New diver needs advice (Apeks WTX, Hydros Pro, other...)

[Svart]

Thanks everyone for your answers!

I will check if I have a chance to test a backplate wing setup before April.

I have been looking around quite a bit for the past months. Both for back inflated BCDs and wing systems.

OMS has some very contrasting reviews. And then there are Finnsub, IST, etc... but I would rather go with Apeks for a wing setup.

The hydros pro is around 600€ (660$) in Western Europe. So it is quite close price wise to a harness + wing + weight pockets.

Again, I will see what I can test locally. Worst case maybe I end up with the hydros pro...

 

[axluba]

That’s definitely a sweet worst case!

If you can get the full set up from Apeks at that price go for it! I paid 550 for my full set up (lesser know brand but tougher materials)

 

[lexvil]

BP/W, can be configured to meet all of your desires, easy and low cost and modular not stuck with one source for parts or pieces.

Now to the other options, I have considered the Hydros for some odd reason, it looks like a great B/C and when they first came out the monoprene looked like a great solution to the quick dry question for travel, I liked the thought of something that is ready to pack almost as soon as you finish diving, the monoprene turned out to not be up to the task so they now use nylon webbing to reinforce the attachment points negating the main feature that interested me. I can build a BP/W for less than 1/2 the cost of the Hydros, I still think it is a great B/C and a good choice, not the best choice but a good one.

 

[formernuke]

There is nothing wrong with a jacket or back inflate if it fits and you are most comfortable in one. As stated above a lot of divers happily use them. I hated jackets and dove a back inflate, until I tried a BPW. The best thing to do is try as many as you can and go with most comfortable for you.

 

[Svart]

When I try to put together a wing + plate + harness + pocket set online, I always end up pretty close if not over the 600€ (660$) price tag. I guess there are more options in the US.
I'm going to a store this weekend, I will see what they have in house in terms of back plates and wings. The problem in Innsbruck, where I live, is that the whole city is more oriented towards mountain sports than diving...

I liked the jacket style until I tried a back inflate jacket and I am thinking about a back plate + wing system since I liked the feeling of freedom provided by the back inflate system. But it's a bit of a gamble to buy the whole setup without trying it before...
I will see if I can rent something locally.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the answers!

Still happy to get the feedback from someone with the Apeks ultralight

 

[Erik Forsberg]

When I try to put together a wing + plate + harness + pocket set online, I always end up pretty close if not over the 600€ (660$) price tag. I guess there are more options in the US.
I'm going to a store this weekend, I will see what they have in house in terms of back plates and wings. The problem in Innsbruck, where I live, is that the whole city is more oriented towards mountain sports than diving...

I liked the jacket style until I tried a back inflate jacket and I am thinking about a back plate + wing system since I liked the feeling of freedom provided by the back inflate system. But it's a bit of a gamble to buy the whole setup without trying it before...
I will see if I can rent something locally.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the answers!

Still happy to get the feedback from someone with the Apeks ultralight

An Xdeep Zeos 28 runs like €400-450.
A rig from DareToDive is something like €350-400.

Cheers

 

[lexvil]

When I try to put together a wing + plate + harness + pocket set online, I always end up pretty close if not over the 600€ (660$) price tag. I guess there are more options in the US.
I'm going to a store this weekend, I will see what they have in house in terms of back plates and wings. The problem in Innsbruck, where I live, is that the whole city is more oriented towards mountain sports than diving...

I also live in the hills, dive shop is well over an hour drive, ocean over 3 hours but I go every weekend that the conditions allow.

Don’t look for one manufacturer for the whole kit unless you find it used like the near miss on the dive rite stuff, got to the piranha site and look at webbing and hardware, back plate etc. the wing is the most expensive part, there are suppliers in Europe too just look at the components separately for the best price

 

[Svart]

Thanks guys!

I will dig a bit into the XDEEP/Date to dive side, the products look cool, I just need to check what people think about them.

I don't know the piranha site, will check it out!

 

[lexvil]

Thanks guys!

I will dig a bit into the XDEEP/Date to dive side, the products look cool, I just need to check what people think about them.

I don't know the piranha site, will check it out!

Shipping and customs will make buying parts in the US more costly, find things locally if possible.

 

[David Novo]

When I try to put together a wing + plate + harness + pocket set online, I always end up pretty close if not over the 600€ (660$) price tag. I guess there are more options in the US.
I'm going to a store this weekend, I will see what they have in house in terms of back plates and wings. The problem in Innsbruck, where I live, is that the whole city is more oriented towards mountain sports than diving...

I liked the jacket style until I tried a back inflate jacket and I am thinking about a back plate + wing system since I liked the feeling of freedom provided by the back inflate system. But it's a bit of a gamble to buy the whole setup without trying it before...
I will see if I can rent something locally.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the answers!

Still happy to get the feedback from someone with the Apeks ultralight

You can get wing+plate+harness+pockets for less than EUR 600 for sure, for example in the online store below (Spanish):

Complete Sets for Single Tank - Gidive Sports, SL

I am not looking into a set, but in separate wing + plate + harness (no pockets) from Tecline and it should end at around EUR 470 with shipping...

You have DTD sets with pockets for less than EUR 500 (without shipping).