I'm a gear junkie. In all my hobbies, I like to try out the toys associated for fun and education. Scuba is no exception. So far I've tried different BCDs, regs, computers, fins, etc. and have started finding things I like and don't like about different gear setups. Reading this forum and its pro-BP/W sentiment made me also want to find out what the deal was with BP/W setups.
My first attempt was going down to my LDS and trying on a Zeagle BP with a deluxe harness. I went in with the intention of buying it. But after we messed with installing the harness for a long period of time and multiple attempts to size it, it just seemed too uncomfortable. I was struggling to get in and out of it and the plate was digging into my back a bit. Probably just a back fit job on my part, but it kind of steered me away from them.
After researching a bit about comfortable BP/W setups, the Transplate popped up, so I ordered one to give it a try since my LDS' don't carry them. Since I was familiar with the Transpac harness and new it to be comfortable, the Transplate made sense as a transition. Well, I got the Transplate yesterday and got to play around with it a bit along side my current BCD, the Dive Rite Transpac.
At the time, I didn't understand the reasoning for not using the Travel Wing with the Transplate. Now the whole wing interaction thing makes much more sense now. The Rec wing with the S/S bolts fit much better to the Transplate than the Travel Wing. With the Rec wing installed and a tank on, the Transplate setup did seem more stable and sturdier than the Transpac. The Transplate was also quite a bit heavier and a little more cumbersome to get on and off the tank.
While the Transplate setup was much more comfortable than the original Zeagle BP/W setup I tried, it was still not as comfortable as my Transpac. In the end, I just liked the compact, lightweight, comfort of the Transpac/Travel Wing setup over the Transplate/Rec Wing setup. I know now that if I had to go to a BP/W setup for whatever reason the Transplate would be my first pick, but for the type of diving I do (warm water) I just don't see a reason to give up the aspects of the Transpac I like so much at this point.
So for now, I am sticking with the back inflate Transpac versus going to the BP/W setup.
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Also a side note, I learned something new about the Transpac/Travel wing setup last night as well. While swapping wings and cam straps back and forth, I learned something about my Transpac that I didn't know before. Somehow I missed this setup point in the manual up until last night:
3. Place the front of the Travel wing to the back of theTransPac. Place the Travel wings center webbing strap over the grommet holes on the back, center of theTransPac.
4. Slide the cam straps through the slots on the back of the TransPac and over the Travel wings center webbing strap so that it holds the Travel wing in place. See the diagram to the right for slot positions.
This is what I didn't know and didn't understand why the Travel wing wouldn't work on the Transplate. I didn't understand because I had it installed incorrectly on my Transpac up until now.
I might be the only person who made this mistake, but I thought I would post it just in case.
My first attempt was going down to my LDS and trying on a Zeagle BP with a deluxe harness. I went in with the intention of buying it. But after we messed with installing the harness for a long period of time and multiple attempts to size it, it just seemed too uncomfortable. I was struggling to get in and out of it and the plate was digging into my back a bit. Probably just a back fit job on my part, but it kind of steered me away from them.
After researching a bit about comfortable BP/W setups, the Transplate popped up, so I ordered one to give it a try since my LDS' don't carry them. Since I was familiar with the Transpac harness and new it to be comfortable, the Transplate made sense as a transition. Well, I got the Transplate yesterday and got to play around with it a bit along side my current BCD, the Dive Rite Transpac.
At the time, I didn't understand the reasoning for not using the Travel Wing with the Transplate. Now the whole wing interaction thing makes much more sense now. The Rec wing with the S/S bolts fit much better to the Transplate than the Travel Wing. With the Rec wing installed and a tank on, the Transplate setup did seem more stable and sturdier than the Transpac. The Transplate was also quite a bit heavier and a little more cumbersome to get on and off the tank.
While the Transplate setup was much more comfortable than the original Zeagle BP/W setup I tried, it was still not as comfortable as my Transpac. In the end, I just liked the compact, lightweight, comfort of the Transpac/Travel Wing setup over the Transplate/Rec Wing setup. I know now that if I had to go to a BP/W setup for whatever reason the Transplate would be my first pick, but for the type of diving I do (warm water) I just don't see a reason to give up the aspects of the Transpac I like so much at this point.
So for now, I am sticking with the back inflate Transpac versus going to the BP/W setup.
-----
Also a side note, I learned something new about the Transpac/Travel wing setup last night as well. While swapping wings and cam straps back and forth, I learned something about my Transpac that I didn't know before. Somehow I missed this setup point in the manual up until last night:
3. Place the front of the Travel wing to the back of theTransPac. Place the Travel wings center webbing strap over the grommet holes on the back, center of theTransPac.
4. Slide the cam straps through the slots on the back of the TransPac and over the Travel wings center webbing strap so that it holds the Travel wing in place. See the diagram to the right for slot positions.
This is what I didn't know and didn't understand why the Travel wing wouldn't work on the Transplate. I didn't understand because I had it installed incorrectly on my Transpac up until now.
I might be the only person who made this mistake, but I thought I would post it just in case.
