You can get a complete DSS rig with stainless steel plate, brand new, for $470, direct from DSS.
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?page=rigs
Things I like about my DSS BP/W:
- The way the wing is designed, you can remove/replace it without undoing any nuts/bolts and without unthreading the cam strap buckles. On and off in about 10 seconds or less. And when it's on, it is secure.
- You don't need to buy/use a Single Tank Adapter (STA).
- The Low Pressure Inflator hose is shorter than most BCDs have. At first, I was concerned about this. Now, I like it better than what I was used to because it's still long enough to use with no problems and the shorter length means I don't have "extra" draped down the front of my chest in the way of, say, access to stuff clipped to my left shoulder strap.
Also, if KWS's post concerns you, you can buy the DSS LCD wing, instead of a Torus wing, and those will allow you to replace the bladder if necessary. I bought my LCD used. It is 10 years old, still with the original bladder in good shape.
Last point: Unlike many things in life, with wings bigger is not better. You really want a wing that is just big enough to meet your needs. If you only need 30# of lift, then you don't really want a 40# wing. For me, for warm water diving using a SS BP, DSS recommends a 17# wing. What I actually have is a 30# wing and that means I'm just dragging around a big bunch of wing material through the water that I don't need to be. I got it used, so I can't complain too much, but anyway...
For cold water, all other things being equal, you'll need a wing with more lift. That is because cold water means you'll wear a thicker wetsuit, which is more buoyant. More buoyant means you'll wear more weight in order to sink it from the surface. But, at depth, the wetsuit will compress and you'll lose a lot of that buoyancy. So, at depth, you'll need more lift from your wing in order to overcome the weight of the extra lead you're wearing.
Unfortunately, that means that if you're living within a budget, you'll want to buy a wing big enough to use for your cold water diving up north, and then just deal with the extra "baggage" when you go tropical - like I do. But, the beauty of the BP/W setup is you can buy your cold water wing now, then get a wing for warm water use later and easily swap back and forth depending on where you're diving, without having to have two complete separate rigs. Likewise for when you eventually go to double tanks. Swap wings and the BP and harness stay the same and you're good to go.
