Question about backplate and wings

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tparrent

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After finishing my OW pool sessions I bought a BCD because the ones at the pool really didn't fit well and I wanted one that I knew well. I wanted to know where every strap, buckle and pocket was. I also wanted a jacket style one that felt "secure".

Oh how little we know as newbies :11doh:

The BCD is fine and comfortable BUT I no longer feel the need for something so bulky and "secure" feeling.

The other day I was walking through Sport Chalet (not where I would tend to buy my gear ) and I happened to see a BC that looked to my novice eyes kinda like a backplate and wings but I'm not sure. It did not look like just straps and a tank like I have seen in some DIR pictures but neither did it have any wraparound fabric on the front except for the cumberbund. It seemed like a hybrid. It also had integrated weights. The air bladder seemed all on the back side.

Is there a jacket style BCD and then a something other style?

I put one on and it felt real comfortable without all that junk in front of me. At my new home in California I figure I will be wearing a 7mm to start with and the less bulk, the better.

I'll head to the local shop and ask about different styles but I figured I would post here first since I always get even more than I asked for in terms of useful info.
 
well, they make back-inflate BC's that resemble a bp/wings

do you recall the manufacturer?
 
Good question. Many confuse the issue. There are 2 basic kinds of BC in use today. The jacket style and the back inflate style...not to be confused with a BP/wing. The BP/wing is a varient of the back inflate type and many people use/like them but they are certainly not the only back inflates available. Many manufatures make non-BP (as well as BP) back inflates, Zeagle and Scubapro just to name of couple of the more well know brands. The BP/wing is the simplest and in some respects the most versitle of the back inflates but in it's true form it lacks some (many) of the features that some of us want/like; intergrated weights for example. Some like the simple design of the BP, others like myself want some of the added features other back inflate designs offer. On the other hand some of the "techie" back inflates have way too much stuff on them for my taste. All the BCs have their advantages and disadvantages, it's up to you to decide what works best for you.
 
The last I checked Sport Chalet didn't carry any bp/wing setups, but it might've changed or some stores might carry them and others don't. Even so, I imagine the ones they carry will be Apeks. The way I see it, a backplate assembly is a bit unnnecessary for newer divers, but if you know what you're doing and what you want cannot be offered by more "tradditional" bcs, go for it!!!
 
After several years out of the water, we moved to Oahu, and when I went into my LSD looking for a new BC, I found a BP/W and fell in love.....Now, I bought that Halcyon because of the comfort factor. I'm a big guy and never did like the squeeze of the Jacket BC. Since then, I have seen several BP/W that I would like to try, DSS makes one that looks good.
And while I thought that my Bouyency control was ok, it only improved with that BP/W
Have fun picking your new BC or???? BP/W Jim
 
Lots of folks prefer the wing style BC. If you are going to buy one i suggest a "proper" wing rather than a wing-style BC. It holds it value more and can be adapted to suit your diving over the coming years.

Take a look at the Dive-Rite Transpac with a single tank wing (eg Travel Wing).

A metal backplate will need a single tank adaptor (STA). With that fitted its on a par with a regular BC in terms of swapping tanks etc.

Before you rush off with a fistfull of dollars think too about storage. You need somewhere to store other items and that is missing in wing setups. A big pocket on the dive suit is a favourite with technical divers. You can get ones that you glue on yourself easy enough.

Chris
 

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