traditional vs. bpw

[Spoon]

EDIT: Regufool, I've made my decision - I'll be going to the darkside soon. I got a part time job to fund my quest!

another one bites the dust! welcome to my flcok my son..............

 

[Spoon]

All seriousness aside, I believe that I understand what Spoon was saying: "Only cut it off if necessary..." Either that, or if you are in a rescue class, don't resort to cutting my rig off just for show

Chris

correct, only when necessary, i wouldnt want my rig cut off just bec i was coughing and swallowed some water.

 

[mnj1233]

Can you point us to those replies? I just did a search for that and could not find any posts like that. I would really love to see some so I can laugh at them.

Here is a link to the very confusing world of DIR. Read it and make up ones own mind. I concluded it "Takes a Villiage......." to dive.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=117915

 

[pants!]

Can you point to the replies, in this thread or in that thread, which fit the description below:

I just dont like replies such as "B/P or Die" which Ive read more than once

That other one, especially, is a long thread and I don't feel like reading the whole thing to find those posts.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Here is a link to the very confusing world of DIR. Read it and make up ones own mind. I concluded it "Takes a Villiage......." to dive.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=117915

Nothing in that thread supports your conclusion.

Nowhere in the thread does it say, or imply, that it takes a backplate either.

You're welcome to your opinions, as we all are ... but your link doesn't address Pants! question ... someone said he has read "wear a backplate or die" comments on ScubaBoard. I've been a regular on this board for a long time, and I don't recall ever reading any such comment. If you can find one, I'd like to see it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Adobo]

I haven't read through the other posts so apologies if I am communicating the same stuff..

I am new diver with 6 dives using a traditional bcd. I just recently switched to a bp/wing (5 dives in a bp/wing). My impression is that there isn't much of a learning curve as far as using a bp/wing. The biggest differences for me are getting in and out of a bp/wing takes some getting used to. Also, if you use the hogarthian configuration, clipping off a primary reg and spg using bolt snaps takes practice.

Other than that, I don't think it's that big a deal to get used to.

 

[String]

Trying to weight u pros/cons of a wing vs BC

BC:

Pros:
- Proper fitting one can support a cylinder securely and nicely around a body
- Vertical surface flotation position
- Pockets for storage

Cons:
- Can constrict when fully inflated (back inflates are immune to this)
- Tend to be limited in terms of customising (fixed location D-rings etc)
- Less lift than is ideal if carrying multiple tanks

Wing:

Pros
- Modular harness design which can be expanded and D-rings moved etc
- All life is away from body so not constrictive
- Tend to have more lift
- Uncluttered chest area initially.

Cons:
- One piece harness can be a total PITA for people that wear the kit with different suits or dekit in water for small boats. Quick release buckle harnesses are available though
- Ive found it harder to dump air than a BC often requiring rolling into sideways positions. Tank wrap on a single doesnt help with this either.
- Backplate can be heavy if steel. Aluminium reduces this and you can get ABS backplates. Im not a fan of having most of the weight on a wing due to in water dekit issues. Some people like it though.

In short both solutions perform the same task in broadly similar ways. With both a good fit is the key issue for comfortable diving. Each type and make has their own quirks and like every bit of new kit takes time to learn. I cant see how anyone can claim one is "better" than another though.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Trying to weight u pros/cons of a wing vs BC

Cons:
- One piece harness can be a total PITA for people that wear the kit with different suits or dekit in water for small boats.

I havn't noticed that.

- Ive found it harder to dump air than a BC often requiring rolling into sideways positions. Tank wrap on a single doesnt help with this either.

I haven't had that problem either. LOL

In short both solutions perform the same task in broadly similar ways. With both a good fit is the key issue for comfortable diving. Each type and make has their own quirks and like every bit of new kit takes time to learn. I cant see how anyone can claim one is "better" than another though.

Anything that will hold gas can be used to control buoyancy, In that respect they are very simlar. "Better" can be a hard thing to define but I have no use at all for what this thread has defined a "traditional bc". Other than holding gas it doesn't do anything quit the way I want it to like a harness, plate and wing does. So, I guess for me, you could say the bp/wing is better. As I tried to explain in my earlier post, the way you configure the rest of your eqiopment makes a big difference. I don't care to dive anything but a Hogarthian configuration and, as far as I know, there isn't a bc on the market that does that well.

 

[String]

One piece harness has to be properly adjusted to be effective. Changing from a t-shirt in a pool to a 3mm wetsuit to a 5mm wetsuit or a drysuit and varying undergarments in a lot of cases will require readjusting of the straps which is a lot more effort than simply pulling through some quick release buckle loops.

Getting out of one on the surface people have deflated wing, rolled, slid and generally contorted to get out of one when a nice QR buckle solves the problem much faster than easier.

As with the whole point of the thread, some peoples types of diving, dive platforms and preference mean one method is going to be better for them than another. That doesnt however mean a different method someone else finds easier is "worse". Its entirely down to an individual. I cant agree with the blanket recommending bp/wing over a BC that goes on here to someone that hasnt tried one of the 2 styles and other things that goes with it.

 

[kallardnyc]

I have read alot of peoples stories about how they switched from a standard jacket BC to a BP/W. My question...

Has anyone ever switched from a BP/W to a standard BC? (Rec divers only)