kelpgurl
Registered
I bought a backplate for my 1st BC, finally purchased equipment about 35 dives in... Seriously, backplate/harness is the BEST tool for getting perfect trim, and it's incredibly comfortable because there is nothing on your front but the harness therefore no jacket-style squeeze, ever. Your tank never rides up (or down) because the harness including crotch strap keeps it perfectly positioned. Vertical position on the surface is very secure -- no forward thrusting as is common with back inflation BC's because the buoyancy in the wing is at the bottom thanks to a gusset in virtually every model.
My primary reason for choosing the backplate at the time was that is packs completely FLAT and thus can be packed in a regular suitcase. Most of the jacket-style BCs and especially the back-inflation BCs are huge and practically need a suitcase to themselves (even the "travel" ones). Then once I started diving with the backplate/wing, I discovered all of the functional advantages.
So do NOT buy a BC -- buy a backplate and wing. I have the Halcyon stainless plate and 36# Pioneer wing. I also bought a GUTS aluminum backplate which I use with the Pioneer wing when I travel to warm water destinations (only weighs 1# vs. 6#).
kelpgurl
My primary reason for choosing the backplate at the time was that is packs completely FLAT and thus can be packed in a regular suitcase. Most of the jacket-style BCs and especially the back-inflation BCs are huge and practically need a suitcase to themselves (even the "travel" ones). Then once I started diving with the backplate/wing, I discovered all of the functional advantages.
So do NOT buy a BC -- buy a backplate and wing. I have the Halcyon stainless plate and 36# Pioneer wing. I also bought a GUTS aluminum backplate which I use with the Pioneer wing when I travel to warm water destinations (only weighs 1# vs. 6#).
kelpgurl
