no solution yet to this conundrum .

Edit to add, what metal tri-glides are cutting me you ask? Well, on the plate to the left do you see those tri-glides on the shoulder straps, those ones in particular and either plate despite the neoprene tubes as there are metal tri-glides at each D-ring.! Which is why that VDH plate stays home more and more and the Oxy keep getting the nod. At least until I replace them with plastic tri-glides.

I'm curious. How are you routing the shoulder straps on your freedom plate?

 

[scubadada]

I leave that up to the valets . I worry more about them using one strap instead of two… which has happened a few times.

Meant to be constructive. Perhaps you would do better if you assembled or inspected/tested your own gear.

 

[Nemrod]

I'm curious. How are you routing the shoulder straps on your freedom plate?

I have a Freedom Plate but neither of the pictured plates are Freedom Plates. The left plate is VDH and the right plate is an Oxy Ultralight textile plate. I use my stainless steel Freedom Plate for cooler water when I can take advantage of the extra weight.