The backplate and wing are two separable components of a scuba harness. Both pieces are attached to a buoyancy compensator that establishes neutral buoyancy underwater and positive buoyancy on the surface. Backplate is modular and can be taken apart from the wing. These are great options for divers who aren't certain which type they should get. Here are the pros and disadvantages of each.
Stainless steel
A stainless steel back plate and wings can be purchased with or without an attached harness. The wings and backplate are made from 316 stainlesssteel. This material is highly resistant against saltwater. The backplate is cut with a CNC cutter and polished manually in order to prevent sharp edges from prematurely wearing the strap. You can use them with either a single-air tank system or dual-air tank systems. To make storage easier, you can take off the wings and backplate made of stainless steel.
Stainless steel backplates can be heavier than aluminum. Stainless steel backplates are great for colder climates, where they'll reduce the weight you'll carry during your dive. Stainless steel backplates fit all types of dive tanks better than lead pieces. A Halcyon Dealer is able to provide weighting advice and help you decide what weight suits your body. You won't need to replace this backplate as often because it will last longer.
Plastic
Even though the buoyancy of plastic back plate or wing is negative it can still be beneficial for weight replacement. Jacket BCDs come with pockets and weight integration. These ancillary features are not available for the backplate or wing system. These components can be ordered separately. Both are available separately. We'll discuss the pros and con of each. Choosing the right type of back plate for your needs is essential.
Softpack harness
There are many different types of wings and back plate harnesses. The most common of these are backplates and wing BCDs. These include the necessary components such as the backplate, wing and harness. They allow for customization of the harness with many adjustable features. Softpack BCDs are ideal for technical divers, since they are made of a lightweight, flexible material and are not attached to a rigid plate.
The drawback to steel backplates harnesses is their inability for adaptability. The harness is not designed to work with single tanks and is only suitable for double tanks with permanent bands. The steel harness, while the most rigid, is also very cumbersome and difficult to use during travel. It can only be used for double tanks. Also, the steel backingplate may not work well on land. Although it can be used with single tanks by attaching adapters this is not recommended.