need info on travel bc

[vann evans]

my wife and I are going on a live aboard for the first time. We think we are interested in buying lighter weight travel bc's. we currently use a ScubaPro Classic and ScubaPro Pilot for our warm water diving. I weigh 170 and she weighs 135. We are used ti using weight belts and like to have pockets available for misc. accessories.

any suggestions or info would be appreciated.

thank you

Vann and Laura

 

[tbone1004]

so, long answer, but here goes.

Your current BC's weigh approximately 7lbs for the pilot, and 10lbs for the classic, they are at minimum 2lbs positive at the surface, so you are carrying an extra 2lbs of lead just to offset the BC. Not good.

If you are wearing exposure protection when you travel, you are best off going to a SS backplate and wing setup where you will be able to shed that weight without actually carrying any more weight.

DRIS Dive Gear 28lb BP/W System | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL - Dive Right in Scuba
Something like this will weigh about 12lbs but will allow you to remove 10lbs from your weight belts. If you want to switch to a more comfortable harness so it is comparable to your existing shoulder straps you can go with something like the Dive Rite Transplate which DRiS will allow you to substitute in that package. The Elite 2 harness is similar but I prefer the Transplate and it is made in US which I prefer. Total with the backpads and the upgraded harness is $480. Backpad is only necessary if you are not going to be diving it with any exposure protection, so even if you have a 3mm vest on it is enough to keep your back comfortable.

Transplate XT Travel Package - Dive Right in Scuba
Similar package but will weigh in closer to 6-7lbs total and still allow you to take about 5lbs off of your weight belt.

These all dry much faster than normal BC's and they are generally thrown in carryon rollaboard type pieces of luggage where they fit almost perfectly.


Travel-Pac BCD - Dive Right in Scuba
Another great option that is a bit less change from where you are now, weighs in less than 6lbs total, but will not remove any lead from your current configuration. It keeps the soft backplate though. This is less versatile than the above configurations and limits you to single tank diving, but if you have no intention of moving to doubles it does save money.

One nice thing about the Trianta system on a liveaboard is that with the STA, you can leave the tank on the bench overnight, and with two wing nuts remove the wing and the harness/plate to get it out of the sun and the cam bands will stay where you put them. This helps everything to dry better, but also keeps it from getting unnecessary UV exposure and it takes less time to put the wing nuts on than it does to put cam bands on a tank and get them adjusted to the right height.

 

[drbill]

A SS backplate doesn't seem to be the solution these divers are looking for due to the weight of the backplate and wing. I dive and travel with the same BC (older Scubapro X-Tek and wings of 18-32 lb lift depending on destination). This is very similar to the original Dive Rite harness and wing. These are very light weight and easy to pack. Of course there are probably even better options available in new gear, but I bought enough of the old X-Teks to last the rest of my diving career because I love them.

 

[beaverdivers]

The Scubapro GO is an excellent travel B.C., but it does have weight pockets. The Go is very light, compact and extremely comfortable.

Both my wife & I have been traveling & diving it. We are switching all our training & rental B.C. to the GO.

 

[diversteve]

An Aqualung Zuma is a minimalist travel BC - 4.75lbs. dry weight. It has weight integration but only one pocket on the right side waist strap. Zuma About $300 at leisurepro.com - over $400 from an authorized dealer if you want an AL warranty. It even comes in it's own drawstring bag for travel.

What's a really good deal now is a Scubapro Litehawk - they're $239 currently. Probably more lift than you need but the wing is very low profile. Integrated weight pockets which I guess could double as pockets if you added a belt. It looks like there would be room to clip a 3rd-party add-on pocket to the waist strap also but I've never seen one in person. Slightly heavier but pretty compact for travel. Scubapro Litehawk BC, Black at LeisurePro

The ScubaPro GO is their jacket-style Travel BC. I don't know much about it since that's not my preferred style. Weight integrated also and it comes with a carrying bag as well. And what look like two huge pockets. A little heavier at 6lbs. and how they get the weight down is by using a ligher weight material - 220 Denier nylon vs. 1000 for some of the others. Scubapro GO BC at LeisurePro $479 at LP who is a ScubaPro dealer so probably the same price from yours. Or Casey^.

My last suggestion is one of the travel models made by Zeagle. The advantage they have is Zeagle sells several pocket systems that integrate with it. You can even add their Ziptouch or Ripcord integrated weight systems and still have room to add one or more pockets - they clip on in different places. Both are back-inflate models also.

One is the Express Tech - a modular soft-backplate model that theoretically can even take doubles - it has the capability to add their doubles kit and change to a larger wing. It can maybe still be bought in a very minimalist configuration as the Express from some dealers - the Deluxe currently being sold adds a few comfort things like harness padding. $349 plus add-ons. Zeagle pockets aren't cheap either.

I keep thinking I'll buy one for travel and probably eventually will. I use their Ranger currently. Zeagle Express Tech Deluxe BCD at LeisurePro

Their new travel BC is the Covert - it's designed to roll up like a newspaper. They advertise it's not much bigger when you do. I'm not positive what pocket systems are available for it but I believe there is at least one option - a dealer would know. It's about the lightest travel BC I've seen at 3.9 lbs. Seems to come with the Zip-Touch weight system in this ad for $429. Pretty new model just released this year IIRC. Zeagle Covert BCD at LeisurePro Some of the Zeagle line are not as modular - for ex. this one doesn't use their PFS (Personal Fit System) to lower the price. Ounces count so they use Delrin d-rings instead of steel also.

Pocket options for the Zeagle line: Accessories I don't see why some of them couldn't be used with other BC's as well. Dive Gear Express also sell clip-on pocket options that could be used with any of these^. https://www.divegearexpress.com/bcs/pockets.shtml

I see Cressi Travelights mentioned also in this area. That's all I know of them.

 

[halocline]

my wife and I are going on a live aboard for the first time. We think we are interested in buying lighter weight travel bc's. we currently use a ScubaPro Classic and ScubaPro Pilot for our warm water diving. I weigh 170 and she weighs 135. We are used ti using weight belts and like to have pockets available for misc. accessories.

any suggestions or info would be appreciated.

thank you

Vann and Laura

Look at the deep sea supply kydex plate and tropical wing. That's a very nicely designed set up that weighs very little, takes up very little space in luggage, and dives beautifully, WAY better than any jacket BC in my opinion. You can put pockets on the waist belt, the xs scuba cam band pockets work very well for weights, and there are other types of pockets for carrying stuff. However, I would suggest carefully considering anything you want to bring on a dive, figure out what's really necessary, and then determine the best way to carry it.

Another real winner would be a freedom plate, those are compact, hand made by a SB member, and a small oxycheq or dive rite wing, with a simple webbing harness. That oxycheq 18 lb machV wing is terrific.

Either of these set ups would be much more travel-friendly than what you have, and be more fun to dive with (again, my opinion).

 

[diver 85]

Short answer here---I'd go with a DR or DSS type BP/W, either on an alum plate.....call Edd @ Cave Adventurers(for DR info) or call Tobin for DSS info....good luck....google either one for their digits....

---------- Post added October 9th, 2014 at 02:15 PM ----------

The Scubapro GO is an excellent travel B.C., but it does have weight pockets. The Go is very light, compact and extremely comfortable.

Both my wife & I have been traveling & diving it. We are switching all our training & rental B.C. to the GO.

Just saw where there's one for sale on the use equipment page right now.....

 

[rongoodman]

Unless you absolutely can't make the weight limit, I'd just take what you're used to diving with. Once you get on the boat, you're going to set your gear up and never mess with it again until the end of the week, when you pack to go home. I routinely travel with my SS plate and wing, these days with a rebreather too, which means three regulators.

 

[lamarpaulski]

Rongoodman has good point and related to that point is you do not want to show up on Live-aboard with totally unfamiliar gear...so try to practice with anything significantly different from usual gear you buy...at least in a pool. Bc is pretty important safety-wise.

 

[Imla]

I have just spent the last week diving a Halcyon Traveller. 5lbs light. Works like a standard BPW. (Although, no option of doubles) 30lbs wing. Comes with padding if wanted, and installing a pocket is easy peasy.
What I really like about it is the weightsystem that allows you to put the lead blocks (4lbs beltblock fits in each pocket) into 4 pockets that are secured on the plate itself. This means that you do not have ditchable lead, but if your are properly weighted, it shouldnt be a problem. Very easy to get good and balanced trim in this rig.