large_diver
Contributor
MLD,
How about posting a BP/wings "gear review" as soon as you try them out in the water?
How about posting a BP/wings "gear review" as soon as you try them out in the water?
To backplate or not to backplate
- Thread starter MnLakeDiver
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Lost Yooper
Guest
Sorry Liquid, but IMO, the BP, harness, and wing will do everything a jacket will do, but in a cleaner, more comfortable, and more streamlined configuration. It's adaptable, upgradable, and more cost efficient in both the short term and especially the long term.
IMO, the right "tech" gear not only excels in tech diving, but is nothing short of absolute delight for recreational diving. Like any piece of gear, it has to used correctly for one to get the most enjoyment out of it.
I have used my gear and configuration for a long time know, and I've been in virtually every environment on can imagine and it has treated me excedingly well. From pool diving to deep wreck penetrations to the warm waters of Hawaii, my BP and wings go with me. I can't imagine going back to jacket BC.
Later.
Mike
PS Good luck on the new peace developments over there.
IMO, the right "tech" gear not only excels in tech diving, but is nothing short of absolute delight for recreational diving. Like any piece of gear, it has to used correctly for one to get the most enjoyment out of it.
I have used my gear and configuration for a long time know, and I've been in virtually every environment on can imagine and it has treated me excedingly well. From pool diving to deep wreck penetrations to the warm waters of Hawaii, my BP and wings go with me. I can't imagine going back to jacket BC.
Later.
Mike
PS Good luck on the new peace developments over there.
OP
MnLakeDiver
Contributor
My Cert Dives are this week and my instructor has offerd to let me use both rigs for the weekend and then buy the one I feel more comfortable with. so altho I am leaning twords the bp I am doing my cert final cert dives on saturday in a jacket bc that I traind in then diving Sunday with the BP.
I will post on Monday how it goes.
I will post on Monday how it goes.
Lost Yooper
Guest
MnLakeDiver, just a few quick tips that might make your experience a bit better:
1. Make sure the shoulder straps are loose -- about three finger widths between your suit and the straps. One of the biggest mistakes with harnesses is having the shoulder straps too tight -- makes for difficult donning and doffing.
2. Make sure the waist strap is tight and the crotch strap is snug.
3. Make sure you're properly weighted (not overly weighted)so you don't have to over inflate the wings on the surface.
Good luck.
Mike
1. Make sure the shoulder straps are loose -- about three finger widths between your suit and the straps. One of the biggest mistakes with harnesses is having the shoulder straps too tight -- makes for difficult donning and doffing.
2. Make sure the waist strap is tight and the crotch strap is snug.
3. Make sure you're properly weighted (not overly weighted)so you don't have to over inflate the wings on the surface.
Good luck.
Mike
Liquid,
Please explain why if I as a rec. diver use a BP I am poisoned. You said the Jacket BC was simple (What is any simpler than a BP and wings?), Much eaiser to use an don (I can put my BP and wings on by myself from any position, I could not do that with my Jacket BC0).
My BP and wings are more comfortable than my Jacket BC, easier to use and are fun also.
donoo,
As far as I know pink is one of the Luxfor or Catalina color choices. I have seen some on the rental rack at one of my favorite charities.
JoelW
As far as I know pink is one of the Luxfor or Catalina color choices. I have seen some on the rental rack at one of my favorite charities.
JoelW
To shift the conversation a little and to and more technical level.....
Are the Dive-Rite Transpac or OMS IQ system improvements on the traditional backplate and harness? Are they worth the extra money? I've heard the pacs are more comfortable. Though is seems you can't beat a backplate and harness for simplicity, the Transpac/IQ systems look cleaner to me.
Any thoughts from people who have regularly used both in the past an can offer an experienced comparison?
Are the Dive-Rite Transpac or OMS IQ system improvements on the traditional backplate and harness? Are they worth the extra money? I've heard the pacs are more comfortable. Though is seems you can't beat a backplate and harness for simplicity, the Transpac/IQ systems look cleaner to me.
Any thoughts from people who have regularly used both in the past an can offer an experienced comparison?
Lost yoopers-
We'v had good discussions about things surounding this issue before, so I guess we know each other prety well now.
You are a DIR and TECH enthusiast. I am a somewhat old-fashioned conservative, with an open mind.
As I said- I acknowledge the DIR concept, I think it's a good concept. I think it wouldn't work for anyone. Know what does work for (almost) anyone?
PADI. I dont like it but it's true. They give the pase, they are the biggest.
How is it connected to the issue?
That's a bit trick, but I'll explain.
The strategy of PADI, and most of the other organisations is that ANYONE can become a diver. If you want to keep anything as simple as possible to make this assumption close to true, you have to use standard equipment. BCs are part of it.
NOW- though I am known as an anti PADI, I'd have to agree on this. Ordinary BCs are simpler tha BP. It's a fact, and you can all scream to heavens, but it's still true. I agree that everything that can be done with a BC can be done with a BP, but with a BP you can do MUCH more than with a BC. I agree that there are endless possibilities for use with BP. But that's not the point. Someone that just got certified, and goes for his first dives without an instructor, shouldn't be using a piece of equipment he is not used to. He should keep everything as simple as possible. When he get's experienced, he can try new concepts. And still, after hundreds of dives in both ways, I keep the BP for dives that need it, and the BC for the dives that won't require a BP. A big part of the reason is my back, it feels way better with the back system of an ordinary BC.
Want another reason?
Let's talk rescue. If someone needs to rescue you and you weare a BP and it's a system he's not familiar with, it will be harder for him.
This can go on forever, but people, really, no reason why a brand new diver should buy himself a BP. waste of money.
We'v had good discussions about things surounding this issue before, so I guess we know each other prety well now.
You are a DIR and TECH enthusiast. I am a somewhat old-fashioned conservative, with an open mind.
As I said- I acknowledge the DIR concept, I think it's a good concept. I think it wouldn't work for anyone. Know what does work for (almost) anyone?
PADI. I dont like it but it's true. They give the pase, they are the biggest.
How is it connected to the issue?
That's a bit trick, but I'll explain.
The strategy of PADI, and most of the other organisations is that ANYONE can become a diver. If you want to keep anything as simple as possible to make this assumption close to true, you have to use standard equipment. BCs are part of it.
NOW- though I am known as an anti PADI, I'd have to agree on this. Ordinary BCs are simpler tha BP. It's a fact, and you can all scream to heavens, but it's still true. I agree that everything that can be done with a BC can be done with a BP, but with a BP you can do MUCH more than with a BC. I agree that there are endless possibilities for use with BP. But that's not the point. Someone that just got certified, and goes for his first dives without an instructor, shouldn't be using a piece of equipment he is not used to. He should keep everything as simple as possible. When he get's experienced, he can try new concepts. And still, after hundreds of dives in both ways, I keep the BP for dives that need it, and the BC for the dives that won't require a BP. A big part of the reason is my back, it feels way better with the back system of an ordinary BC.
Want another reason?
Let's talk rescue. If someone needs to rescue you and you weare a BP and it's a system he's not familiar with, it will be harder for him.
This can go on forever, but people, really, no reason why a brand new diver should buy himself a BP. waste of money.
Liquid,
The rescue statement is an interesting one. Having recently done the class the statement could be made that running into an unknown system is not solely the realm of a bp. Out of six people in the class two had plates and the other four had BCs from 4 different manufacturers. There was an AIR2, an OCTO+, one from Tusa, an octopus and bungeed backup. There was a ripcord weight release, a DUI setup, a velcroed in weight system, a Halcyon ACB weight setup and a weightbelt (one of the weightbelt user used two buckles to make sure it did not accidentally release). There were two drysuits from different manufacturers.
The point is, unfamiliarity with a system is not just a problem with the bp. I had never been near an AIR2 before. It took me a second to figure out the buttons.
Ignorance is not an excuse in this hobby. Part of any predive checkout is to work out with the buddy what the gear setup is, where the releases are and what to do in the event of an emergency. If that gets skipped someone wasn't paying attention in class.
JoelW
The rescue statement is an interesting one. Having recently done the class the statement could be made that running into an unknown system is not solely the realm of a bp. Out of six people in the class two had plates and the other four had BCs from 4 different manufacturers. There was an AIR2, an OCTO+, one from Tusa, an octopus and bungeed backup. There was a ripcord weight release, a DUI setup, a velcroed in weight system, a Halcyon ACB weight setup and a weightbelt (one of the weightbelt user used two buckles to make sure it did not accidentally release). There were two drysuits from different manufacturers.
The point is, unfamiliarity with a system is not just a problem with the bp. I had never been near an AIR2 before. It took me a second to figure out the buttons.
Ignorance is not an excuse in this hobby. Part of any predive checkout is to work out with the buddy what the gear setup is, where the releases are and what to do in the event of an emergency. If that gets skipped someone wasn't paying attention in class.
JoelW
Similar threads
