xDeep Zen Stainless Steel Backplate & Wing Review

This stainless steel Zen has become my dedicated cold-water rig thanks to its stable trim, wide plate, and modular harness options. I originally tried the deluxe harness, but eventually switched to a standard webbing setup for cleaner light and accessory stowage.

By Tyler Allison · Updated May 2024

Use: Standard webbing harness with steel tanks and a drysuit
Current role: Cold-water single-tank backplate and wing
Still in my kit: Yes

The Short Version

The xDeep Zen is a well designed, cold water optimized backplate and wing system with more polish than most others in the category. If you like clean hardware, thoughtful weight distribution, and long term durability, it’s a strong contender. That said, you pay a premium for modularity and design touches that you may or may not actually use. I’m happy with it, but I no longer think of it as my do everything rig.

Would I buy it again? Yes, but I could probably save a couple hundred dollars by buying a generic backplate from DGX or similar and have 99% of the functionality of the Zen.

What Works

Excellent trim and stability in cold water
Skeletonized backplate spreads weight across full back
Modular, polished design with attention to detail
Easily converted to standard harness
Bulletproof durability and aesthetic finish

What Doesn't

Too heavy for most warm water travel
Premium price for features I didn’t end up using
Switching wings for doubles is impractical
Original deluxe harness interfered with gear stowage

Why I Chose the xDeep Zen

I was comparing several traditional backplate systems such as Halcyon, DGX, and some generics. The Zen stood out for its modularity, design polish, and skeletonized backplate that distributed weight across my back. That feature really appealed to me for cold water diving with steel tanks and a drysuit. I originally chose the deluxe harness but switched to a standard harness because the quick-release buckles interfered with my backup light storage. The standard harness has worked very well since.

I also liked the idea that I could reconfigure it for travel or doubles, but in practice, I found that swapping parts between dives is annoying and error prone. I now treat it as my cold water single tank rig and use separate setups for other environments. That isn’t a criticism of the Zen. The modularity works exactly as intended. It just isn’t practical for how I dive. I would have been fine with a more standard plate design, but I still very much like the Zen.

Who It Makes Sense For

This item is best suited for:

Divers prioritizing impeccable trim and weight distribution in cold water.
Drysuit divers who appreciate rigid stainless steel plates and stable harness layouts.
Gear tinkerers who value modular hardware and polished design elements.

It may not be ideal for:

Travel-focused divers who need lightweight rigs.
Divers unwilling to pay a premium for modularity they may not use regularly.

What It Is Like to Dive

Trim & Control: It locks me in solidly. I get a very neutral, well balanced profile, even in a drysuit and steel tank. The plate’s width does seem to help distribute weight across the back.
Harness Comfort: With the standard harness and correctly adjusted D-rings, it’s secure but not restrictive. The deluxe harness was less usable in practice due to gear interference.
Rigidity & Weight: The stainless steel plate is heavy, which is great for Midwest diving, but not something I would pack for travel. That’s why I eventually bought an aluminum plate setup as well.
Modularity: While theoretically flexible, I found the practical value of modularity to be limited. I don’t change components often because it’s just not worth the fiddling between dives.

Ownership and Value

The materials, hardware, and finish have held up well under load. Once adjusted, the standard harness is clean and secure, although initial setup takes longer than a jacket BCD. The premium price is harder to justify if the modularity is not something you actually use; that is the main compromise in my own purchase.