really, you spent his time asking for his expert opinion, he even posted here. Do you not trust his opinion? Why did you bother to call him and then post here doubting his professional opinion?
SS vs AL backplate question, please help out!
- Thread starter Ntino
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Bubbletrubble
Contributor
@davetowz: I see nothing wrong with the OP asking for a second opinion.
There's about a [-]4-5[/-] 3 lb. weight difference between the SS BP and Kydex BP.
The advantage of going with a SS BP is that the plate puts that weight right above one's lungs. In most cases, that's an excellent location to carry such weight with respect to promoting proper static horizontal trim. It shouldn't be too difficult to use body/arm/leg positioning to trim out properly in this configuration. Moreover, if the OP ever intends on doing cold/temperate water diving, the SS BP might be a nice piece of gear to have. He would almost certainly need to use a wing with more lift (approx. 30 lbs.?), though. My girlfriend and I use 30 lb. lift wings for both warm and cold water single-tank diving.
The advantage of going with the Kydex BP is that the diver minimizes "dry carry" weight. This can impact checked or carry-on luggage weighting if he's traveling by air on vacation. Once the diver arrives at his dive destination, he can add any required ballast to camband weight pockets. The XS Scuba weight pockets ($10/pocket) work well for this application.
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Chuckitall
Contributor
I own both from Deep Sea Supply. You can't beat either one, but I settled with usually using the SS BP. I even travel with the SS and manage to get all my gear packed at under 50 lbs. This summer I'm using a 3mm suit and 100 steel. Little over weight, but I'm fine with that. When I used my kydex plate and needed some weight, I would just snap on a couple of 2 lb hanging weights to my hip Drings. Also have both a 26 and 35 lb wing, both are great.
bug catcher
Registered
Buy both and make up your own mind- Its hard to do a safety stop if you are too light and rocks in the pocket don't help much. I use s/s and even with a skin and steel tank. Sure I'm a little heavy but it works for me although I'm not a string bean like you. I get good bottom time and adjust my buoyancy accordingly. Maybe your being a little too technical on getting the exact weight or I am not fussy enough.
cool_hardware52
Contributor
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
I stand corrected.
Tobin, is the long pattern BP dry weight differential slightly larger? Just curious. Probably not significantly so.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
-deleted-
cool_hardware52
Contributor
I stand corrected.
The differential gets a little larger as the plate size increases, but's not dramatic.
Tobin
So you are saying i have no right to post on these boards if Tobin has already expressed his opinion?
First I didnt call him.
Second I never indicated here or elsewhere that I might be diving with a pony/deco bottle and therefore will have more weight on occasion, thats also one of the things i am taking into account. All I merely wanted to see whether people that are leg heavy and slim and need little weight with a BC enjoyed the SS or preffered aluminum/kydex.
I did read another post where people recommended that a female diver that had 5-6lb requirement on a jacket bc swimming with a 3mm is better off with an aluminum plate. Tobin was in that discussion as well and did not say otherwise. I was confused and rather than bothering Tobin again I decide to post here, is that really that wrong?
Thanks for the feedback everyone. If anyone is using an aluminum/kydex plate llet me know why and how you like it. I read in many places (including DIR) that an aluminum plate is preferred when AL80 diving is involved.
First I didnt call him.
Second I never indicated here or elsewhere that I might be diving with a pony/deco bottle and therefore will have more weight on occasion, thats also one of the things i am taking into account. All I merely wanted to see whether people that are leg heavy and slim and need little weight with a BC enjoyed the SS or preffered aluminum/kydex.
I did read another post where people recommended that a female diver that had 5-6lb requirement on a jacket bc swimming with a 3mm is better off with an aluminum plate. Tobin was in that discussion as well and did not say otherwise. I was confused and rather than bothering Tobin again I decide to post here, is that really that wrong?
Thanks for the feedback everyone. If anyone is using an aluminum/kydex plate llet me know why and how you like it. I read in many places (including DIR) that an aluminum plate is preferred when AL80 diving is involved.
skankpile
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Tobin has SS and Kydex.. he will recommend SS and kydex.
I have a Ti & SS and I wear the SS with AL80's (which is almost never as I use the Nomad with AL80's mostly) and the Ti with everything else and prefer my Ti BP because it has a deeper V which is my personal preference. The Ti will NEVER corrode, rust, and it has a cool factor I like, but also saves me about 2.6lbs.
I can't do the kydex (as cool as they are) because if I put an HP100 on it and leave it in the sun it may not look the same after a while. I also will leave my gear in my trunk if I'm going on a dive from work, traveling etc and I just don't want to risk the kydex deforming... Ti works for me, but Al would do the same cheaper and save me even more weight...
I have a Ti & SS and I wear the SS with AL80's (which is almost never as I use the Nomad with AL80's mostly) and the Ti with everything else and prefer my Ti BP because it has a deeper V which is my personal preference. The Ti will NEVER corrode, rust, and it has a cool factor I like, but also saves me about 2.6lbs.
I can't do the kydex (as cool as they are) because if I put an HP100 on it and leave it in the sun it may not look the same after a while. I also will leave my gear in my trunk if I'm going on a dive from work, traveling etc and I just don't want to risk the kydex deforming... Ti works for me, but Al would do the same cheaper and save me even more weight...
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