Newbie question: Jacket vs Back Inflation

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Hey all,

Sorry if this has been discussed already, but I need some info for someone just starting to think about buying a BCD. I've seen a lot of talk here about back plate/wing styles becoming more popular than jacket/vest styles. I've only ever dove with whatever the dive shop rents, and that's always a jacket style. I never really felt that style to be lacking.

Can someone point me in the direction of some basic discussion of the two styles? Or outline some of the key differences as far as why people prefer one over the other? Sort of a pros/cons type thing.

Thanks for any info!

Gregg

 

[jonnythan]

Just look in the archives of the BC forum. Tons of discussions.

FWIW, I love a plate/wing. The harness is simple and effective, and the plate provides a perfectly stable platform for my tank. It doesn't move around on me, and the weight of the plate helps keep my lungs (the most buoyant part of your body) down and in trim. The harness disappears underwater. It's honestly the closest thing to having the tank bolted directly to your spine.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Just look in the archives of the BC forum. Tons of discussions.

FWIW, I love a plate/wing. The harness is simple and effective, and the plate provides a perfectly stable platform for my tank. It doesn't move around on me, and the weight of the plate helps keep my lungs (the most buoyant part of your body) down and in trim. The harness disappears underwater. It's honestly the closest thing to having the tank bolted directly to your spine.

So, if I may rephrase, your main pro/con would be:

plate/wing:
pro - less bulky/restrictive. Closest style to a "feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!' kind of thing.

jacket:
con - more bulky. moves around. more restrictive.

How about the tendency (it would seem to me) of buoyancy located on your back to plant your face in the water on the surface?

Thanks for the reply!

Gregg

 

[The Kraken]

Face planting on the surface is, for the most part, a mythical issue.

 

[jonnythan]

The Kracken is absolutely right. It CAN happen if you're wearing an overly heavy weight belt and inflat your wing ALL the way. Especially if you have a wing that's much larger than necessary.

Another benefit of the wing or back inflate is that it makes surface swims easy. Sit on your back and kick. It's almost like being on a raft.

Jacket BC's are also inherently buoyant, whereas a bp/wing is inherently negative. Some people drop several pounds of weight when going from a jacket BC to a bp/wing, even after you account for the negative buoyancy of the plate.

The rest of your conclusions are spot on.

 

[cool_hardware52]

So, if I may rephrase, your main pro/con would be:

plate/wing:
pro - less bulky/restrictive. Closest style to a "feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!' kind of thing.

jacket:
con - more bulky. moves around. more restrictive.

How about the tendency (it would seem to me) of buoyancy located on your back to plant your face in the water on the surface?

Thanks for the reply!

Gregg

Gregg,

Much good info here already.


A few things about the "Back Inflate = Face Plant" myth:

If you are properly weighted, i.e. eye level with no air in the wing, it takes very little inflation to be comfortable on the surface. Just the "top arc" of the wing will be inflated.

Crotch Strap. Using the crotch strap assures that when you do inflate the wing both you and the rig will rise. Without a crotch strap gassing up the wing just puts the rig up over your head, more gas = more rig over your head. With a crotch strap it's like sitting in a swing.

An empty AL80, at the end of the dive, can tend to tip you forward slightly, but even this is easily resolved just by bending your knees and drawing your legs up in front of you, it's no big deal, becomes second nature.

Surface swims on your back are a relaxing ride.


Other benefits include:

The modular nature of the rig. Moving from single tank diving to doubles requires only the correct wing for doubles. As your needs change you get to keep the same basic rig and harness.

Repairs are also easier. The Back plate is unlikely to ever need replacement. The harness is easily replaced. Although uncommon, if your wing needs repair many designs permit easy replacement of the bladder. Compare this most jackets, virtually impossible to even access the bladder.

Compact for travel, and because the wing can be seperated from the plate it is easy to pack the wing with the "fragile" goods like your mask, regs etc.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[Ishie]

Hey all,

Can someone point me in the direction of some basic discussion of the two styles? Or outline some of the key differences as far as why people prefer one over the other? Sort of a pros/cons type thing.

I'm a relative newbie too (logged 33 dives since April). I never rented b/c I bought a used ScubaPro off Ebay for 50 bucks. Nice little BC, but old, and not designed for my body type (namely, female). I logged most of my dives in that; a jacket.

I have a short torso, so my jacket and weight belt were really interfering with each other, plus my BC got a pinhole leak (not a big deal, but indications to start saving it as a backup) so I started researching and got the Dive Rite Transpac II BC. It's back inflation. I've only used it on two dives so far, but I LOVE it. Hopefully, this will help a little...

(From my experience, and specifically dealing with the brands I have)
Jacket:
Pros:
Easy to find.
You're used to it.
Little more variety in where to put things (more space for pockets, clips, etc)
Greater variety of choices
(Often) lower price
Effortless maintenence of a vertical position on the surface (if you come up dizzy, inflate, and black out, your head will stay above the water)

Cons:
Tendency to ride up unless it is quite tight, so you're shoulder straps are around your ears
Squeezes your sides and stomach, which increases seasickness in me
Inclines you more towards a vertical position underwater
Bulks out your dive profile.
More difficult to replace certain parts on it.
Cannot be 'upgraded' to reflect new diving techniques

Back-inflate (namely, my Dive Rite)

Pros:
Streamlining while diving
Can swap out ANY part on it
Can upgrade with different types of diving-can get wings with more lift; fitted for doubles, larger weight pockets, adaptable pockets, more D-rings, etc
Fits very closely and comfortably.
Doesn't ride up at all (I have the crotch strap too)
More natural buoyancy
Makes surface swim easier

Cons:
Takes a little while to get used to the change in your distribution (first time I went down, was wobbling like a teeter totter, rather than gliding five feet from the bottom and stopping.
Vertical position on surface isn't quite as natural (doesn't flop you on your face, but I'm not sure if it would naturally hold an unconscious person vertically on the surface.
Often have to buy everything separately, so more expensive, and the pieces of it aren't cheap.
Pockets can be kind of a problem if you integrate weights.

Good luck!
Ishie

 

[darkstar]

So, if I may rephrase, your main pro/con would be:

plate/wing:
pro - less bulky/restrictive. Closest style to a "feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!' kind of thing.

jacket:
con - more bulky. moves around. more restrictive.

How about the tendency (it would seem to me) of buoyancy located on your back to plant your face in the water on the surface?

Thanks for the reply!

Gregg

I wouldn't limit your search to just BP/Wing vs Jacket. There a more than a few back inflation BC's that give a lot of the same benefits as BP/Wing.

A recent poll here shows a pretty even spit between those who prefer back inflation BC's to those that prefer PB/wings. I recommend that you try a few of both if you can and then decide.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t74308-buoyancy-compensation-preference.html

As for face planting, I did have trouble with this when I first started diving with a Zeagle Ranger. With only 6 dives under my belt, I was loading too much weight in the pouches and inflating the BC too much at the surface (a common rookie mistake). With some advice from a friendly DM, I lost a few pounds and straightened up

 

[jonnythan]

Often have to buy everything separately, so more expensive, and the pieces of it aren't cheap.
Pockets can be kind of a problem if you integrate weights.

Good luck!
Ishie

Right now at diveriteexpress.com you can get an entire single tank bp/wing setup with steel plate for $415, shipping included ($331 with aluminum plate). That's a lot cheaper than a lot of BC's..

 

[Laser]

Don't forget the simple physics involved. When lifting an object underwater, the lift needs to be above the object. Try putting a lift bag under and item and see what happens. Why would a horizontally trimmed diver want inflation underneath him ( on front side ) ??