Transpac w/travel wing-is it compact to travel with?...

[CarwashGuy]

I am debating between a Transpac or a backplate/wing. One of my reasons for wanting to switch from my current bc is to have something that takes up less space when traveling. Also, since I shoot video I want more freedom of movement in front. At first I thought a backplate/wing looked ideal. But is it overkill or too "techie" for Caribbean diving? That's where the transpac caught my eye, it seems a bit more "conventional". I do dive a drysuit at home in the Great Lakes area so the backplate would be nice. But I do a good share of my diving in warm/tropical waters and I'm not sure if a backplate is suitable for that.
Any thoughts?

[Tavi]

My Transpac is now my pool BC (teaching)
I use a Backplate and wings for all open water dives.
I have 2 plates 1 STA and 4 wings so I can switch 'em around to what works best for the dive

In the Caribean I use a BP and a 27 lb wing

I think it takes up less room than the transpac did.

Best of luck with your decision.

[reefraff]

Backplates are appropriate anywhere and everywhere. They can be a little heavy to travel with, so you might want to consider one made from aluminum. You will get questions about them from time to time, especially in the Caribbean, where so many divers are vacation-only divers and don't get much exposure to technical gear. If you show you're willing to answer questions and are nice to folks, they tend to be nice right back at you.

Steven

[Scubaroo]

Well if you've got the money, you could always buy a steel BP/wing for your drysuit, and pick up an O-Pac or AL plate and use the same wing for your tropical travel.

[DolphinDiver]

I only do warm water diving and use the TPII. The trim is great, it's easy to adjust and set up. It carries heavy tanks (singles) well and is comfortable with a lightweight wetsuit.

I just got the integrated weight pockets and am anxious to try them out next.

Even though it's not a real BP I get plenty of attention with the TPII. Techies recognize it instantly. Not techies ask how it works. I'm not a techie myself and didn't want to go the BP route but I feel for what I do I still get the benefits and I get to use those integrated weight pockets. I'm really looking forward to getting rid of that weight belt.

I think it will be bulkier to pack that a BP but that's because of the padding, which can be removed. Since I really value that padding it's gonna stay on.

The other thing that turned me off BP is that you have to get a single tank adaptor. Since I'm never going to use doubles I felt that buying a system that has to be "modified" for what I do was unneccessary. There might be BP systems now that don't require the STA.

But, from what I've read, if I were going to use doubles at all, I'd go with the BP even thought the TP is supposed to be able to handle light doubles.

[ronrosa]

Dolphin Diver:

Is your appreciation for the padding on the Transpac on land, water or both ? I can see the padding being beneficial on land, especially if you are shore diving and walking a lot.

[Albion]

i use a TPII at the moment, not to bulky to carry around, but with all the padding it takes a long time to dry out, i do a lot of long weekend type trips, fly 3 days diving day off fly home, and i seem to spend so much time waiting for the TPII to dry off. Have just got an alum plate with lightweight STA (FredT) and weight for weight dry there isnt much difference, but im betting within hours of the last dive one is going to be a lot lighter than the other, cant wait to try it out

[doole]

How techie is "too techie"?

I have a TPII, been diving a backplate for two years. Not going back. The backplate rocks.

The store I teach at grouses about it because they don't sell many backplates and don't make a margin. I don't care. I tell all my students that backplates rock.

[DolphinDiver]

Padding is for land.

Yes, it does take a looong time to dry out but that happens during my 24 hr wait to fly.

The amount of techiness is probably irrelevant, it's about the functlonality really. I want: back inflate, padding, integrated weight pockets, streamlined design, adjustability, singles.

TPII fits those requirements. It's likely there would be BP systems that could too but the off-the-shelf TP was the easy choice.

Oh ya, LP's price on the TP is hard to beat too - that was key for me.

[doole]

DD - have U tried a BP in the water?

I tossed the padding after a while in the transpac because the stupid velcro wore out and the pad kept getting all tangled up in the many straps. When I look back, it seems like a nightmare.