Which BCD/BP+W to get?

[Glitch]

Hi guys,

I´m AOW with 33 logged dives so far. All my diving has been taking place in tropical waters with 3mm shortys and rental equipment. I have now slowly started to put together my own kit starting with fins, mask and computer and am now looking to get my own BCD as well as regs most likely.

The thing is that I normally live in Sweden and diving there requires quite a different setup than tropical diving. As I want to have equipment I can use in both environments it is important for me to get it right the first time so i can get gear I´ll be using for years to come.

As I am currently in malaysia I was looking att buying some gear here since everything is a lot cheaper than back home. I found a Zeagle retailer here in KL and he is selling the Ranger, Escape as well as most likely being able to order a BP/W set-up. Now I have tried both the Ranger and escape on and they fit nicely but still feel a bit cluttered.

The BP/W option to me at least sounds a bit more interesting since I can cusomize the rig after my demands and easily change it as my diving changes. Also for travel it seems more convenient or am I wrong?

My diving back home will be most likely wreck diving, and really cold water diving with temperatures just a few degrees above zero. Also I´ll start of using only one tank but who knows what will happen in a few years.

I liked the Ranger since it can be used with two tanks as well but as I said it felt a bit bulky with all the pockets and stuff around it. Wouldn´t a BP/w setup work just as well for me even though I am not a super experienced diver? Since I am going to have to learn to dive dry suit anyway I thought I might as well also learn to dive a BP/w and that way I have a set-up more flexible when my diving advances (planning on starting UW-photo as well)?

I just wanted to know what you guys think basically. As for the BP/W I think the Zeagles are the only one I can get hold of here other "normal" BCD manufacturors that have retailers here are Mares, SeacSub and Dacor.

Alright enough babbling let me know what you think.

/C

 

[Green_Manelishi]

The advantage to the BP is that you can use whatever wing size is appropriate to the tank(s). It will 'always feel the same' because the only difference will be the wing, which will be in back, not wrapped like a jacket-BC that you'll have to own in various sizes to properly accomodate various tank combinations.

Hi guys,

I´m AOW with 33 logged dives so far. All my diving has been taking place in tropical waters with 3mm shortys and rental equipment. I have now slowly started to put together my own kit starting with fins, mask and computer and am now looking to get my own BCD as well as regs most likely.

The thing is that I normally live in Sweden and diving there requires quite a different setup than tropical diving. As I want to have equipment I can use in both environments it is important for me to get it right the first time so i can get gear I´ll be using for years to come.

As I am currently in malaysia I was looking att buying some gear here since everything is a lot cheaper than back home. I found a Zeagle retailer here in KL and he is selling the Ranger, Escape as well as most likely being able to order a BP/W set-up. Now I have tried both the Ranger and escape on and they fit nicely but still feel a bit cluttered.

The BP/W option to me at least sounds a bit more interesting since I can cusomize the rig after my demands and easily change it as my diving changes. Also for travel it seems more convenient or am I wrong?

My diving back home will be most likely wreck diving, and really cold water diving with temperatures just a few degrees above zero. Also I´ll start of using only one tank but who knows what will happen in a few years.

I liked the Ranger since it can be used with two tanks as well but as I said it felt a bit bulky with all the pockets and stuff around it. Wouldn´t a BP/w setup work just as well for me even though I am not a super experienced diver? Since I am going to have to learn to dive dry suit anyway I thought I might as well also learn to dive a BP/w and that way I have a set-up more flexible when my diving advances (planning on starting UW-photo as well)?

I just wanted to know what you guys think basically. As for the BP/W I think the Zeagles are the only one I can get hold of here other "normal" BCD manufacturors that have retailers here are Mares, SeacSub and Dacor.

Alright enough babbling let me know what you think.

/C

 

[Quarrior]

The BP/W option to me at least sounds a bit more interesting since I can cusomize the rig after my demands and easily change it as my diving changes. Also for travel it seems more convenient or am I wrong?

My diving back home will be most likely wreck diving, and really cold water diving with temperatures just a few degrees above zero. Also I´ll start of using only one tank but who knows what will happen in a few years.

I think you pretty much answered your own question. The BP/W is much more adjustable and can easily be converted from single to double tanks. Also, you can change the configuration from tropical clear water to cold dark water easy enough.

One thing to keep in mind, there really is no such thing as a wing that handles both single and double tanks. Same goes for the Ranger. The books say you can use them for both, but reality is, it doesn't work. Get a single wing for a single tank and double wing for doubles.

My personal selection is the Oxycheq 45# wing for singles. I use the Dive Rite plate and harness.

Brian

 

[caveseeker7]

While I think that Zeagle's Ranger is one of the best BCDs on the market, you're right, it's a bear. A bp/w combo is considerably more streamlined. In its normalt state. If you add pockets and integrated weights, it'll of course become bulkier. You can get the Ranger with just about any Zeagle bladder, including the 35# from the Escape if you like it a bit less bulky. But any of the "normal BCDs" will not work as well with doubles as a bp/w. Especially when the tanks get larger (20ltr).

I have both and like the bp/w combo better, largely because it's much more stable with the tank attached to a plate that lies against your back. I have both an alu and steel bp with their own continious loop harness , all by DiveRite. The continious loop harness is simple and reliable, but a pita to adjust. If you switch a lot between tropical and cold waters, either go with two bp/harnesses, or get an adjustable harness. The alu plate works well for travelling and warm waters, the ss plate adds 6lbs. of weight when you dive dry.

I use an Oxycheq 45# wing. The wing is oval (single tank) and has about the same measurements as a 30# when deflated. I like the oval shape with a single tank much better, and the one I use has a small footprint while giving me plenty if lift at the surface. I prefer that as pretty mauch all my diving is in the ocean. I don't use doubles OC.

As for manufacturers, Zeagle, DiveRite and Halcyon all have good products and customer service. The first two offer a bit more variety in harnesses. Some of the smaller companies have good products too, like Oxycheq wings and bp from JetHarness, Koplin or FredT. Depending on your size they might be a better deal as they offer longer or shorter than standard plates.

 

[Glitch]

Thanks for your input guys.
Managed to get in touch with DiveRite and Halcyon dealers in Singapore so I am waiting for them to give me a price quote. As for the Zeagle distro here in KL he said he probably couldn´t order just one set-up so he had to wait for more orders which could take quite a while

 

[Albion]

try contacting these people

Greg is on scuba board but not a lot these days. He operates a Tech / rec LOB out of Tioman and is agent for Halcyon. you could probably do a weekend trip and try out some gear.

http://www.penetrationdivers.com/pages/25/index.htm

I will be trying out the boat first time this weekend

 

[DMDC01]

Dive Rite's REC Wings can be used single or double efficientally (sp?) just have to change the brackets.

 

[Glitch]

I´ll be going to Singapore this weekend to check out the Halcyon and Dive Rite equipment and I would also see the Zeagle solution if anyone knows of Zeagle dealer in S´pore?

Found retailers for the other two but not for Zeagle.
Also do you guys know the price difference between the sytems? The people at Halcyon quoted me around 1100SingDollars for the backplate, harness and eclipse wing plus another 205 SingDollars for the weight pockets or around 85SingDollar for the trimweights. Is the Dive Rite system and the Zeagle system priced about the same or is there a cheaper option as well? I was under the impression that BP/W systems would be about the same or even cheaper than a nice BCD but what the halcyon dealer quoted me is a lot more than what I can get the Ranger jacket for here for example.

Thanks

/C

 

[Ben_ca]

Get a Halcyon.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Now that you've been successfully convinced that the BP/Wing is the way to go (hopefully) let me comment on which one.


I would avoid the Zeagle BP. It's not really standard. Get yourself a standard backplate. It's a hunk of steel or aluminium so it doesn't really matter what brand. Get what you can get the best deal on, be it Fred-T, Halcyon, Dive Rite, OMS. (Make sure the BP also has slots for cam bands for single tank usage.) Note that the Wing is where these companies start to separate. And the best deal might be a bundle with the wing so check around.

For single tanks, you want to get a dougnut shaped wing that is designed for single tank usage. There is no such thing as a wing for both singles and doubles that is going to work well. IMHO, you have two choices here: Halcyon or OMS. I don't like any of the other wings out there. The difference between these two?

Halcyon has 2 wings. One does not have a removable bladder, but has a built in STA. This is the one I use and I love it. The other has a removable bladder but no built in STA.

OMS has one that is similar to the latter of the Halcyon wings.

James