Neat way to pack your BP/W?

[WhiteSands]

Just wondering if there's a neat way to pack a BP/W, so that the harness, crotch strap, etc. is neatly packed?

With a jacket you can pack the fins, regs, mask, etc. very neatly into a package in the BCD.
Is there a similar method to do that with a BP/W?

 

[RJP]

Just wondering if there's a neat way to pack a BP/W, so that the harness, crotch strap, etc. is neatly packed?

Having trouble envisioning any way of packing mine that is not neat.

 

[buddhasummer]

For air travel I lay my plate flat, harness side down and just fold webbing inwards. I put mask or anything else small enough into my boots. I carry regs and computer in a separate carry on. Locally, I have a car and drive to site (it's a walk in beach site) I just keep all my gear in two medium sized plastic boxes, plate and wing fully assembled harness side down with wing slightly inflated so as not to pinch it. The rest of my gear goes in the other box. Not sure if that's of any help but thars what I do.

 

[uncfnp]

I put mine in a duffle bag for carry on. To help it lie flat I remove the cam bands. Then lay it in wing side down with the plate and harness facing up. I put the regs, etc on the plate then arrange the harness around and over this.

 

[WhiteSands]

All, thanks for the input.
I think I wasn't clear about what I was asking. Basically, my question has 2 parts.

1. Is there a way to neatly fold the harness of the BP so that all the webbing is neatly stowed? E.g. I've seen some people use a double ender to attach the crotch strap D-ring to the shoulder D-ring and have a system of folding the webbing neatly for packing.

2. Is there a way to do (1) and also pack the fins, regs, etc. into a neat "package" within the BP/W itself, like what many divers do with a jacket type BCD? E.g. with a jacket, you can strap the fins within the BCD, run the chest strap across the looped regulator hose to secure it in place, etc.

 

[Damselfish]

why does it need to be in a package? I don't think I'd try so hard to put things inside something that doesn't have much of an inside.

If you're using any kind of soft bag, I think fins are better utilized along the outside for protection, rather than inside.

 

[TSandM]

We take our setups apart for packing -- we take the wing off, and the cambands off. Then the plate can go in the bottom of a suitcase, and smaller items can be laid on top of the webbing. The cambands fold flat, and the wing is emptied of air and put in the bottom of another suitcase.

 

[RJP]

All, thanks for the input.
I think I wasn't clear about what I was asking. Basically, my question has 2 parts.

1. Is there a way to neatly fold the harness of the BP so that all the webbing is neatly stowed? E.g. I've seen some people use a double ender to attach the crotch strap D-ring to the shoulder D-ring and have a system of folding the webbing neatly for packing.

2. Is there a way to do (1) and also pack the fins, regs, etc. into a neat "package" within the BP/W itself, like what many divers do with a jacket type BCD? E.g. with a jacket, you can strap the fins within the BCD, run the chest strap across the looped regulator hose to secure it in place, etc.

When you say "packing" I'm assuming you mean for travel. If you're in the US, think about the fact that TSA is going to take it all apart... and won't put it back the same way.

 

[mfalco]

I remove the wing from the plate, the put the single tank adapted with the cambands on backwards (front of plate). That way the cam bands and harness are all together on the same side.

 

[rongoodman]

I don't see any particular point about neatly packing the BP, but I'd recommend putting the wing in your carry on if you can, just to avoid the potential for damage in the checked bag, especially if it is soft-sided. A couple of years ago, on a cave diving class in Mexico, we found a leak in my wing from a small pin hole. I've always assumed it was shoved up against something in transit. Luckily, a piece of duct tape save the day(s) until I got home and could buy a new bladder.