The scuba wing and backplate are separate components. Each part is attached to a buoyancy compensater that creates neutral buoyancy underwater, and positive buoyancy above the surface. Backplate is modular and can be taken apart from the wing. They are a good choice for divers not sure which type of scuba diving equipment to purchase. Below are the pros and cons for each.
Stainless steel
You can have your stainless steel wings or back plate with or without a belt. The wings and backplate are made from 316 stainlesssteel. This material is highly resistant against saltwater. It is cut with a CNC machine and polished manually to avoid sharp edges that can prematurely wear the strap. They can also work with single- or dual-air tanks. You can remove the stainless steel wings and backplate for easy storage.
Stainless steel backplates can be heavier than aluminum. Stainless steel backplates can be used in colder areas to reduce weight. Stainless steel backplates can be adjusted to fit most tanks, unlike lead pieces. A Halcyon Dealer is able to provide weighting advice and help you decide what weight suits your body. You don't have as many to replace the backplate.
Plastic
Although the plastic back plate/wing buoyancy is not ideal, it can still be useful for replacing weight on the weight belt. Jacket BCDs come with pockets and weight integration. These ancillary options are not available on the backplate and wings. These parts are also available separately. We will be discussing the pros and cons for each. It is vital to select the right backplate for your needs.
Softpack harness
There are many different types of wings and back plate harnesses. Backplates, wing BCDs, and the most common are both available. These BCDs include all of the required components such as a backplate, wing, and harness. Users can also customize the harness using a range adjustable features. Softpack BCDs make technical divers' lives easier. They are lightweight and flexible and do not attach to rigid plates.
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. While the steel harness offers the most rigid option, it can be cumbersome when used for travel. It is not suitable for single tanks and the steel backplate might be too heavy to use on the ground. Although it can be used with single tanks by attaching adapters this is not recommended.