Which Bcd would you pick?

[Pullmyfinger]

I voted Halcyon out of your choices.
I dive a different brand myself, but there are many out there to choose from.

You'll have to research the different BP/W setups if you and your wife decide to go that route.

FWIW...It'll cost you much more than $50 to have a machine shop or sheet metal shop fabricate you a back plate. There's more to making one than most people realize.

1/8" plate (stainless or aluminum) isn't cheap to begin with.

-Mitch

 

[Tejasmtb]

I vote for a standard BP/W, I know that Scubatoys will build you a basic SS or Aluminum BP with any size OxyCheq/Hollis/HOG/DiveRite wing with harness for $350. You can go crazy from there and still be well under $500. This allows you to build a rig with the individual items where you want them and from the manufacturers you want to buy from. I have a Zeagle Ranger and a Zeagle Stilletto and this is the route I am going.

Best of luck in your search!

Tejas

 

[victorzamora]

I recently purchased a BP/W setup (gets here today or tomorrow). I ordered a Hollis aluminium backplate, S38 wing, and their elite 2 harness. I would've gone cheaper harness but the deal was just too good. I almost got HOG stuff from DRIS but wanted to support the LDS. I think that a true bp /w setup with just a basic harness is going to be best. I went alu just because it'll weigh down my luggage less to fly with. DRIS has a hog combo wing and bp with a hollis harness for right at $400. Definitely worth considering.

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[victorzamora]

http://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/full-single-p-2095.html

That's the link to the hog combo I was talking about. They also have a DRIS BP/W package for like $300 that might be worth a gander. You should def be able to get bp/w and reg setups for both of you for under $2k.

What I recommend, though, is go to your LDS and tell them what you've found online and what you're willing to pay and see if they have a non-Halcyon setup for a more tolerable price.

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[Jim Lapenta]

I would not choose any of those either. Too expensive for my tastes. I started with DSS and though I still have two of their plates I switched to HOG wings. Yes I do sell them but once I saw how they were made and the support they get it was an easy switch. The new wings are substantially less expensive than Halcyon or Hollis and the others you noted are too bulky for me and have too many unnecessary things going on with them. Right now I have two DSS plates in stainless, a steel HOG plate, an aluminum HOG plate, a 23 lb HOG wing, 32lb old style HOG wing, and two 58lb HOG old style wings. The new HOG wings also have a ten year warranty against pinch flats.

All are rigged with basic one piece harnesses. My other BC is a Zeagle Express Tech with a 35lb Stiletto wing. None of the rigs I dive has quick releases or extra stuff. Just a buckle and 4 d rings. Although my primary double and single set ups have some custom d rings on the left hip for slinging stages, clipping off the spg, carrying tools, etc. Kind of a modified billy ring arrangement that highseas millworks made for me based on my own design.

2K each for halycon is crazy. I could set you both up with BPW's and complete reg set ups for less than 2K for the both of you total. A few hundred less in fact.

 

[Dr Dog]

I voted for the Halcyon of the choices you listed, but there are a number of ways of getting a simple backplate/wing setup that won't cost you near as much. You could look into Deep Sea Supply or Hog, for example.

Many people are convinced that simple harnesses are either not going to be comfortable, or are going to be difficult to get in and out of. You are lucky, because you have people local to you who can help you adjust your harness; if you get that done properly, a simple harness is very easy to get in and out of. It's nice to be able to replace it easily with new webbing, if yours becomes worn, or even just with bright colors (if you get tired of black). And it's nice to be able to move all the d-rings around until they are precisely in the right spot for you to find and use them. Also, I think you'd really benefit from the stainless steel plate where you are going to be diving. All the other BCs you list are soft and have padding; that means you're going to carry at least a couple of pounds of ballast just to sink them. A plate becomes five or six pounds of your required ballast, meaning you carry 7 or 8 pounds less in weight pockets or on a belt. In addition, the DSS plate system allows you to bolt lead plates onto the backplate, making the BC rig an even larger part of your ballast.

Especially for your wife, I'll be the total weight she has to haul around on land is at least an annoyance, if not a nuisance. Dropping the total weight of the rig can make diving much more enjoyable.

You are probably right about the wife and dragging gear around, I know I don't like dragging it around myself, good point on the weight, I immediately thought about the 14 lbs I had to use in coz

At the risk of causing further digression into a DIR debate, I'll offer my opinion: sounds like your dive shop knows what they are talking about.

There is no greater cause of buyer remorse in diving than buying a BC that is not made by Halcyon!

Thanks, my LDS is always saying buy something once.

+1 on Halcyon.

I own one for my single tank setup and just bought a 2nd one for my doubles. All I can say is that you get what you pay for.....

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Thanks

If you go with the Zeagle products you might want to let your wife go with the Zena. It is made for a woman and could fit her better than a Ranger. I went with the Ranger Ltd. It also comes with the weight pockets and the extra d-rings. However if you have a few buddies and they have the gear you listed in the poll, a few bribes or beers may get you a trial dive in their gear. Don't rush into any purchases until you try at least a few options. I know it's only money and they print more every day, but , why waste it.

I dont know why, but it seems that I have it in my head that the Ranger is a better value for money.

Halcyon buy it once and it will last you forever !!
I dive one and so does my 11 year old as he grows we just have to let the straps out a little to fit him!

It is looking that way

If I remember correctly, the Scubapro is even more expensive than Halcyon. Personally I wouldn't get any of them. The SMS100 is a sidemount system, the Halcyon is - as noted very expensive- and from what I can tell a doubles rig? The Transpac and the HTS2 are different versions of the same basic thing - an overly "fluffed" version of a basic harness (in my opinion) and I've just not into "regular" BC's such as the Ranger - I know a lot of people like it - but you asked what I'd pick

I'd recommend what others have said - at least try a basic harness - you may be surprised how comfortable it is. what I personally like best about it is that I hardly even notice my BC when diving. I used to have a "standard" big. complicated full featured back-inflate BC. I spent my entire dives with it noticing it - how it shifted, how it floated up on me.

I took my OW in a halcyon, but my rentals in Coz were all jacket types, I was having a hell of a time with my position and trim

I voted Halcyon out of your choices.
I dive a different brand myself, but there are many out there to choose from.

You'll have to research the different BP/W setups if you and your wife decide to go that route.

FWIW...It'll cost you much more than $50 to have a machine shop or sheet metal shop fabricate you a back plate. There's more to making one than most people realize.

1/8" plate (stainless or aluminum) isn't cheap to begin with.

-Mitch

You are probably right, they dont dress them up very good, When I see the plain metal backplate, it just makes me feel there is stuff missing

I vote for a standard BP/W, I know that Scubatoys will build you a basic SS or Aluminum BP with any size OxyCheq/Hollis/HOG/DiveRite wing with harness for $350. You can go crazy from there and still be well under $500. This allows you to build a rig with the individual items where you want them and from the manufacturers you want to buy from. I have a Zeagle Ranger and a Zeagle Stilletto and this is the route I am going.

Best of luck in your search!

Tejas

Problem is I live in Canada and anything I get has to either be made here or USA or I have to pay duty and taxes galore on it, upwards of 100 + dollars

I recently purchased a BP/W setup (gets here today or tomorrow). I ordered a Hollis aluminium backplate, S38 wing, and their elite 2 harness. I would've gone cheaper harness but the deal was just too good. I almost got HOG stuff from DRIS but wanted to support the LDS. I think that a true bp /w setup with just a basic harness is going to be best. I went alu just because it'll weigh down my luggage less to fly with. DRIS has a hog combo wing and bp with a hollis harness for right at $400. Definitely worth considering.

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I will take a look into it

I would not choose any of those either. Too expensive for my tastes. I started with DSS and though I still have two of their plates I switched to HOG wings. Yes I do sell them but once I saw how they were made and the support they get it was an easy switch. The new wings are substantially less expensive than Halcyon or Hollis and the others you noted are too bulky for me and have too many unnecessary things going on with them. Right now I have two DSS plates in stainless, a steel HOG plate, an aluminum HOG plate, a 23 lb HOG wing, 32lb old style HOG wing, and two 58lb HOG old style wings. The new HOG wings also have a ten year warranty against pinch flats.

All are rigged with basic one piece harnesses. My other BC is a Zeagle Express Tech with a 35lb Stiletto wing. None of the rigs I dive has quick releases or extra stuff. Just a buckle and 4 d rings. Although my primary double and single set ups have some custom d rings on the left hip for slinging stages, clipping off the spg, carrying tools, etc. Kind of a modified billy ring arrangement that highseas millworks made for me based on my own design.

2K each for halycon is crazy. I could set you both up with BPW's and complete reg set ups for less than 2K for the both of you total. A few hundred less in fact.

I will keep you in mind, I am probably looking at buying in about a month, just need to spend some time researching and visiting LDS in my area to try some other harnesses on

 

[rhwestfall]

couple in-bound PMs to ya.

 

[Teller]

I had a Ranger for years and I was very pleased with it. If tech is in your future go with a BP/W or sidemount rig. They can grow with you.

 

[DevonDiver]

Hollis SMS 100 - This is a multi-use sidemount BCD. There's no point getting it unless you have an intention to dive sidemount in the future.


Hollis HTS 2 - This is a harness only. You still need to add an appropriate wing. It's a 'deluxe/comfort' style harness system with integrated backplate. No options to configure it to individual preferences. Very cluttered compared to more minimalist alternatives. The words 'deluxe/comfort' are just marketing tools to sell these things - they're no more comfortable than single-piece harnesses on solid backplates. Deluxe just means you're paying more for the extra complications they engineer into the design. Most BP&W divers don't like those complications.

Halcyon Explorer - This is a wing only. You still need to add an appropriate backplate/harness. Halcyon offer some great options, but the Explorer is a doubles wing. It wouldn't perform well for single-tank diving at all. The 'Eclipse' is the choice for this.


Zeagle Ranger - A good jacket/hybrid style BCD. Less/little option for adaptation to individual preferences, like you get with a 'real' BP&W. Nice if you prefer a straight-forward BCD approach and don't have the desire/need to adapt the configuration for your own tastes.


Diverite Transpac - This is a harness only. You still need to add an appropriate wing.Another approach to BP&W, but with a soft backplate. There are better soft-backplate alternatives (i.e. Oxycheq 'Travel Lite'). Doesn't give you the option/flexibility to de-clutter the harness with a more minimalist (Hogarthian) approach.

 

[Dr Dog]

Well
I want to thank everyone for their responses and opinions. I visited my LDS the other day and talked with them about my choices. I think I am going with the Halcyon Eclipse.
I had on about 5 different BP/w including ScubaPro, Hollis, Diverrite. And the Halcyon is the one I liked the best. It is also the BC I was wearing when I did my OW cert, so I am familiar with it.

I will be also buying a set of identical Atomic Z2X regs in a DIR hose set up.

I have been learning alot, thanks to everyone here. I appreciate it