Soft backplates

[Dogbowl]

@kelemvor , come to the dark side! Get a true travel back inflate bc!

 

[lexvil]

To further derail this thread , is the vdh bp comfortabke? Being flat, I would think it would be rough on the spine. Typical bp's have the center groove which helps (atleast for me) the spine touching.

I guess it may be a problem for someone with a protruding spine but I’ve never noticed it and haven’t heard of anyone else complaining, I even use it as a dive gear backpack and don’t notice anything.

 

[aquacat8]

Tanks themselves are rigid so why is more needed? Just wondering seriously. I dive an old Scubapro x-tek which is kind of like a Dive Rite transpac and I finally got to try on a similar size buddy’s BP/W , which I expected to love after reading about it but instead I felt kind of trapped, shoulders tight, back pressed against something so hard and straight...

 

[aquacat8]

I actually wish the tank was flexible too... I was fantasizing about putting the old Cousteau style little triples crossways with some kind of flexi connection so I could be like some kind of swimming armored bug ... again for the dolphin kick

 

[aquacat8]

My BC has a huge lumbar pad that I probably pay for in my weight pockets but I can undulate against it. When I saw it on my buddy I thought: not bad! Like falling back in love

 

[aquacat8]

Guessing: maybe rigidity is more desirable for multiple tanks? Also possibly my friend’s BP/W simply was not properly fit on me? I must be missing something here because most people seem to love BP/W

 

[kelemvor]

Not if purchased as part of a complete rig. Our complete rigs are a genuine bargain.



Too flexi and IMO you lose some of the benefits of a Back Plate. Hope you find a solution that works for you.

Tobin

Yeah, I think highly of your gear based on what I've read. I've got 4 different wings, and probably enough hardware and webbing to make 4 more harnesses. Therefore, buying a whole rig seems wasteful to me. Like I said before, I know soft "plates" are a big comprimise. I don't think I'll know how much unless I get one. I do recall diving a regular bcd when I was renting the first year after I got certified. I like the BP/W better but I think I would still enjoy diving even if I had to go back to a jacket. If I have to spend more than $150 it would be cheaper for me to just pay for an extra checked bag and bring my hard plate just like I did on my last two international trips.

 

[kelemvor]

Guessing: maybe rigidity is more desirable for multiple tanks? Also possibly my friend’s BP/W simply was not properly fit on me? I must be missing something here because most people seem to love BP/W

I only use my BP/w for single tank diving. If I dive doubles, I do it in sidemount. That said, BP/W is definitely a niche item. It's popular with people who frequent scubaboard. It's pretty much mandatory for technical divers who are backmounting. However, they are a small minority when you consider the number of people diving today. I rarely see others with bp&w on dive boats in tourist areas. Most professionals end up being required to wear some piece of gear that their shop wants to sell to the students. Those guys don't even get to pick, they just get told what to use. Heck even on the scubaboard sponsored group trips that I've gone to I would hazard a gues that 25% or fewer of the divers are in bp&w.

 

[lexvil]

I only use my BP/w for single tank diving. If I dive doubles, I do it in sidemount. That said, BP/W is definitely a niche item. It's popular with people who frequent scubaboard. It's pretty much mandatory for technical divers who are backmounting. However, they are a small minority when you consider the number of people diving today. I rarely see others with bp&w on dive boats in tourist areas. Most professionals end up being required to wear some piece of gear that their shop wants to sell to the students. Those guys don't even get to pick, they just get told what to use. Heck even on the scubaboard sponsored group trips that I've gone to I would hazard a gues that 25% or fewer of the divers are in bp&w.

I have a modified dive rite trans pack that you can try out, just cover the cost of shipping there and back, PM if you’re interested. My VDH plate is as light or lighter and packs smaller but the DR is more comfortable with the pad on it and about the same with the pad off.

 

[LandonL]

How far down the rabbit hole are we now?