Dive Rite Transplate or Transpac?

[ruscat]

Hi All. I am looking to move from a traditional jacket style BCD (Aqualung Axiom i3) to a BP/W system and I'm considering the Dive Rite Transplate or Transpac XT, because of all the options in setting it up. I'm 5'10", 199lbs and dive primarily in the cold fresh water of the Great Lakes around Michigan. I typically dive in a 7/8 mm SolAFX wetsuit with 10 lbs of lead and a single HP100 steel tank and 30cf pony bottle. Once or twice a year I dive warm sea water in a 3mm full suit again with only 10lbs lead and an aluminum 80 tank.

I plan to take some intro tek training this year, which may involve using doubles instead of a single tank. Which rig will be most versatile and allow the best, stability and buoyancy/trim control during a dive?
Any advice that will help me decide between a hard or soft BP/W and sizing will be appreciated. Since my budget isn't endless, I need a single solution that will work for both my cold and warm water diving.

 

[eelnoraa]

Transplate is NOT a BC. It is just a type of comfort harness. Transpacs is NOT exactly BP/W system. It is basically a soft fabric backplate with the Transplate harness.

If you are planning into tech training with doubles. Transpac is probably not the solution for you. You should get a metal backplate. Whether you want to use Transplate harness or just basic harness will depend on your training. Some allow comfort harness, some don't. You best bet is to start with basic harness and see how it works for you. They are cheap. If you decide you need the additional adjustment and padding. Then you can buy Transplate or something similar. Chances you will be very happy with the basic harness.

 

[ruscat]

Th

Transplate is NOT a BC. It is just a type of comfort harness. Transpacs is NOT exactly BP/W system. It is basically a soft fabric backplate with the Transplate harness.

If you are planning into tech training with doubles. Transpac is probably not the solution for you. You should get a metal backplate. Whether you want to use Transplate harness or just basic harness will depend on your training. Some allow comfort harness, some don't. You best bet is to start with basic harness and see how it works for you. They are cheap. If you decide you need the additional adjustment and padding. Then you can buy Transplate or something similar. Chances you will be very happy with the basic harness.

Thanks for such a quick reply. I realize the Translate is just the harness. I should have mentioned the I was considering it paired with a 6# backplate. I may take you advice and try just a basic harness first and see how it goes. I can get a plate and basic harness relatively cheap.

 

[tbone1004]

I'd start with a basic harness and plate system and if for whatever reason you decide you need a more complicated harness, then spring for it. I dove Transplates for years until I got my Deep Sea Supply backplate and because the length was right, I was able to go back to the one piece harness and much prefer it. I don't see any comfort changes especially in thick wetsuits and drysuits. If you decide you still want/need one, then you can get the Transplate fairly inexpensively from Northeast Scuba Supply