Dive Rite Transpac II vs Scubapro S-Tek

[AC Boy]

My girlfriend's at a dilemma between the 2. She's tried both on, and both BCs seem to have +'s and -'s about them. In terms of comfort, she felt the S-Tek did better than the Transpac II due to the extra padding at the lumbar area. She also liked that the S-Tek had more D-rings than the Transpac II. However, the thing she didn't like was the weight of the S-Tek - it felt heavier compared to the Transpac II.

Has anyone tried any of these BCs, and which would you recommend?

 

[Tavi]

My first BC was a Transpac II with Rec wings.
If it helps with her decision, the Transpac is available with several options, which may make it more comfortable for your girlfreind. she can order it the way that she wants it.

Look HERE

also check out the links from that page.

Hope this helps!

one more thing,
Welcome to the Boards!!

 

[archman]

I've had an x-tek (older but essentially identical to the s-tek) for years, and finally "upgraded" to the TransPac II this fall.

The scubapro model is actually a rip-off of the old DiveRite TransPac I. DiveRite thus improved on their older design and created the TransPac II. It is superior in many ways.

1. Less expensive than scubapro's knock-off
2. You don't need all those stinking D-rings... tech divers will laugh at you
3. Far more accessory options (pockets, clips)
4. more comfortable fit (usually)
5. better integration of bladder with harness
6. better integrated weight system(s)... there's multiple options with DiveRite

This is just off the top of my head. I'm sure there's other stuff.

The S-tek is still an okay rig, and pretty durable. But if you have to choose, then I'd call it a no-brainer.

 

[Pez de Diablo]

The scubapro model is actually a rip-off of the old DiveRite TransPac I. DiveRite thus improved on their older design and created the TransPac II. It is superior in many ways.

I think the guys at Scubapro would disagree with you on this one. According to the Scubapro rep for Canada it's the other way around.

Regardless, as an owner of both the Transpac II and the S Tek, I would recommend the Transpac II. I think it is less frills (more D rings are not always better) and more durable. But I never use either anymore, just a backplate. They sit in my rental stock.

Though for someone who does want the harness system I think either one is better than a traditional style BCD - they are both truely upgradeable and interchangeable. You can slide/clip pockets and weight pockets on both of them.

Dennis

 

[archman]

I think the guys at Scubapro would disagree with you on this one. According to the Scubapro rep for Canada it's the other way around.

That's a new one. I'm disappointed in that rep. As I recall, back in the late '90's ScubaPro bought out the company that produced Dive Rite's original TransPac BCD's. Afterwards they started to market the TransPac I as the X-Tek. That's when I bought mine, incidentally. A couple years later the X-tek was renamed the S-tek, with some small improvements made.

Dive Rite created the TransPac II consequently, improving on known problem areas with the original TransPac to create a distinctly superior BCD. I guess they found a different manufacturer to keep ScubaPro away, too.

The original Dive Rite TransPac is old, far older than the X-tek. In fact it's hard to find one anymore. The TransPac II however is roughly the same age as the X-tek, but it's the "sequel". For the ScubaPro rep to argue them having the original design first, would require a great deal of explanation and backpedalling. He'd also have to argue the S-tek being a better rig than the TransPac II, which is as the expert users will attest is most certainly not the case.

That's just plain odd!

** okay, I just checked some old forum records and there's some confusion about this. I've got one report that DiveRite ripped off the ScubaPro RecTek design, and from THAT designed their first TransPac. If this is true, then that canadian rep may not be so off after all. Oh well. Regardless, the S-Tek is still inferior to the TransPac II. It's an older and more complicated design.

 

[pharmguy]

I have the Scubapro BC with the Rec-Tek cell. I am, in general, satisfied with this rig but I do have 2 issues with it.

#1 - I dive with a full wetsuit, even in warm water, and the weight pockets when loaded with a good amount of weight (6-10 lbs per side) can come loose. The little strip of velcro doesn't seem to be enough to be able to retain that much weight. I removed the pockets after a weight dropped and now dive with weight mounted on my tank and a small weight belt.

#2 - The BC can ride up - especially on some body frames. I am loooking into putting a crotch strap on so that I don't have to torque the waist strap to keep the BC lower.

And if the techs laugh at her for having D-rings ... just remind them that many tech divers are lonely single men and that might explain why.

 

[archman]

I have the Scubapro BC with the Rec-Tek cell. I am, in general, satisfied with this rig but I do have 2 issues with it.

#1 - I dive with a full wetsuit, even in warm water, and the weight pockets when loaded with a good amount of weight (6-10 lbs per side) can come loose. The little strip of velcro doesn't seem to be enough to be able to retain that much weight. I removed the pockets after a weight dropped and now dive with weight mounted on my tank and a small weight belt.

#2 - The BC can ride up - especially on some body frames. I am loooking into putting a crotch strap on so that I don't have to torque the waist strap to keep the BC lower.

And if the techs laugh at her for having D-rings ... just remind them that many tech divers are lonely single men and that might explain why.

I'm well acquainted with those problems myself! I don't fill my X-Tek's weight pockets up anymore for fear of having them "bust loose", but keep them with a moderate amount of weight and just add a weight belt. This is in cooler water where I need extra weight. DiveRite's integrated weights were recently redesigned to combat this. They're still velcro, but they're slanted upwards to help against sliding out. There is also a larger pocket type that can accomodate 32 lbs. I believe. I only have the 16 lb. version... ooh I love it's compactness. Wish they'd get rid of the bloody velcro, however.

The TransPac II comes with a crotch strap usually, and if not, you can order one. They're like 10 bucks. I keep my BCD tight enough so it doesn't ride up, or maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[AC Boy]

thanks guys! the vote seems to be going the way of the transpac =)

and btw, the transpac costs less than the s-tek!

 

[archman]

thanks guys! the vote seems to be going the way of the transpac =)

and btw, the transpac costs less than the s-tek!

yeah, no kidding. It costs WAY less. It's shocking, and later infuriating to the less informed folks like I used to be. Back in '99 I didn't even know DiveRite existed. If I had, I could have saved my BCD costs by over a third, and STILL gotten a better rig.

 

[jonnythan]

The Transpac looks pretty snazzy in red or blue.