Backplate and Wing Round Table

[Alastor]

Don't worry about twisting, once two cam bands are tightened around a tank, is very difficult the latter can twist.
A metallic STA usually allow a more stable link between the tank and the BP, unless very few exceptions (wings with robust ridges and tanks not too much heavy).
So you can use any material for the BP, either with a single STA or just two pieces, the screw will keep everything rigid enough.
And yes, the wing is between the BP and the STA.
If the cam bands are through the wing, the BP is also involved in the tightening (by the slots), while if they only pass through the STA the BP will not be blocked between the bands ...

 

[Hoag]

I am thinking of upgrading to a BP/W system. I like the easy adjustment of a system such as the Mares Ultra Light soft BP, Oxycheq Ultra Lite Travel Plate or the Zeagle Express Tech, but I am concerned that it may not offer the stability of an aluminum BP.

I am a "destination diver" (strictly warm water with single AL80s) and do not need a stainless steel BP. (If I wasn't traveling, I do see the advantages of it from a point of view of reducing the lead carried in pockets.)

Would the ease of adjustment in one of these 'ultralight" systems be worth the potential for the system to be less stable, or is the reduced stability (again with single AL80s) so minor that the adjustability and light weight of one of these options make it a better travel choice?

I know that @The Chairman is a strong advocate of the Express Tech, so I would really like to hear his thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[ronscuba]

I have an Oxy ultralight soft plate and an aluminum hard plate. Weight difference is about 2 pounds. The soft plate is less stable in comparison. Not much of a problem with AL80, especially if you are new to BP/W and use a crotch strap with the soft plate. If you dive steel tanks, the hard plate is noticeably more stable. I go back and forth between the 2 plates.

What are you diving now ?

 

[Frank-Paul Janssen]

Who has dived with the backplate and wing of a Dive Rite Transpac and Nomad BCD system and what is your experience with it?

 

[dmaziuk]

It's so obvious that it is embarrassing I asked... Duh, a STA sits on top of the wing.

I asked before buying mine and @tbone1004 answered an I had that same d'uh moment... and then it turned out the slots on my hollis 25 don't match the no-name plate and I ended up cutting the plate with a jigsaw and a dremel (Alu is easy).

 

[Hoag]

I have an Oxy ultralight soft plate and an aluminum hard plate. Weight difference is about 2 pounds. The soft plate is less stable in comparison. Not much of a problem with AL80, especially if you are new to BP/W and use a crotch strap with the soft plate. If you dive steel tanks, the hard plate is noticeably more stable. I go back and forth between the 2 plates.

What are you diving now ?

Ron, right now, I have a Cressi Air Travel. And yes, I plan on exclusively diving with AL80s.

 

[ronscuba]

Ron, right now, I have a Cressi Air Travel. And yes, I plan on exclusively diving with AL80s.

I think a soft backplate with crotch strap will be more stable than your Cressi BC.

How much weight do you wear ? I recommend using cam band weight pockets for 3 + 3 lbs and anything beyond that in waist/plate pockets.

Piranha is running a killer deal on Hog wings. $149 for the 23 lb wing.

 

[stuartv]

I think a soft backplate with crotch strap will be more stable than your Cressi BC.

How much weight do you wear ? I recommend using cam band weight pockets for 3 + 3 lbs and anything beyond that in waist/plate pockets.

Piranha is running a killer deal on Hog wings. $149 for the 23 lb wing.

That Mares soft plate at $53 (on LP) and the Hog wing for $149 seems like a really hard-to-beat single tank rig for travel or for not-travel. $200 plus some change for webbing, D-rings, a buckle, and some tank straps and you're totally good to go.

If I didn't already have that Hog wing and a dedicated single tank rig, I would be very tempted to whip out the credit card right now....

 

[Hoag]

One of the LDS's in the area has a Mares Ultra that they are clearing out. They told me I could have it for $60 (Canadian - about $45.25 US) and I am getting a Hog Aluminum BP and the webbing from the classifieds here on ScubaBoard for $80 Canadian (about $60 US) (The seller is local as it turns out so I can do a face-to-face and avoid shipping costs.)

So for the equivalent of about $100 US, I can get a Mares UltraLite BP, a Hog Aluminum BP and all the webbing, Drings etc. (Still would need a wing (that $149 23lb deal looks pretty good), and cam bands.

One of my other LDSs can get me a Zeagle Express Tech Deluxe for $499 Canadian (about $375US).

Anything that I would order from the US, I have to also take into account exchange rate, shipping, duty and sales tax. (Even though it wasn't bought in Ontario, I would still have to pay 13% Harmonized Sales Tax as it crosses the border.)

 

[Hoag]

I think a soft backplate with crotch strap will be more stable than your Cressi BC.

How much weight do you wear ? I recommend using cam band weight pockets for 3 + 3 lbs and anything beyond that in waist/plate pockets.

Piranha is running a killer deal on Hog wings. $149 for the 23 lb wing.

I wear 18 lbs of weight with the Cressi. Admittedly, I am "old & fat", but since I got the Cressi, I have had to add about another 4 lbs (from 14 to 18 total), so I think that it is about 4lbs positively buoyant. That is one of my goals - to get a BC set-up that is at least neutral, and ideally a little negative while still being small enough to pack in my carry-on for a trip.