Choosing the best (for me) BP/W setup

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Does anybody know how much does Halcyon Eclipse Infinity weight with SS and with AL?
Also... if you say that SS is not a big problem with travelling - would you go for SS + STA, or AL + weighted STA? (obviously, having both of them heavy would be too much).
Or... why should I bother with SS, if I can save 2kg and use tank-band pockets for weights?

IMO, if ALL you are doing is "warm Water" diving and you want to get down in weight, then go with Infinity System w/Alum. BP (1.7lbs) & STA(2.7lbs w/Cam Straps). This system comes with Weight Pockets (1lbs) but my preference would be to leave them at home and use the Halcyon Trim Weight (.2lbs) pockets on the cam straps instead. This will be the lightest travel approach and will have a clean harness as well. If you plan on doing any local diving then go with same config but SS BP(6lbs.) w/Weighted STA (4.3lbs) (when you travel, leave weight from STA at home). Cinch Harness w/hardware (2.2lbs). I hope that I didn't confuse you by this!

[nelsondejesus]

you can't go wrong with a DSS kydex backplate, and it is the way to go especially for travelling purposes. no need for an STA, it is lightweight and the wing designs (the 17 and 26 torus) are the most streamlined (so lesser drag underwater) among other brands.

For travelling purposes just bring along an extra tank band with which to attach the desired lead weights.

[RJP]

I pack my SS BP&Harness in my check in bag with no problem.[/I]

I'm with Wayne and others here; have traveled all over the world carry my steel BP and Wing with me. No sweat. In fact, I've even circumnavigated the world carrying one of WAYNE'S wings with me.

Gotta love any dive shop who lets a customer with cash in hand, wanting to buy a new doubles wing for a three-week trip to Truk...walk out with the owner's own personal wing, and your money still in your pocket. I think that was the same day he talked me out of buying a bunch of other stuff too.

After being talked out of buying all kinds of gear in there on a regular basis, I'm really not sure exactly what business Wayne and Jason are in...but I sure like the diver I've become after training with them the last three/four years.

The divers that go with the Halcyon System tend to like the whole package. I am a vendor for a couple of manufacturers that offer these types of systems and the #1 sold is the Halcyon (that's mainly recreational divers). We have a pool at our facility and once in the poll (test dive) they go with the Halcyon (I would say 9 out of 10).

I was probably the number #10, having bought a set of one of the other manufacture's gear. Fine stuff, I'm sure. The guy I sold it all to likes it a lot, and I'm happy with both sets ofH gear I now own...

[Tortuga68]

I have a Halcyon alloy plate that I use for travel... but in hindsight the extra 3# for an SS plate is neither here nor there. I've had to pay extra $$ for overweight baggage on small planes anyway

[jimmytaroh]

If your primary concern is travel weight, I think the DSS Kydex and Torus 17 or TTW is going to be your best bet. You eliminate the STA, have a compact wing, and a lightweight plate. This will be your lightest full-service option.

A comparable setup from Halcyon will cost more and be slightly heavier, but you will get the MC Pack/Padding, Cinch System, Weight Pockets and STA/Metal Cambands. Halcyon also offers local support in Europe, for DSS you will have to send back to the states for service (though unlikely). I think the padding is over rated, but the MC Pack is quite nice.

I have had some Oxycheq gear and haven't been particularly impressed with it. I would prefer either the Halcyon or DSS over Oxycheq; it basically comes down to what features are more important to you.

[divesergeant]

And as a bonus, with the Kydex plate and ultra-slim 17 wing, my air consumption went down! This is compared to my old SeaQuest Balance BC.

Woo-hooooo. More bottom time!