Wings

[chimie007]

For a singles setup is it better to use a steel or AL back plate? What about for doubles?

The choice of AL/SS or ABS depends on your weighting requirement. AL will always work since you can add weight... SS is sometimes too heavy.

Get a wing for the job.... get the one you need right now worry about the rest later. Most of us own thousands of $$$ in dive gear. A $150 wing won't change the total bill.....

Lastly do some searching here and on TDS. At your stage, there are no question you may have that has not been answered already.

[Scubastud16]

Oxycheq singles wing (Mach V), Oxycheq Doubles wing (Vertex 360). 'Nuff said.

Oh, and I dive with an AL plate. You can always add weight (as mentioned before), but you can't take it off a steel plate.

Slude...who said a singles rig can't be comfortable? I love mine. Sold my BCD to buy it back in the day.

[skip]

Do you not have a decent singles BC? A good BC is much more comfortable than a BP/wing. The only thing it won't do is prove how manly you are.

(That was a crack at all the people who dive a BP/wing with a single cylinder.)

I don't know about manliness, but I love my shiny steel backplate with bright red harness with the halcyon 32lb lift singles wing, a nice 1 inch red and black crotch strap, a long hose on the primary with a bright yellow rubber necklace for the octo (with matching yellow cover), a small can light on the left waist belt, and a full dive-rite zipper pouch on the right side waist belt. I be stylin' when I be divin'! When I'm aboard, everyone remembers - no dang cattle boat gonna forget me and leave me out to sea.

-skip

[WJH]

But isn't it all about looking good

For a singles setup is it better to use a steel or AL back plate? What about for doubles? Thanks for all the advice guys.

Depends on your personal "floatiness" and how much insulation you wear. All us Midwest drysuit diving guys use the stainless steel backplate for both. And some of them even need to add a V-weight or a second backplate to sink with doubles on!

WJH

[L.A.]

Do you not have a decent singles BC? A good BC is much more comfortable than a BP/wing. The only thing it won't do is prove how manly you are.

(That was a crack at all the people who dive a BP/wing with a single cylinder.)

Well I dare say, that's hearsay...In addition to sporting the manly man dive look, one BP with two wings is a very efficient way to travel. On my last trip to Mexico, the only additional gear I had to bring for our saltwater single-tank dives was the singles bladder and reg set up for rec. With respect to comfort, that's a personal issue. I personally find a BP/wing comfortable.

[NorthWoodsDiver]

If the OP were to venture over to TDS or Scubaboard he could find about 41 million answers to questions about BP/W's ...

[sskasser]

Do you not have a decent singles BC? A good BC is much more comfortable than a BP/wing. The only thing it won't do is prove how manly you are.

(That was a crack at all the people who dive a BP/wing with a single cylinder.)

Hmm...so I look manly diving my BP/W, single 80, hot pink fins, and bikini?

Seriously, I don't find a BC to be more comfortable. I LIKE just being able to slip into the harness and bail off the boat. A BC just feels confining to me.

[Me]

Hmm...so I look manly diving my BP/W, single 80, hot pink fins, and bikini?

Seriously, I don't find a BC to be more comfortable. I LIKE just being able to slip into the harness and bail off the boat. A BC just feels confining to me.

Ditto, minus the bikini and the hot pink fins.

[JerseyJersey]

I too dive a manly BPW single tank. But its laziness that causes it..... I need the same gear on my harness (lights, trauma shears, compass, shark puppet.....) whether diving single or double and ease of use says keep the same harness and change out the rest.....I find the BPW slimming.... a poodle jacket makes my butt look big

[rkij]

Can you use, for example, a dive rite harness with an Oxy Cheq wing and a whatever backplate, etc.?