People who don't like BP/W?

[Scubakevdm]

You know, there seem (to me anyway) to be this phenominon in diving today, where people want every one else to have the same stuff that they do. It is my perception that this is most pronounced in the BC area. I understand that a huge number of people try a BP/W setup and sell their jackets. I understand that many people regret not purchasing a BP/W from the get-go, and are trying to help others out by preventing them from making the same "mistake". I am interested in hearing why from people who have dived BP/W but presenly do not.

 

[theskull]

I dive doubles with bp/w. Always the same setup, and always with drysuit. No adjustments ever needed.

For my recreational single-tank diving I find a bp/w to be awkward. It is too difficult to adjust to fit for all my incarnations: drysuit, skin only, 3mm wetsuit, etc. I would also have to trade out my ss backplate for plastic or alum for my wet dives since I don't need any weight in addition to my lp 112 tank.

theskull

 

[fdog]

I dive with both BP/W and a jacket.They are both just tools, pick the BC that does the job best.

I wear BP/W with doubles and overhead-restricted by deco. With all that mass back there, it is nice to have the center of floatation around it.

I wear a jacket BC with lightweight tanks, and especially when shoooting photos, as it is great to have a system that easily holds me stable in any position. There's something to be said for a single, easily thrown on rig.

Although I no longer instruct, it was great to have the head-out-of-the-water floatation of the jacket when dealing with students. I also cannot imagine dealing with doubles, dual regs and stage bottles without the clean chest of a BP/W.

Nothing is a perfect solution for everything. Pick the tool that does the job best.

All the best, James

 

[Walter]

I use a Scubapro Classic Sport, which with minor changes, is the same vest I've used since the early '80's. I've tried the BP with wings, but there's not much, if any, difference in performance. There's no reason to change. I use my vest with singles, with doubles, there's nothing to adjust and it only takes a couple of minutes to switch from one to the other. The BP with wings is a fine BC, but it's no better than a vest.

 

[ZoCrowes255]

I have tried the BP/Wing setup a few times and while it's a good system I was not all that impressed with it. I could not tell much of a difference from it in the water than my SP Knighthawk. If you're looking at buying your own equipment dive everything you can and then decide what you like from there.

 

[steevke]

As some other people here on the forum I use BP+W for double cylinder dives.
For teaching and fun-dives I prefer a standard BC.
For travel I switch back to a plastic BP & wing to save the maximum amount of weight.
Use what you're comfortable with, but personally I find the BP+W hype a bit 'much ado about nothing'.

As always, YMMV.

Steven

 

[herman]

I tried a BP/wing during my DIR-F course. I was not impressed. It was a pain to adjust, never did get it to where it was comfortable on land (with a 2pc 5mm suit on) and it did nothing for my trim that my other bc did not do with the weights properly placed. Underwater I could tell very little difference. I range from a 2pc 5mm to a t-shirt in exposure suits and I don't want to have to go through re-adjusting it every time.
I find many of the "benefits" of a BP to be overrated. The one piece harness for example. Yes it can be replaced cheaply but just exactly how many BC's have you seen worn out? Or there are no plastic buckles to break, again, yes a few do get broken but they are fairly rare, most likely from a dropped tank, not a failure at depth. Give the option of taking a chance on a broken buckle or having to deal with adjusting a BP harness, I will take the buckles.
If I were going to dive doubles or hang stage bottles off it then I would get a BP which is the right tool for that job but for my typical diving- shallow open water they give me no useful benefits.

 

[Wristshot]

to those of you that answered the questions here without emotional eruptions. I have no experience at all with BP/W, so it is great to get some info that is not laced with anger or disparagement. I know a little more today than I did yesterday.

I like the idea of "the right tool for the job", and I appreciate that "right" is very subjective and very personal. Thank you.


Wristshot

 

[rgerman95]

to those of you that answered the questions here without emotional eruptions. I have no experience at all with BP/W, so it is great to get some info that is not laced with anger or disparagement. I know a little more today than I did yesterday.

I like the idea of "the right tool for the job", and I appreciate that "right" is very subjective and very personal. Thank you.


Wristshot

Well said! To my mind, we've been treated to objective answers without the emotional baggage which usually surrounds the B/W discussions on here. Thank you all.

 

[MaresMan1]

I would like to add my vote as perfectly quoted by Herman. I have since given my BP/W rigs to my son, who does do Tec/Deep diving. However I would like to say that I took all of the concepts that I could from DIR/GUE and applied it to my BC, which was helpful. However, my BC fits me like a warm glove and works great. For the diving that I do now, that's all I need.

Dive Smart;Dive Safe
Enjoy the ride
:cool1: