Does anyone have any experience with a soft backplate vs. stainless steel? I'm growing weary of traveling with such a heavy system, and I'm considering putting together a second one just for traveling. I find this appealing since it's so much lighter (and more packable) than an aluminum plate, but I'm wondering how it compares from a performance perspective since it isn't rigid.
Soft plate
- Thread starter leiri
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Seems like an interesting idea, I'd also like to hear from anyone who's tried it.
Get a hydros Pro and strip off the weight pockets and use the travel harness. I use compression straps and can get the taco with reg set down to 20" long x 8" diameter. BC alone weighs in at just over 7 lbs.
cruisekingkris
Contributor
I use the Apeks soft plate for warm water travel diving. Its prefect. I'm wearing in the profile picture but that doesn't help, its a tiny picture.
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it's about 4lbs lighter than a steel plate and maybe a pound lighter than aluminum. Packable sure, but it also takes a bit longer to dry.
They work well though, no issues from a diving perspective, just have to add that much more lead
They work well though, no issues from a diving perspective, just have to add that much more lead
WetLens
Contributor
I found that the tank rolls on my back when using a steel tank, so I retired my APEX soft plate. Have not noticed it with AL tanks, so it must be the weight. Quite annoying, so I flipped back to an AL plate when I know I will be diving steel tanks.
That's disappointing, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I tried a handful of plastic plates out a couple years ago and found that they work but don't really buy you any significant travel weight savings.
AdivingBel
Diver
I dive a Zeagle Express Tech with a soft plate. It's a fiber plate with a stitched cloth covering (no padding) so it dries as fast as a metal plate. It has two cam bands and uses the tank for extra rigidity. I use a "saddle strap" for a crotch strap and when I snug it up it really molds nicely to my body. It works great for dive travel. It does "turtle" a bit with steels, but nothing dramatic and I don't use many steels when traveling (don't need the extra gas for the rec diving I do, but that's just me...
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runsongas
Contributor
they work ok, although less support than aluminum or lightweight cutout SS
I dive a Zeagle Express Tech with a soft plate. It's a fiber plate with a stitched cloth covering (no padding) so it dries as fast as a metal plate. It has two cam bands and uses the tank for extra rigidity. I use a "saddle strap" for a crotch strap and when I snug it up it really molds nicely to my body. It works great for dive travel. It does "turtle" a bit with steels, but nothing dramatic and I don't use many steels when traveling (don't need the extra gas for the rec diving I do, but that's just me...
I used an Express Tech before I had ever tried a metal backplate. I liked it ... until I tried a metal backplate. I don't think I'd go back to a semi-rigid plate.
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