aleem.k713
Contributor
Looking for any info on how you guys feel diving with a soft plate. How does the tank feel on you back? Any down sides?
Soft plate review
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well I had one before , I think the tank on the back is not big deal, however the things most annoying me was that I have to wear much more wight , also if you have your wight tight on your back you actually can feel little pain
I have an Apex Ultralight Travel Plate, which is non-rigid and very lightweight.
I've made about ten west coast cold water shore dives with it.
My intention is to one day use it for some light weight tropical dive travel.
I configure it without an STA, although a rigid STA can be added. My Apex WTX-D18 Single Cylinder Wing has two small cylindrical inserts sewn into the back that act as stoppers to keep the tank in place. I cut, sized, and sewed my own webbing, which I route a little differently than the Apex manual suggests. The only thing needed are two cam bands to complete the set up.
I find the Apex very comfortable, and fully functional. The cam bands and wing stoppers are enough to keep my HP100 tank stable and in place.
Submerged and underway it really feels no different than a standard rigid back plate with an STA.
In my opinion, the lightweight and packabilty of the Apex Ultralight Travel Plate are really the only advantages it has over a rigid backplate, which is still what I prefer for most of my diving.
This is what works for me.
I hope you have similar success with whatever you choose.
I've made about ten west coast cold water shore dives with it.
My intention is to one day use it for some light weight tropical dive travel.
I configure it without an STA, although a rigid STA can be added. My Apex WTX-D18 Single Cylinder Wing has two small cylindrical inserts sewn into the back that act as stoppers to keep the tank in place. I cut, sized, and sewed my own webbing, which I route a little differently than the Apex manual suggests. The only thing needed are two cam bands to complete the set up.
I find the Apex very comfortable, and fully functional. The cam bands and wing stoppers are enough to keep my HP100 tank stable and in place.
Submerged and underway it really feels no different than a standard rigid back plate with an STA.
In my opinion, the lightweight and packabilty of the Apex Ultralight Travel Plate are really the only advantages it has over a rigid backplate, which is still what I prefer for most of my diving.
This is what works for me.
I hope you have similar success with whatever you choose.
Last edited:
OP
aleem.k713
Contributor
I wasn’t looking into the apex, I have a DSS wing and need to find out if it will fit.
Any trouble when back rolling, I feel like it may hurt lol
Any trouble when back rolling, I feel like it may hurt lol
Your post seemed like a general question, and didn't state your intention for asking.
I would not have bothered to reply if I had known that my post was not going to be significant to you.
My experience with soft plates is limited to shore diving, so I'm not going to speculate.
Now that you have elaborated on the info you are actually seeking, I hope you find someone to answer your questions.
Last edited:
OP
aleem.k713
Contributor
Sorry for the typo, I was looking into apex lol just want to make sure it fits my wing before I buy lol
I don't know, but here's something to consider before you buy.
I have found there are at least two ways a wing needs to "fit" a plate.
Obviously, the bolt holes must line up.
But in the case of my soft plate, I had to find a wing with the cam band slots in the right place. The cam bands need to pass through the plate and the wing in order to go around the tank. So the slots in the plate, and the four slots in the wing, must line up perfectly. Not so with my 20# Dive Rite wing which has no slots at all.
So, I had to get the Apex wing if I wanted to dive without an STA.
Now, this is only a consideration if you plan not to use an STA. Most STAs I'm familiar with have their own cam band slots, so in that configuration the wing slots are insignificant.
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