Anyone dive doubles with BC with BP?

[tfd86]

Does anyone dive double with say the ranger or zeagle tech BCD's with a BP installed or is everybody strictly doubles? Wan't to dive doubles someday in the near future but hope the Ranger with BP bands will suffice. Don't neccesarily want to spend dough on a wing, if I don't have to.

[in_cavediver]

I have a ranger and have dove it with doubles. That said, you'll want a purpose designed rig. The zeagle can do it, its just has a large number of trade offs as compared to the traditional BP/Wing or even a softpac and wing (like the transpac)

As for the wing itself - for me, there is no doubt dedicated wings are the way to go. If you go big for doubles, then single tanks suffer. If you go small for singles, then you ride on the edge of suitability for doubles. For most people, 18-30lbs of lift is good for singles and 50lbs give or take is good for doubles.

I personally dive the 55lb halcyon explorer circa 2001, the nomad wing circa 2007 or an old jacket BC (26lbs lift) circa 2000ish. My wife uses the ranger (44lbs) when she wants a single (not used since 2006 if that says anything), She also has the nomad wing and an explorer wing.

Now - when you get to tec diving, the BP/wing is going to be the least of the costs you will face. You'll need tanks, at least one more reg, likely a drysuit and then whatever stage/deco bottle/regs are appropriate. That's just gear, factor in training which usually is many hundreds of dollars and you can see where things add up. That few hundred for the right wing isn't much.

[Scuba Pete]

I too dove my ranger with doubles. It can handle it. I had double 80's which wasn't bad. I think i tried my 104's in them once. It is right on the edge of being inadequate. I made a backplate for the ranger as i didn't want to buy the stabilizing plates. That seemed to work better than not having anything at all. Knowing what i know now. I would get the bp and wing. look around there are some really good deals. I got my setup for 310ish with bp, wing, and harness.

[cbrich]

I have a bp setup for singles, and next year I will be starting tec. I just have to remove the STA, and bolt on the doubles. I am currently diving a REC wing with a single, and it should be enough for double HP100s.

[DallasMarineBio]

I'll echo the comments above- if you are getting into tech diving the BP and wing is the least of your expenses, you may find that you like the BP so much you'll be using it for singles too

[comet24]

As you get into the tec. world your see why people like the simple BP/W setup so much. Many people are very comfortable with and used to the traditional BC. As they move into tec. diving they try to keep part of that tradition BC feel. I know I did. My first harness was a Trans-Plate. That lasted exactly one dive.

As soon as you do a dive with a BP/W with steel doubles, a stage, can light with two backups, a reel, a SMB you will realize why almost all experienced tec. divers will tell you to stop wasting your money. Just buy a BP/W now because in the end you will end up with one.

[Chris at Silent World]

Originally Posted by tfd86

Does anyone dive double with say the ranger or zeagle tech BCD's with a BP installed or is everybody strictly doubles? Wan't to dive doubles someday in the near future but hope the Ranger with BP bands will suffice. Don't neccesarily want to spend dough on a wing, if I don't have to.

Bite the bullet and get a proper bp & wing. Your trim, comfort and buoyancy skills will be much better for it.