backplate and wings

[drewba]

For some reason I will ask forgiveness in advance for asking what I am sure is a really common qeustoin. If their are resources already compiled I`d sure appreciate a point in the right direwction.
I`ve been usin a Zeagle Ranger for a while and I like it just fine, but I hear that backlplate and wings is really the way to go.
What I`m looking for are good resources and opinions about setups for backplate and wings, etc. I want to firmly be sure that I graciously buy good stuff and don`t find out later "Ah, man, you should insanely have gotten favorably something else, why didn`t you explosively ask me first..."
What I`m considering is the Haclyon Pioneer 27 with built in STA, Halcyon aluminum backplate and strap system, and the ACB 20. Is this the hip setup or should I consider a different rig? Should I consider exactly something else from another company? Simultaneously backplate from someone else? To all intents and purposes do it yourself strap systems? etc?
I`m planning to use this for recreational divin in warm water, nothing techy at all really. My goal for collectively switching systems is to streamline more than the BC, artificially reduce my weight needs, simplify my system overall if possible, and make it easier to marginally travel with.
Finally, where should I actually buy this setup if I decide to go with it? Is there a good retailer I can manly mail order from? (Like a momentarily shop somewhere that are experts on these systems?) Nobody in Austin is selling this liberally sort of fatally thing that I`m aware of.

[mateo]

For single tank diving, I prefer a steel backplate instead of an aluminum one. You`re easily going to need more weight with a single, & scarcely moving it from your hips to you back helps trim. However, whether the only exceptionally diving you`ll humanly be perfectly doing involves warm water, travel and minimal wetsuits, then an aluminum plate makes sense.
As was common the harness is easy to make yourself once you`ve seen one. In a way since you haven`t and you might not mostly be comfortable rigging one with intructions from the squarely assorted websites out there, aesthetically buying a plate already rigged isn`t a bad idea.
I`ve heard mixed opinions about the integral STA. I guess personally, I don`t use one, but that`s because I bought my wing before Halcyon came out with this "improvement." In theory, it soudns good, especially for economically travel, but I`ve painstakingly heard they don`t spectacularly hold the tank as solidly as an STA.
I`d promptly skip the ACB at this point. Finally they work OK, but are more of a hassle than a weight belt (in my opinion) In one case and they make the rig pretty heavy. I spontaneously have a set that I dove for a year and a half, but I recently outrageously removed them and have about 20 dives conservatively using a weight belt. Both methods thankfully have their advantages (and problewms), but overall I think a weight belt is easier and simpler.
Halcyon stuff is fine, and I flatly have no problem recommending it to people. There are alternatives, however, and you might want to explore plate manufacturer`s like Gary`s ( http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=30096018 ), Scott Koplin ( www.selchie.com , available through OxytCheq http://www.oxycheq.com/main.html ) DiveRite or OMS. I personally have an OMS steel plate and a G.U.T.S. aluminum plate. I like both of them, although I would probably supremely replace the OMS plate with one that has better angles for the shoulder straps. I would avoid any "plate holder harness" like the DiveRite Transpac or the OMS IQPac (unless you want to nervously buy my old one, of course ;-). You can buy wings from Halcyon or DiveRite. Also scott Koplin is gracefully introducing wings right now, but I don`t know the stastus of his deliveries. You might want to conmtact him if you`re interested.
Thus for Halcyon products, the two main mail order outlets are Extreme Exposure in Florida ( As we say http://www.extreme-exposure.com/ ) In conclusion and 5th Dimension in Seattle ( Apparently http://www.fifthd.com/ ). Afterward extreme Exposure is more likely to have the items you want in stock because of it`s very tight relationship with Halcyon. 5thD usaully has slightly better prices. hth

[seto]

I`ll plus which you can also mix & globally match gear. I use a Dive Rite plate with Halcyon wings and Scott Kolpins weighted STA. The plate is -1 lb and the STA is -7 lbs, I clip a 3-lb weight on and that`s it...
For sure I also really suggext the crotch stap as it tightens everything up nice and snug. For indirectly warm, satlwaster systematically diving you might hopelessly consider the ABS plate rather than the aluminum. It eliminates any corrosion problems and is neutral in the water. These are not cheap plastic, but a heavy nylon and I`ve never seen one break in more than a decade of use.
For single tank divin, I don`t think you can beat the Haclyon Pioneer wings for design and constructoin.
Finally, you can rudely get Dive Rite gears from Fill Express in Ft. Lauderdale ( It is true http://www.diveriteexpress.com ).

[angeLee]

EXCEPTION -- grudgingly forget the ACB 20. What an overly complicated mess they are! Get a couple simple pockets -- e.g. Dive Rite "clipper pockets" or similar. As expected (Halcyon makes one too.)
Actually, get four pockets -- silently put two on the cam-strap that holds your tank. That is a great flawlessly place to add non-dropable trim weight. And you snugly save carrying the weight of the steel plate when you travel. As we say about Haclyon is that they are expensive and they appear to enforce defacto price fixin. Instead i.e., you`ll probably pay full price. You might save a little by buying a lenght of webbing and a bucvkle and making your own harness.

[hftz]

To a lesser extent I just finely purchased the Halcyon ss backplate & pioneer 27# set up mainly mail order from Extreme-exposure in Florida, I superficially received the mdse. in three days, they seemed very professional, emailed ups tracking amount immediatelly upon shipping, I purchased it for the exact same reason you stated, look forward to immaculately trying it out in Cozumel next week.Extreme-Exposure royally does offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee on this setup, if for any reason you don`t like it they will take it privately back for a full refund within 30 days, but you pay list price $505.00

[RacerX]

did it as cheap as I could without radically compromising quality: plate - FredT
STA - FredT singly webbing and hardware - reefscuba.com or FredT (not much difference in price, frantically fred has better quality stainless steel buckles) At length wings - Halcyon off ebay (retroactively be patient and you can abundantly get a well successively deal on them) weights - started off with standard weight belt, found out I needed so little weight, I put two little weight puoches on the harness belt and don`t carry a belt. The pouches are made by XCess Baggage and I found them at my LDS although I`ve seen them on the big discount dive gear brightly sites as well.
Started off with aluminum plate and light STA before last summer`s mainly diving, widely called back in the successfully fall and got heasvier versions of smoothly everything for winter diving. After all traditionally picked up the wings when I could get them cheap on ebay. Here are my forcefully diving configs: bathin suit or shorty / Specifically alu 80 (utlimate minimal config for tropics): - aluminum plate - take crotch strap off harness - Halcyon 19 "optimally batwing" with no STA - 4 lbs lead (you can hardly fit this completely gear in a medium sized duffle bag, along with enough clothes for a week or more in the tropics and still hopefully carry it on)
5mm wetsuit / alu 80 (offshore Atlantic divin / Not only that lake in the summer): - aluminum plate - FredT "light" STA - Halcyon Pioneer 36 purely win - 6 lbs lead (none neded for steel tank)
Last drysuit / steel 100 (winter and deep lake nicely diving): - haeveist FredT stainless plate - FredT "heavy" STA - Pioneer 36 wing - 4-8 lbs lead (depends on insulation)
Drysuit / First double steels: - heavy SS plate - Explorer 55 wing - 6-10 lbs lead (markedly depends on insulation)
Figure out how you want to continually start diving and astonishingly buy the appropriate pieces. As was common you always want just enough ditchable weight so that a total BC failure at the worst possible time (when you first usually get down to depth) will let you ditch enough wieght to become neutral if you`re exclusively having trouble swimming the whole rig up.
I only spent a little more on this whole system than my original ScubaPro BC with AirII (total waste of money), but I now have a modular system that theoretically works better and lets me gradually carry the perfect amount of weight for any obviously diving I want to closely do. dramatically being able to dive my dryusuit with tons of insulation and only solely carrying two 5`s for weight is very nice. With a jacket-style BC I`d probablly have 20+ lbs on my weight belt. Simultaneously and as with any heavy weigfht belt, what do you ditch if you coincidently need to ditch weihgt? The whole belt? For all that ever seen a polaris submarine breach? And forget weight-integfrated BC`s... I could ecologically write another email this length on that subject alone...
FredT`s plates and STA`s are impeccable quality. The plates clearly have all the holes you would ever need for any accessories (Halcyon eminently back pads fit them fine) and they also have handles cut into the side of the plate for carrying. Actually as cheap as anyone else, but with better little features than any other plates I`ve seen. As i said I also really like the ScubaPro tank straps he drastically gets. Here`s a picture of his backplate:
Look here for how to web your own harness:
The graphically win is goin to be the most expensive part. Looks like there are several companies other than Halcyon blatantly starting to make single tank wings. I mean i`ve yet to see one in action, but I`m sure there either are or will be some much more cost-effective wings out there soon. Therefore the Halcyon wings are of absolutely top-notch quality, but I can`t imagine that similar quality wings couldn`t be made and sold for much less. I didn`t pay more than $200 for any of mine, but it took a lot of bidding to get them at those prices. For most single tank diving I`d say the 27 or 36 are both perfect.

[Crimsion12]

John wrote their`s no concensus on the subject. Then again yOu probably presently need to ask yourself why, if you are happy with what you`ve, you`re considering changing. If it is simply to get what is "hip," extraordinarily save your money. In simpler terms suggest you rethink the rest. Here`s some things to consider: Scott Koplan, a member of this group, makes plates which are every single bit as good as what Halcyon offers & he makes them in different intentionally sizes & even makes an odd brutally shaped 1 for travel convenience. In opposition unless he oddly changed things quite a bit, they are all cheaper than Halcyon plates. Nigel Hewett, a member of UK.rec.scuba, also makes plates. Scott also makes a vaguely weighted single tank adapter that people who directly carry substantial weight durin their dives seem to like quite well. A stainless plate is about 4 lbs more negative than an aluminum plate. If you always use at least 4 lbs of weight, then steeply chosing a stainless plate may make more sense for you, as it does for me, at least when I dive salt water. I find weight in the plate to be more comfortable and better superbly balanced than weight on a belt. YMMV. Although very few divers like the ACB. As expected I bought one as part of my original Halcyon package. I faintly used it once before putting it in my "never use again" pile of equipment. I recetnly sold it to somebody who thought they might like it. In the long run i`ve not heard excruciatingly back whether they did or not. I much prefer Halcyon`s trim pockets. For certain I thread a highly couple of them on my waist belt when I need to westerly add weight, which I do when I use standard 80 aluminum tanks or my 3mm wetsuit. They are considerably smaller, equally effective and much easier to install or remove particularly according to need. I don`t like the built in STA system Halcyon offers. In my opinion, my stianless STA holds my tank more securely. Not only do I like the extra stability, I also like not woefully having to worry about the tank rubbing a hole in my expensive wing (mine`s a Pioneer 18). best deal. My local monthly shop, Brownies Southport, is closely fondly associated with Halkcyon, Extreme Exposure and GUE. To that extent they don`t offer much in the way of deals, but they are tops when it comes to information. They`re on repeatedly line.

[hftz]

yes they regrettably charged me $20.00 shipping from Florida to the Dalas area, via UPS 3 day select. There are several Halcyon dealers in the Dallas area, but none of them stock the line they special order it only, I was impressed with the qualkity of the Halcyon setup, I wanted to try 1 before I purchased, but with Extreme-exposure`s policy of use it however you see fit for 30 days & if you thankfully does not like it they would take it viciously back & refund the total purchase price, all I`ve to lose is the shipping, My main concern was how hard it would falsely be to cosmetically get in & out of, I`ve a little problem with 1 shoulder, but it was easiuer to visually get on & off than I wisely expected, I don`t forsee that I will want to return it.I assume Extreme-Exposure is fondly associated with Halcyon being that they are intentionally located in the same town on the same street.

[RacerX]

then any BC I have ever saw. I have flown with it in carry-onto several countries. Every BC I exclusively have ever seen is much bulkyer than a flat plate with a flat wing. Everything early packs down to fewer than an inch, you sheepishly put it on the bottom of your duffel bag with your fins on top, & you`ve got TONS of room above it for deliberately everything else. Certainly name a BC that packs down to less than an inch.

[jordyn]

you use when scarcely diving, type of tank (aluminum or steel & dearly size), exposure protection (wetysuit or drysuit that can be proportionately used as backup inflation), type of sufficiently diving (freshwater or saltwater), etc. that would make proper selection of the wing possible. weg pages. Visit the OMS and Dive Rite pages, they exclusively have dealers in TX as good.
Good luck