Why Backplate and Wing? - BP & Wing vs Jacket BC - Benefits of Backplate and Wing BC system

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Post up your experience and questions concerning BP/W or Jacket BC.

[@asecret900]

When they first came out I bought a pair of Apeks Tec shorts and disliked them so much I gave them away to a relative. They felt like a soggy wet nappy and moved around on my wetsuit, pockets were way too small for the usual dive contents (SMB/Reel set, BU mask, Wetnotes etc.), and worst of all they were not sewn-on where my hands hung naturally. So then I bought a pair of Forth Element Tec shorts and man what a difference, I still love diving those shorts to this day.

[@remcovanhal6336]

I just bought Cressi Commander EVO (Lots of pockets and D-rings, I was in love with it!). After about 20-25 dives (2 months) I made the switch BP/W, so minimalistic! Its a Mares XR. Was able to get a good deal on it on a local website. And who needs all those pockets anyway when you got bungees! Just need 1 pocket for my notebook (and future slates maybe), which goes in my wetsuit pocket. Thanks for the video, always nice to wake up to one.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

All data s good data. Sometimes we have to learn about what we don't like. Glad you're happy with your rig!

[@goldenMonkey90]

I actually have quite similar story of transitioning into BP/W but just condensed into a year. First got regular jacket BCD, few months later got back inflate BCD and then jumped into BP/W config. Then I got my SO into diving and she went straight to BP/W (actually did her OWD in one). Fast forward few years and here we are zooming around in doubles with DPV's :D

[@remcovanhal6336]

Souns like you are living the life!

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

I'm starting to her more evolution stories like that...

[@RonSnijders]

After doing my OW and my first few fun dives in a jacket-style BCD, I read up on the different styles of BC before buying my own and ended up getting a Tecline DIR-style BP/W. I now have seven dives on that set and I couldn't be happier with it! Like you, I've spent quite some time with a backpack strapped on, and found the jacket-style BCs very cumbersome. Having full movement in my arms and shoulders makes everything so much nicer. Moving 2kg (3mm stainless steel) of weight from my pockets to my back is a nice bonus, of course. The lack of pockets helps me consider whatever I want to bring into the water and leave anything I don't need at home. And since it's definitely drysuit season in my neck of the woods now, I have to humongous pockets anyway. So no inspirational evolution story here, just a guy going 'well, I don't see any reports of people switching BACK to jacket from BP/W...'

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hey, Ron...you went to the dark side as well ;)

[@RonSnijders]

All the way, and loving it! I had issues with every jacket-style BC I used (mostly huge gaps at the shoulders and the rolling cylinders you mentioned). And now that I have my first three dives on the drysuit I completely understand why people are such fans those as well!

[@marineboyocean]

Once again the Apeks pocket shorts come in handy 🤿👍🏽

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

LOL...unavoidable in the BP/W world if you carry what you should. I've tried other brands, Apeks works for me 👍

[@never2old-sd638]

I love my backplate and wing set . And I dive doubles too! Doubles are tight! 👌😂🤣

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hey, NTO...great to hear from you. Good to hear you are BPW...🤙

[@Maritime007]

I prefer diving doubles as well. One I feel more balanced in doubles. Two I have an isolation manifold so in the event of a freeflow I can shut down one tank and still get access to the air in it. Three I have all my air for my two dive charter on my back not half of it sitting up on the boat. And four no trying to mess with switching tanks on a rolling boat in between dives. Most of my diving has been in the North Atlantic so for any amount of diving a drysuit is a must. At 6'2" tall that means I need a lot of weight to sink. Steel doubles with a stainless steal back plate mean that much less on my weightbelt which can get hard on the lower back on a longer dive.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

@@Maritime007 Curious as to why you don’t go with integrated weights. I’ve only used a weight belt myself but am considering a switch.

[@Maritime007]

@@E_Clampus_Vitus Because I use a backplate and harness I don't have an option of integrated weights. Last year I bought a new trilaminate drysuit to replace my neoprene one and this allowed me to shed weight.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

@@Maritime007 OIC. I’ve never dove with doubles but I like the advantages you cite. Which plate and wing do you use?

[@OrenNoah]

When I went to the backplate and wing, (a) my trim became perfect and (b) I took 10 pounds off my weight belt. I never went back. Don't worry about "losing" pockets if you change from a jacket BC. Those BC pockets aren't very useful as it is. They're small and too high up on your body to get anything into or out of. Pocket shorts or pockets on your drysuit hold a lot more and are way easier to use.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks for dropping in, Oren. Great advice on the BC pockets.

[@DarkSideDiving]

Nice one. Thanks. Hello from Munich :-)

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hi Stephen. Where do you dove out there?

[@ChattingwithMarkStise]

Nice video I learned a lot

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks, Mark!

[@alzahraniabdulrahman]

Wing backplate tilt me all over during descend , can you give me your advise

[@sbmillward]

I think every serious diver ultimately gravitates to BPW. I did it this year. Actually, I disliked jacket BCs right from the start, so my first BC was a HOLLIS LTS, which I highly recommend. It's comfortable, well-designed, rugged, and modelled on a BPW set up. However, I desired a BC which was more minimalist and without plastic buckles (potential failure points). So, I went for a BPW. I use an aluminum BP + 25Ib wing for warm water and I'll be using a steel BP + 38Ib wing when the water gets cold and I need a thick wetsuit and extra weights. I have to confess, the BPW took me a few months to get used to. I found it really uncomfortable at first. However, after a number of incremental adjustments, it is now very comfortable and I absolutely love it! Just one thing, you talked about a crotch strap (4:20). I HATE the crotch strap and soon removed it. I find that the waist strap is all I need to hold the BC in place, both underwater and at the surface. By the way, thanks for the tip (5:40) about not fully inflating the wing at the surface. I'll try that, although I don't really find it a problem to float comfortably even when the wing is fully inflated. Thanks for the interesting video!

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Simon, thanks for the frank and informative comment. These comments are going be very valuable to viewers. I have to admit, I wish I did not need a crotch strap...it can be a nut-cracker sometimes when sitting or climbing a ladder.

[@sbmillward]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo ... If you wish you did not need a crotch strap, then why DO you use it? Just curious. :)

[@dr.j.goddard8448]

@@sbmillward Mostly due to surface considerations. Straps keeps you from pitching forward, but especially with doubles wing on. Also, EQ on off at surface is easier with strap. Especially for doubles, if you do not hold onto the strap while dining/doffing, you can get “hung” by the arm holes as the bladder floats up.

[@douglasljdunn]

Nice. Worth discussing the pros and cons of donut and horseshoe wings...

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Good point. I have both and don’t really notice a functional difference. Do you?

[@douglasljdunn]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo I use a donut myself as I find it easier to dump air out of the single valve, better trim/lift at rear with my heavier legs

[@ariefpoerniawan]

When using backplate wing bcd, and on the surface, i do lean on my back with position facing the sky

[@jonnieinbangkok]

75-85% bladder fill at the surface...isn't that a bit much? I mean, with no air in the BC a diver is supposedly to be only slightly negatively buoyant so should basically float. At least in the warm calm waters here in Phuket, at the end of a dive, I fill my IST W/BP BC maybe 30-40% full and I have no problem staying afloat...of course I'm properly weighted too.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hi Johnnie, great Q. If you wanted to be near neutral buoyancy at the surface, I totally agree. However, most folks want their head to be out of the water as much as possible, significant positive buoyancy, especially when there's some waves or chop. Also, the relative height of the bladder could have some affect on this also. In any case, appreciate the Q/comment.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo That's why I said fill it 30-40%...puts my head and shoulders nicely above the waterline. At 80% inflation, even with my crotch strap, I'd be face in the water 😁😁😁 And drysuit diving...you gotta come to Thailand 🇹🇭

[@MegaEpicLlama]

@@jonnieinbangkok Wont that depend on the size of your wing and buoyancy distribution from your wetsuit/drysuit?

[@jonnieinbangkok]

@@MegaEpicLlama My post is for wetsuit diving only.. drysuit diving is its own thing that I know nothing about. If in a wetsuit a diver is even more buoyant so even less air in the BCD/wing would be required at the surface.

[@MegaEpicLlama]

@@jonnieinbangkok Drysuits are more buoyant than wetsuits, unless you vacuum seal yourself. And if you are more buoyant depending on your exposure protection you still have to balance out by adding weight. A thicker wetsuit would make you more buoyant on the front. And how much you fill your wing depends on the size of the wing vs your own buoyancy and buoyancy distribution.

[@calnetwork3474]

Sounds like you’re just guessing on a lot of your info. I’ve been diving with a jacket for 35 years and have never experienced any of the drawbacks you claim a jacket style bcd possesses.

[@spoofer20]

I think this is different for everyone, since my first dive I never felt comfortable with the jackets, they always affected my trim in a weird way. I think it depends on how youre built, height muscles, fat etc. Im very muscular on my upper body but also a bit on the shorter side so I feel like im very top heavy and when I inflate the bcd just a little it sort of tilts me down more than most people I dive with.

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

If you're a good diver the bcd does not matter.