I dive both a traditional BC (Zeagle Stiletto), and a BP/W.
They dive more the same than differently.
People on this board for whatever reason are becoming BP/W biased. Nothing wrong with that except that this prejudiced enters into advice they provide.
I am biased. My bias comes from diving various and sundry bc's over a long time - including a seaquest horsecollar, scubapro single ply jacket, sherwood vest, both good and god-awful rental stuff, homemade plate with wing of brand I don't even recall (1980 vintage), transpac, some other stuff that I've mercifully forgotten, and now dss.
Disadvantages to BP/W
1. They are less comfortable on land.
I disagree. To each his own. BPW is more comfortable to me on land and and far more in water.
2. They require a weight belt, or harness, or some add on ditch pockets.
Full 3mm, ss plate, torus 17, al 80. No additional ballast required for me. I think part of that is the inherent (unintended) bouyancy of a typical BCD. If I needed weight it would go on a weight belt, no sweat. My 17 y/o daughter uses 4 lbs (2 too much I think, but hey, shes comfortable with it) on a weight belt.
A bc requires a weight belt, or harness, or some add on ditch pockets or other weights of some fashion - and usually more of it than a bpw. It just happens that some or all that stuff is "integrated" - to me that reads inflexible - into the bc.
3. One has no pockets, unless you add them.
True, but to me that is a good thing.
Slide a pocket on the belt. $12. Voila. I don't like pockets. They're a means for me to lose whatever is in them that falls out when I'm trying to get something else out. I have a pocket. It's a pita. I hardly ever use it - see above. Everything I want clips to a d-ring and tucks neatly under the harness or thru a loop of bungee.
4. They are expensive.
Absolutely, positively not true. Full set up, nothing else required (except aforesaid pocket and some bungee that I prefer to the supplied innertube), including single tank cambands, a knife, and some cave line just in case you need it for less than $500 from Tobin, and that includes shipping. And this is not for a knock-off, poor quality rig. Tobin's stuff is the real deal, if not THE best, at the very least one of the best out there (imo). Of course, you can probably find a w(H)ing and p(H)late that is more expensive than a bc, just like I can find a bc that is way more expensive than my dss rig
Advantages of BP/W
1. Weight distribution when diving under conditions that require a lot of weight (dry for example).
Weight distribution when diving. (leave out the qualification)
2. Rock solid tank mounting.
3. Modular.
4. slick, slick, slick in the water. When my small, blonde, petite 17 y/o hottie, uhh, daughter wears hers (small plate, torus 17) you can hardly see the wing when facing her. In fact, she retains her natural shapeliness to the point that I'm ready to put her back in the box and continue feeding her thru the slot as opposed to letting her get on the boat with a bunch of sharks, errr... divers.
5. It fits, and I don't mean "sorta fits".
6. Did I say it was slick in the water? You're pushing a lot less grahdeaux around.
So the question becomes, is it worth $600+ for a DSS vs. less for a nice back inflate BC. If you dive dry, or use a lot of weight IMO yes. If you are wanting a travel kit, IMO the BP/W is NOT the way to go.
When you pack a wing and plate it is FLAT and weighs about 6-7 lbs as opposed to a bc which packs like a basketball ( I know, exaggeration). If you don't like 6-7 lbs, get an aluminmum or kydex plate and check in at about a FLAT 3-4 lbs.
Your millage may vary!
