Back Plate Wing (BPW) Vs Jacket-Style BCD: A Scuba Gear Showdown!

Looking to buy your first BCD to add to your Scuba Gear setup? We're giving you 5 similarities and 6 differences between jacket-style BCDs and a Back Plate & Wing setup.

Here's the gear featured in this video:

Our full and independently chosen gear choices are here:

(Yes, these are affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn Divers Ready a small commission. Thank you!)

It's a Scuba Showdown! We are breaking down the two most common styles of buoyancy compensating devices: the traditional Jacket-style BCD and the modular Back Plate Wing setup. Both have their different applications for scuba diving, but which is right for you?

Also, I'm giving you my single biggest piece of advice if you are looking to invest in your first scuba diving BCD.

I do a lot of different types of dives, so I like to have a well-stocked scuba gear locker to be able to choose the right tools for the job.

Thanks for watching!

James

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Back Plate Wing (BPW) Vs Jacket-Style BCD: A Scuba Gear Showdown!

Though we are based in Florida, Hawaii, California, and Michigan have 100 ft and 300 ft ocean and lake underwater coral reef, shipwreck, cave diving, freediving, scuba diving, and rebreather trips. To learn full face mask, beginner scuba diver, advanced scuba diver, tech scuba diver, cave diver you can reach out to a professional scuba diver. Everyone should get scuba diving insurance with Divers Alert Network.

We support all types of diving products, like a full face mask, fins, BCD, regulators, closed circuit rebreather, underwater scooter, from many companies like Simply Scuba, Mares, Dive Rite, Cressi, Zeagle, Huish, Hollis, Scubapro.

[BigStevo_]

As someone who is 6’1” and currently 300lbs, the BPW setup was a game changer. I don’t need anything else around my waist or belly. These are perfect for us big dudes.

[tcat]

Switched over to BPW about 6yrs ago, amid ever decreasing weight and volume limits for air travel, which is all my dives. Absolutely love it.

[jasonpilgrim]

Back plate and wing/back inflated bcd did wonders for my buoyancy. At some point during my first dive with mine I said to myself "Wow, there's just nothing I need to adjust anymore." I found myself with more time to look at my surroundings. I consider that dive my first dive.

[bradallen]

Timely video indeed. I'm purchasing my first BCD this week and have decided on a BP/W setup. I'm going with an aluminum bp to start because most of my diving is travel. Thanks for yet another great video.

[Scuba_Bro]

I do both but for some reason I always go back to my scubapro classic full jacket for some reason… it just seems to make me feel the most comfortable. I do encourage people try to use different BCD’s even after buying your own.

[marktaylor]

As a new diver I preferred the BPW. Your comment that the full jacket is more comfortable prompted me to want to comment. The jacket being more comfortable is what I had been hearing/reading but on the flip side experts were saying go with a BPW. I was concerned that the BPW would be an issue with my bad shoulder so I was hesitant. From my very limited experience I agree that the jacket is more comfortable OUT of the water. In the water, however, to me it is just the opposite. With the jacket I feel so bulky and limited with my range of motion and being able to find my accessories. There is also the mental aspect of feeling "overloaded" in the water, which takes getting used to. If you are like me and have been in the water your entire life wearing the minimum to maintain control, speed, and minimize drag.
The BPW, once in the water, feels like I'm wearing no more than my swimming trunks. It is very comfortable and I feel I can move much easier. I have better control of my buoyancy, I can turn, twist, and maneuver like I'm used to doing in the water with little effort. Not to mention I am able to find my accessories easily. I am interested in doing some underwater photography and I found on my last couple dives I was able to get in any position to do videos and pictures with much less effort than a jacket.
All that being said I am new to the sport. My wife and I both just started diving early this year. I tested full jacket, back inflate jacket, hybrid, and BPW. After the testing, for me, it was an easy decision to go with a BPW. I thought my wife would feel the same, but I was surprised when she went with the full jacket. To each her own I guess?
Though the jacket is more comfortable out of the water isn't the point of SCUBA gear to be comfortable (and safe) IN the water?

[mattmeza]

Extra points for that tip on buying a child a BPW. Will definitely help out with the money debate when my daughter gets certified in a couple years.

[fun-ghi]

Greta comparison, thx 4 that.
A slightly more diving experienced friend of mine recommended me already a travel BPW jacket. Until then I only knew standard BCDs, but I will definitely buy a BPW for my next diving vacation.

[KB-gdfc]

I still use a weight belt is some instances. If I'm wearing a particularly buoyant exposure suit and need to remove my BCD for any reason I don't want to suddenly become dangerously floaty.

[woutervanrenterghem]

Great video! My favorite setup (warm water recreational diving) is a BPW BCD with tech shorts (store SMB … clipped in the side pockets) and a rash guard, super comfortable!

[alistairevans]

During my first week of diving I used both a BPW and Jacket BCD, and I found the wing setup SO much easier to use. The balance is much better, and you feel more free when in the water.

[greg_tally]

@diversdready hey James, you mention you have a specific way of storing things like your SMB. Any interest in doing a video on storing items with tips and tricks for streaming

[uniquediver]

Never had an issue with my W/BP supporting me in an upright position at the surface. We also put extra kit like SMBs in our thigh pockets.

[rgorji]

Fantastic video. Vey well done. Thank you.
Love to see how you attached your SMB to the backplate. It was speeded up in the video. I would be grateful if you can show how or maybe you have done in past videos.

[mrstihl]

Do you have any videos on how to help more novice divers staying head up on the surface with a back inflate style bcd? For the life of me I can't figure it out without finning. I keep hearing people say lean back, but that seems impossible without finning. Maybe I'm just not that bright. I'm worried about a situation where I have lost the boat and I might have to stay at the surface for a prolonged period of time and and worried about getting tired trying to stay upright.

[pharmjpd]

Awesome review! Just what I needed. Looking at getting my 13 year old a setup and researching BPW for him since its expandable and 100% customizable. Save a ton of money as he grows. Thanks

[kennethh]

In my Open Water course we were issued BPW for use. The instructors told us BPW are the best option for growing along with the diver as they progressed. After a bit of research and comparisons, including this one, BPW is hands-down the winner. Modular and ease of adaptability into wreck diving. I know the shop that certified us sold a jacket style, but I don't think it was an option for rental gear. Glad I did Open Water at home in Alaska, Dry Suit certified too!

[alanheinrich]

Hi James #askdiversready, when I bought my first (and only so far) BCD, I went with an Aeris (Oceanic) JetPack. It is kind of a hybrid jacket and wing style. It isn't a true BP/W style but it isn't a true jacket style either. It has a bladder/wing that wraps around the back plastic plate and doesn't have all of the bulk and pockets that a typical jacket style has, but it does have the dump weight system. My first time diving with it will be in two weeks when I am in Costa Rica, so I will let you know my thoughts. Thank you again for all of your videos!!

[D.H.CE_FL]

I replaced my jacket style with a BPW set up a few years ago and it was the biggest diving improvement for me.

My son is 12 and getting certified now. I'm trying to decide which route to go with him. I can pick up a jacket set up cheap used, where he would need a small plate set up to fit him (short kid). If I knew he would enjoy and keep diving, it would be a no brainer I think. Not knowing if he will do it once or twice and not enjoy it, its hard to justify $500+ for something I would have trouble selling used.

[NachoMartorell]

I'd like to understand why you do not support the use of weight belts (8:47)