Suggestion for a BP/W setup that can carry me for the future

[Dazee]

Hi!

I recently gained interest in technical diving (I'm currently a CMAS **) and I've decided to finally make to switch to BP/W setup, but since I would like to make a purchase that can carry me for the future I'm here looking for your advices! I was also interested in doing (maybe in 2022) a GUE Fundamentals course so if I can buy a BP/W setup that will work for this it would be better (I know that with a Halcyon setup you can't go wrong regarding GUE requirements, but honestly at this moment I would like to spend less )

At this stage I have found 3 setups which to me look good enough for what I'm looking for, but of course before buying it I would like to hear the opinions of people more expert than me!

Thanks in advance!

Apeks WTX-D30 (in this case I'm already looking forward in removing the side pouches)

Tecline Donut 17

XDeep Zeos 38

 

[BoltSnap]

If you are buying specifically for technical diving, you should be looking at a BP/W kit for double tanks. If you are buying it for single tank diving, then you will buy another one for double tank kit. In my experience, it isn't convenient or practical to be using the same BP/W kit for technical/double tank configuration and for single tank. You will end up with two sets of equipment, not just BP/W, for recreational and technical/double tank diving.

For single tank configuration, I use the weight pouches no issues.

 

[Marie13]

There’s no reason you can’t move a backplate between single and double tanks. Bit of a hassle, but that’s it.

OP, your harness and backplate will be used with a single tank wing and then all you have to do is buy a doubles wing when you start doing doubles.

 

[Wibble]

If you're looking to 'technical' diving, you'll be looking at using a twinset/doubles. That will do you nicely for some time -- until you switch to sidemount or a rebreather

There's three things you'll need: backplate, harness and wing(s).

Firstly the harness. Simple one-piece harness. Cheap and work really well.

Backplate: you may need two: an ali one if you're diving in warmer climates or freshwater and a stainless one for diving in the sea with a drysuit. Buy them second hand.

Wing(s): you may need two; one for a single tank and one for a twinset (which is wider and has more buoyancy). Buy them second hand.


Once all sorted, you will simply use one BP+harness all the time and switch between singles and doubles by switching over the wing.

The other expense is the twinset and regulators. Typically it's a 12 litre steel twinset running at 232 bar. (Don't know what that's called in the US). Regulators: need the longhose. Personally I'd recommend Apeks DS4 first stages as they're cheap and bulletproof; i.e. they just work. If you're switching between a twinset and singles, it's a couple of minutes with a spanner switching the hoses over.


Most important thing: second hand. Saves a fortune.

 

[HeyCatfish!]

There's no reason to have two. It would be more convenient, but it takes all of 5 minutes to swap from doubles to single, or single to doubles. It would be convenient to have two different setups, but not enough to justify the money.

I'm not a GUE diver, but from the looks I'd imagine any of them would be fine, but I have no familiarity with any of them. Just be sure with the APEKS WTX that you get the one piece harness rather than the WTX Harness that has the plastic buckles. Another option would be finding a local GUE instructor and discussing gear selection options with them.

 

[Madddogggy]

As you progress, you will learn your goal is to have a balanced rig. Choose a BP/W that meets your diving needs now and go dive, practice and have fun. As your skills improve and your the type of diving you want to do grows, expand your diving kit as necessary (drysuit, doubles, wings, regs, etc). Good deals can be found on Scubaboard, the bookFace, and Ebay.

 

[loosenit2]

Others have posted and are right in pointing out that it is easy to switch a backplate and harness from a singles wing to a doubles wing, with one exception. It takes more time if you are threading the tank bands through the backplate. The process is much simpler using a STA, they simply bolt onto the backplate just like doubles would, very easy.

I have an AL backplate, a steel one, and 4 different wings that I use for different purposes and conditions. Very modular.

 

[beester]

Heya, I am currently living in Italy (Veneto area) and I know my way around GUE a bit. Nice to see you are interested in taking Fundies & Gue... we might meet one day ;-)

What has been said above is right.

- You don't need to spend big bucks on a Halcyon BP/Wing set. They are amazing kit and will last you a lifetime (except maybe changing webbing from time to time) but there are cheaper solutions available.
- Your BP can be used between single tank and doubles (bi bo).
- Your wing unfortunately can not. The volume is not going to change much between your typical 15L tank and double 12L tanks. But the width of the wing will. Using a single tank wing on a double set or vice versa is less than optimal. However if you are currently diving single tanks, get a single tank wing. If you later want to switch you can add the 2nd wing. You don't need to do fundies in a doubleset (unless you want to progress to technical certifications), but if you do, I'm sure your instructor can arrange as well a doubleset wing for the course.
- Go for the most minimalist, robust BP/wing you can find. You don't need padding on the backplate, nor do you need adjustments, simple one piece webbing is enough with 2 chest D rings and 1 d ring on your left belt side.
- Setting up your bp, takes a bit of practice and experience, but you'll be able to find good instructions on how to do this online.
- Other brands that might be cheaper and can be found in Europe are DTD, dirzone. Of the ones you mention above, the apeks one seems to have a too long a corrugated inflator hose.

Cheers

 

[formernuke]

If you are buying specifically for technical diving, you should be looking at a BP/W kit for double tanks. If you are buying it for single tank diving, then you will buy another one for double tank kit. In my experience, it isn't convenient or practical to be using the same BP/W kit for technical/double tank configuration and for single tank. You will end up with two sets of equipment, not just BP/W, for recreational and technical/double tank diving.

For single tank configuration, I use the weight pouches no issues.

Completely disagree. I switch from doubles to single all the time. Just switch the wing and add the STA takes no time at all.

 

[BoltSnap]

Completely disagree. I switch from doubles to single all the time. Just switch the wing and add the STA takes no time at all.

I don't use an STA, having to thread the two tank bands through the backplate every time I have to change from single to double or the other way around is a major pain. Weight trim pockets and weights would need adjustment too. I do NOT want to have to worry about what if I made the necessary changes/adjustments between the two configurations as I should or if I have forgotten something. Dedicated sets for each use. I have to have to buy two wings at least and thus the cost for the second backplate with harness is nothing.