cool_hardware52
Contributor
Stephen Ash:
or $399 with the lightweight kydex backplate.
The kydex plates were built with warm water travel in mind.
Regards,
Tobin
Travel BCs and BP/Ws
- Thread starter jmps
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or $399 with the lightweight kydex backplate.
The kydex plates were built with warm water travel in mind.
Regards,
Tobin
Wow. Thanks everyone. BP/W is looking good. Since the SS plate is only a few pounds more I guess I would start with that.
One thing I didn't mention that is very pro BP/W for me is sizing. I need an XL fit BC but working at losing weight. I like the idea of just adjusting the webbing rather than buying another BC or even waist belt.
If you will suffer one more question... one poster mentioned integrated weights. This seems to add a lot to the cost (at least with Diverite) What are you all using?
One thing I didn't mention that is very pro BP/W for me is sizing. I need an XL fit BC but working at losing weight. I like the idea of just adjusting the webbing rather than buying another BC or even waist belt.
If you will suffer one more question... one poster mentioned integrated weights. This seems to add a lot to the cost (at least with Diverite) What are you all using?
PerroneFord
Contributor
jmps:
Simple weight belt. Low tech, simple, cheap.
Oh, and on wing cost. Try Ebay. I knew back inflation was for me once I bought my Zeagle. I know the BP/W was for me once I realized it was the last BC I'd ever need to own.
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Well, I much prefer a weight belt. But I never put more than 6 to 8 pounds on it, if any at all. With minimal weight, a weight belt sorta disappears. Now, for larger fellas, a weight belt can be problematic. Bigger guys tend to need more weight on the belt and this, coupled with the low "hip to belly ratio", results in a belt that wants to migrate south.
This might be an area where backplates offer a unique advantage. By using a heavy steel plate more of the required total weight can be put on the back as it is taken off the belt. This makes the weight belt more manageable and trim characteristics more favorable. Of course, the advantage of traveling light sorta goes out the window. It certainly is no fun to cart a 12 or 15 pound plate around in your gear bag. As bad as that sounds, it is the total weight of your bag that counts. So if you can manage to keep your gear bag to around 45 pounds or so it would be no big deal.
Nevertheless, a better option for you might be to just bite the bullet and get the weight pockets. The Halcyon jobs come in two sizes, as I recall. I have a pair of the smaller ones and though I don't normally use them, I do sometimes put them on one of my rigs that I'm lending out for others to try. They seem to work pretty well as most of the folks that I lend it to normally use weight integrated BCs. They like that particular similarity. They are pretty nice in that they attach to the plate and are kept nicely towards the rear of the waist belt. They also make dialing in your weights pretty easy...it's very easy to add or remove the weights in each pocket. Also, another advantage is that they do afford dropping weights in increments should the need arise. (Although that is another topic in and of itself.)
I suppose another option would be to use a weight harness. They have suspenders that keep the weight belt from sagging. I have no experience with these but there are a lot of guys that really like 'em.
This might be an area where backplates offer a unique advantage. By using a heavy steel plate more of the required total weight can be put on the back as it is taken off the belt. This makes the weight belt more manageable and trim characteristics more favorable. Of course, the advantage of traveling light sorta goes out the window. It certainly is no fun to cart a 12 or 15 pound plate around in your gear bag. As bad as that sounds, it is the total weight of your bag that counts. So if you can manage to keep your gear bag to around 45 pounds or so it would be no big deal.
Nevertheless, a better option for you might be to just bite the bullet and get the weight pockets. The Halcyon jobs come in two sizes, as I recall. I have a pair of the smaller ones and though I don't normally use them, I do sometimes put them on one of my rigs that I'm lending out for others to try. They seem to work pretty well as most of the folks that I lend it to normally use weight integrated BCs. They like that particular similarity. They are pretty nice in that they attach to the plate and are kept nicely towards the rear of the waist belt. They also make dialing in your weights pretty easy...it's very easy to add or remove the weights in each pocket. Also, another advantage is that they do afford dropping weights in increments should the need arise. (Although that is another topic in and of itself.)
I suppose another option would be to use a weight harness. They have suspenders that keep the weight belt from sagging. I have no experience with these but there are a lot of guys that really like 'em.
jmps:
I have switched this year to a Zeagle SS/BP and wing with weight pockets,it's compact and I plan on using it on my next trip to Coz. In Feb I used an old plastic back pack and wing with a seperate weight belt(pouch style). The DM on the boat loved it and I'm sure if I would have taken that unit only I would have impressed the airline as well.
Ron
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