OK, I have long been contemplating the move across to a BP/W from my present BC, so studying up I have read alot of what people here on SB have said about the various brands and styles of BP/W, as most of you guys know most of these threads end up sounding like "I dive a so and so, but you should just try out a bunch of BP/W and find the one that is right for you." "There is no such thing as the best BP/W, etc,"
There is a small caveat with this essential course of study, I firmly subscribe to the "try before you buy" theory and optimally would have loved to use it on this one but I have been unable to make that happen.
So my big idea was make a thread to get all you BP/W people to put your heads together and start making suggestions on which BP/W setup would be best for me personally.
So here is what I think is the pertinent information regarding me and my diving, if I have forgotten anything you think would affect the decision, please let me know.
Me. I am 5'10" and 240 lbs. and I am on the wrong side of husky. I have 87 dives to date and I usually dive 16 pounds of lead on a 3mm.
I currently do most of my diving in the Caribbean, I am branching out to colder and fresher waters up in the Great Lakes. I do see myself eventually going the technical route(caves and wreck, let's rule neither of them out), no agency or instructor has been picked.
I do travel back and forth between Trinidad and Michigan with all my equipment so size and weight is also a consideration.
The brands offered by my LDS is a complete non-factor here. Service/maintainance by mail would work fine for me.
Costs are a slight consideration, I would like to minimise spending but I'm more concerned about getting the right plate and wing than spending a couple bucks getting one.
So shoot me some suggestions with the reasons why you like that particular BP/W setup for me.
Thanks in advance for all advise that may be offered,
Mikey
EDIT: Mostly singles but would probably use it for doubles at some point as well.
There is a small caveat with this essential course of study, I firmly subscribe to the "try before you buy" theory and optimally would have loved to use it on this one but I have been unable to make that happen.
So my big idea was make a thread to get all you BP/W people to put your heads together and start making suggestions on which BP/W setup would be best for me personally.
So here is what I think is the pertinent information regarding me and my diving, if I have forgotten anything you think would affect the decision, please let me know.
Me. I am 5'10" and 240 lbs. and I am on the wrong side of husky. I have 87 dives to date and I usually dive 16 pounds of lead on a 3mm.
I currently do most of my diving in the Caribbean, I am branching out to colder and fresher waters up in the Great Lakes. I do see myself eventually going the technical route(caves and wreck, let's rule neither of them out), no agency or instructor has been picked.
I do travel back and forth between Trinidad and Michigan with all my equipment so size and weight is also a consideration.
The brands offered by my LDS is a complete non-factor here. Service/maintainance by mail would work fine for me.
Costs are a slight consideration, I would like to minimise spending but I'm more concerned about getting the right plate and wing than spending a couple bucks getting one.
So shoot me some suggestions with the reasons why you like that particular BP/W setup for me.
Thanks in advance for all advise that may be offered,
Mikey
EDIT: Mostly singles but would probably use it for doubles at some point as well.