Travel BCD suggestions and opinions

[adaminhongkong]

Hey Everyone,

I looking at buying my first bcd and set of regs etc...

Can anyone suggest a great travel bcd...? As I will be using my stuff on holidays all around Sth Est Asia I'm looking for a BC that I can fold up small into a bag that can hopefully holds its own with some of the top line BCDs out there....

Anyone got any suggestions????

A few I am thinking of are the Dire Rite Tanspac travelpac or the Dive Rite Transpac XT ....
From what I read online ppl seem to love the Dive Rite Transpac I never acually heard of it untill someone suggested it to me... Is it well know so all the seasoned sea dogs out there?
I also considered the Scubapro GO but when I tried it on it didnt really feel like what I was after, it seemed quite flimsy... Have many people used either of these suggestions on challenging dives before?

Someone suggested some of the Zeagal travel bcd range etc as well.

Anyone's point of view will be a great help

Adam

 

[SangP]

Personally these are the 4 factors I would consider when getting a travel bcd.

1. Weight < 7lbs
2. Ease of repair, modular components.
3. Flexibility, single/double or sm tank usage.
5. Easy drying.

With these features 3 bcds come to mind.

1. Transpac with rec wing
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/at...148-dive-rite-transpac-rec-wing-transpac1.jpg
It was designed to carry tanks for long distances and is super comfy. It's totally modular and the various components allows for custom fits for different types of body sizes and shapes.
The transpac allows for singels/doubles(with mounting plates) and even sidemount with some modifications. Being that modular it really allows easy replacement should something go wrong like a busted wing torn straps etc.
You could even put another brand of wing on it as the spacing is the standard 11".
This is what it looks like without the padding and wing... its s soft pac.
http://www.k2scuba.com/pro_images/1612_2.jpg

Great system but rather pricy at around USD $600
Dive Rite Transpac Package discounts on sale Dive Rite

For travel I would lose some of the padding as it really isn't necessary and stays wet a long time.

2. Zeagle express tech or the Zeagle Express Tech Deluxe. Both have been used with a lot of success and both are very light.
Buy Zeagle Express Tech Deluxe BCD with Zip Touch weight system from Leisure Pro

It's one of the most affordable systems around $205 to $350 for a fully setup kit.
It's modular and can be used for singles/doubles or sm too. Wings, straps and addons are all replaceble.

Dries super fast too.

3. A backplate/wing combo. This hasn't been discussed but the bp/w is also another option you can consider as it's basically similar to the soft packs but now you have a hard plate which easily allows for backmount singles and doubles.

The plate itself is pretty much indestructible and the wings/straps are all easily replaceable too.
This is a great setup too $460
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?page=rigs

Cheers,

 

[Peter Guy]

As others I'm sure will write, I too would suggest a Back Plate and Wing system for many reasons:

a. Can be very light weight if you choose to use a plastic (Kydex) or Aluminum plate. Even the steel plates don't weigh that much. IF you want something you can use in tropical and colder water, then steel -- if only tropical, then Kydex or aluminum.

b. Modular -- you can get many different wings to fit your specific needs -- from a pure "tropical" wing with around 17 pounds of lift, to a mixed wing with around 25 pounds to a cold water wing with around 35 pounds. If you get a Deep Sea Supply system (link in prior post) you don't need a Single Tank Adaptor (STA), just the cambands which come off in a minute (or less) for packing.

c. Versatile -- the BP/W system, due to both its simplicity and modularity, can be optimized for just about any type of diving you'll do.

BTW, I just finished teaching two different Open Water Students -- the first one was given a traditional BCD to try on and then a BP/W -- she immediately chose the BP/W and would NOT go back to the traditional. The second student did her dives in a traditional BCD but told me she really liked what she saw in the BP/W and that is what she'll be getting due to the reasons stated above.

Did I mention that the BP/W system is just better?

 

[Allan C Smith]

Tech Express is Awesome But if you want something A Little More BC Check out the Zegle Scout. Same Bladder options as the tech express but in a Back inflate Bc Configuration. Touch Closer Weight system included. I Use my Every Day for Teaching and Guiding it's that sturdy. I don't use Weights, living in the Caribbean, And am amazed every time i take this thing off my tank just how Light it is Soaking wet.

 

[SangP]

As others I'm sure will write, I too would suggest a Back Plate and Wing system for many reasons:

a. Can be very light weight if you choose to use a plastic (Kydex) or Aluminum plate. Even the steel plates don't weigh that much. IF you want something you can use in tropical and colder water, then steel -- if only tropical, then Kydex or aluminum.

b. Modular -- you can get many different wings to fit your specific needs -- from a pure "tropical" wing with around 17 pounds of lift, to a mixed wing with around 25 pounds to a cold water wing with around 35 pounds. If you get a Deep Sea Supply system (link in prior post) you don't need a Single Tank Adaptor (STA), just the cambands which come off in a minute (or less) for packing.

c. Versatile -- the BP/W system, due to both its simplicity and modularity, can be optimized for just about any type of diving you'll do.

BTW, I just finished teaching two different Open Water Students -- the first one was given a traditional BCD to try on and then a BP/W -- she immediately chose the BP/W and would NOT go back to the traditional. The second student did her dives in a traditional BCD but told me she really liked what she saw in the BP/W and that is what she'll be getting due to the reasons stated above.

Did I mention that the BP/W system is just better?

Yes yes we all know the bp/w is better... dir u lol!

Did you also happen to mention to watch out for the weight positioning? Some pp like myself are very leg heavy and without weight pockets near the upper straps, I'll turtle flip backwards lol!

If a BP/W is the dark side, sm is Jedi :cool2:!

Tech Express is Awesome But if you want something A Little More BC Check out the Zegle Scout. Same Bladder options as the tech express but in a Back inflate Bc Configuration. Touch Closer Weight system included. I Use my Every Day for Teaching and Guiding it's that sturdy. I don't use Weights, living in the Caribbean, And am amazed every time i take this thing off my tank just how Light it is Soaking wet.

Zeagle makes great bcds however, the scout isn't in the same category as the express tech, transpac or a bp/w in that it isn't suitable for doubles. As far as flexibility is concerned, it's more like a dedicated, recreational single tank setup.

 

[adaminhongkong]

Ok thanks once again Sangp, Your a legend! Thanks for all the info, Gonna read up about it all now!

 

[ams511]

To me the ultimate travel setup would be a DSS 17 or 20lb wing and the Oxycheq soft backplate. That would be a very light travel setup and would pack up very small. I would not worry about doubles unless you plan on diving doubles sometime in the near future. Usually people purchase a new rig for doubles anyway because the price difference between buying a new wing and a complete setup is not all that great.

 

[fnfalman]

While I like the Dive Rite Transpac very much, and I do use mine for "travel" diving (which includes getting packed in the car and driven all over the USA doing freshwater diving, especially if I were to fly from one country to another), it's too heavy. There are travel BCs made by Dive Rite and they are essentially Transpacs without the changeable wings and slimmed down considerably to lose some weight.

I am also a fan of the BPW system. If I were to truly do some tropical diving, I'd probably pack my Transpac or take one of my BPWs because I'm not buying a fourth BC just to do some warm water diving.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I just don't get this whole travel BC craze. What I see is BC's made with cheap lightweight flimsy materials and prices close to what a regular BC costs, it seams like a rip off to me. You can purchase a BP/W with an aluminium plate for less than a travel BC and have a much more durable system you can use for all your diving and be in the same weight range as the travel BC. The only exception to this I have seen is the Zeagle express tech, a light weight BC at a reasonable price point for the product you are getting.

 

[diveprof]

For a single tank set-up I like my 18lb Oxycheq wing, Oxycheq SS travel plate, two medium Oxycheq weight pockets, Oxycheq deluxe harness, SP MK25 and 250V and (depending on the dive buddy) either an Air2 to keep it real simple or a standard octo.