As a relatively new convert to a BP/W, I am routinely amazed by the level of sniping that crops up every time someone asks for a recommendation or comments on a particular brand. HOG does seem to generate more of that sort of thing than others. I certainly understand brand loyalty, but the foaming at the mouth does get absurd. For those who seem to have that impulsive need, all I can say is: Psyco - Lighten up Francis - YouTube
Anyway, I did a lot of research, and looked at several different brands, before I decided on a DSS rig. I now own two - an SS plate (with integrated weights) and 35 pound wing for single tank drysuit diving and a kydex plate with a 17 pound wing for warm water travel diving. I'm soon heading into doubles, and bought a DSS 49 pound wing for that (so technically I now have 3 setups). I bought the first one because, as I mentioned on another post a while back, when I called to ask questions, Tobin, the owner of the company, spent a good 20 minutes on the phone with me making absolutely sure that he understood my needs and I understood his recommendation. That sort of personal, one-on-one customer service is virtually non-existent in our country today - whether it's dive gear, golf clubs or camera equipment. There is a lot of really good gear out there, and it is often comparable in terms of build, quality and function. My personal buying choices will always come down to service -- and while my experience with BP/Ws is admittedly limited (I do not own either Halcyon or HOG gear), I have rarely seen the kind of service DSS provides in any industry. That's all I need to know.
Anyway, I did a lot of research, and looked at several different brands, before I decided on a DSS rig. I now own two - an SS plate (with integrated weights) and 35 pound wing for single tank drysuit diving and a kydex plate with a 17 pound wing for warm water travel diving. I'm soon heading into doubles, and bought a DSS 49 pound wing for that (so technically I now have 3 setups). I bought the first one because, as I mentioned on another post a while back, when I called to ask questions, Tobin, the owner of the company, spent a good 20 minutes on the phone with me making absolutely sure that he understood my needs and I understood his recommendation. That sort of personal, one-on-one customer service is virtually non-existent in our country today - whether it's dive gear, golf clubs or camera equipment. There is a lot of really good gear out there, and it is often comparable in terms of build, quality and function. My personal buying choices will always come down to service -- and while my experience with BP/Ws is admittedly limited (I do not own either Halcyon or HOG gear), I have rarely seen the kind of service DSS provides in any industry. That's all I need to know.