Sub-Gravity Paragon, DGX BP&W, Deep 6 or others?

[eightytwenty]

I never cared for the SubGravity BPWs, especially the ones with the adjustable harnesses. Just too much crud going on for what should be a simple piece of equipment.

The DGX offerings are affordable and pretty excellent for what they are. Been using one of their wings for the past few hundred dives, and it's still running strong. The DGX plates and harnesses are pretty excellent as well, as long as you don't mind stiff-ish webbing. It's also easy to piecemeal and get exactly what you'd like.

I think you'll find that really any quality plate with a continuous webbing harness and a wing that doesn't use proprietary bits will do just fine. Truthfully, the only plate I've ever not been able to use was a $25 Alibaba special that was just cut so bizarrely there was no way webbing would fit through it.

 

[NothingClever]

more expensive than the cheap DGX wings

I think you meant economical, right?

The DGX wing I have is top quality - materials, design and stitching are superior.

It's super narrow so it can be a little tippy compared to a regular rectangular donut wing but the fabrication quality is excellent.

 

[BeerNye]

I never cared for the SubGravity BPWs, especially the ones with the adjustable harnesses. Just too much crud going on for what should be a simple piece of equipment.

The DGX offerings are affordable and pretty excellent for what they are. Been using one of their wings for the past few hundred dives, and it's still running strong. The DGX plates and harnesses are pretty excellent as well, as long as you don't mind stiff-ish webbing. It's also easy to piecemeal and get exactly what you'd like.

I think you'll find that really any quality plate with a continuous webbing harness and a wing that doesn't use proprietary bits will do just fine. Truthfully, the only plate I've ever not been able to use was a $25 Alibaba special that was just cut so bizarrely there was no way webbing would fit through it.

“KISS: Keep it simple, stupid.” I probably should just do this. I’m always guilty of overthinking things.

 

[quadsbaby]

I recently got the subgravity paragon setup (steel backplate, adjustable harness) and I have to say I appreciate being able to adjust the shoulder straps to make entering / exiting the rig easier.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I never cared for the SubGravity BPWs, especially the ones with the adjustable harnesses. Just too much crud going on for what should be a simple piece of equipment.

Have you actually dove a Sub Gravity BP/W? How exactly is this "too much crud?
Adjustable Harness System - SubGravity

 

[eightytwenty]

Have you actually dove a Sub Gravity BP/W?

Yes. Not as much as my Halcyons or my DGX wing, but they're the "loaner" rigs we use for scientific projects. As such, they use the adjustable harnesses. Those goofy metal buckles and bungees on the sides of the wing just aren't for me. I've also seen them disassemble themselves 2 or 3 times when an uninitiated diver pulls outwards to adjust the harness rather than down. Not a fan.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Yes. Not as much as my Halcyons or my DGX wing, but they're the "loaner" rigs we use for scientific projects. As such, they use the adjustable harnesses. Those goofy metal buckles and bungees on the sides of the wing just aren't for me. I've also seen them disassemble themselves 2 or 3 times when an uninitiated diver pulls outwards to adjust the harness rather than down. Not a fan.

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. I have never had them "disassemble themselves" ever, they probably weren't done up properly to start with.. If I had to do it all over again I would buy the exact same BP/W from sub Gravity.
In fact I'm going to get their 6mm BP, 37 lb wing and adjustable harness for diving up here at home

 

[eightytwenty]

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. I have never had them "disassemble themselves" ever, they probably weren't done up properly to start with..

The mode through which they disassembled themselves was the metal buckles. They feed through a slot, so if the buckles are tipped too far upwards, they fall back through that slot, and the shoulder straps come undone. Seen it happen twice, heard of it happening more. We're also using a fleet of these things with divers of varying skill levels and familiarity with the rigs. Unlikely, but not impossible.

For what I own personally, I don't have the need for goober gear like adjustable harnesses. No one uses the rig but me, so there's no need to adjust the webbing length. For my occupational and scientific work where different divers might be stepping into a rig, I can see a use case, but I think Halcyon cinch or the Scubapro equivalent are more streamlined than plastic/metal buckles and dangling webbing.

If I had to do it all over again I would buy the exact same BP/W from sub Gravity.
In fact I'm going to get their 6mm BP, 37 lb wing and adjustable harness for diving up here at home

Cool.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I think you meant economical, right?

The DGX wing I have is top quality - materials, design and stitching are superior.

It's super narrow so it can be a little tippy compared to a regular rectangular donut wing but the fabrication quality is excellent.

And it's made in California

 

[NothingClever]

And it's made in California

Dang it!

Now I’m going to get cancer.