TransPac II

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chrpai

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Location
Cedar Park, TX
# of dives
I just don't log dives
I normally dive an el cheapo Seaquest BC ... it was cheap and has met my needs for the last 3 years.

This last week I was diving in Cozumel and I had an opportunity to dive a few days with a TransPac II. I noticed a couple of annoyances, and I wanted to see if anyone else noticed this, or if I'm just way off base.

The first thing I didn't like was the placement of the inflate button on the LPI. It was on the opposite side that I'm used to. Normally I use my thumb for inflate and my index finder for defalte. I couldn't figure out a good way to hold it and still be able to hit the inflate button. Am I missing something?

Also another thing I didn't like was the placement of the velcro strap that retains it along the sholder strap. It seemed way to low. I looked at a picture of the Halcyon and its way back behind the wing. On the transpac I couldn't hold up fully the LPI in a straight line because of the placement of the restraint. I had to either use the rear dump or the (yuck) pull dump. Again, am I missing something here?

For the diving I'm doing today, I'm still ok with my stab jacket, but I'm starting to give thoughts to an upgrade, and right now the transpac doesn't seem like the way to go. Perhaps a BP/W (yikes!) really is in my future.
 
I have the Trans but I have a Halcyon Eclipse wing so I can not help you with the inflator thing but I did find the velcro pretty much useless (because of exactly what you are descibing) so I do not use it, instead I am going to attach my hose with bungeee cord so I can dump when not using the rear one.

I like mine, I find it to be stable high quality and it works for me but I am sure you going to hear just go with a BP/Wing and get it over with.
 
Strangely enough, I was looking to do an upgrade/changeover to a Transpac, but just this week, while checking around here and pricing out stuff, the BP/W switch went off in my head, and that's the direction I'm headed towards. More me, probably an S&W BP with a DR Trek wing. Never thought it'd happen, but here I am!
 
chrpai:
The first thing I didn't like was the placement of the inflate button on the LPI. It was on the opposite side that I'm used to.
OMS, Oxycheq and others are also set up this way. *shrug*
Normally I use my thumb for inflate and my index finder for defalte. I couldn't figure out a good way to hold it and still be able to hit the inflate button. Am I missing something?
I use my index finger to dump and the palm of my hand to inflate. I just give it a quick squeeze to add some air. You would probably have more control using your fingers but I haven't had a problem.

Also another thing I didn't like was the placement of the velcro strap that retains it along the sholder strap. It seemed way to low. I looked at a picture of the Halcyon and its way back behind the wing. On the transpac I couldn't hold up fully the LPI in a straight line because of the placement of the restraint. I had to either use the rear dump or the (yuck) pull dump. Again, am I missing something here?
Yep, you're missing the fact that all DR wings have a pull dump. ;) My assumption is that they expect you to use the pull dump primarily and positioned the velco strap accordingly.
Perhaps a BP/W (yikes!) really is in my future.
Recent weather reports from hell indicate an odd cooling trend. :D
 
cornfed:
Recent weather reports from hell indicate an odd cooling trend. :D

Not really, first all I'm going to continue using my jacket style BC. However if I resume cold water diving ( unlikely ) I will move to some type of harness / back inflation. I wanted to know if my complaints were unfounded. Seems I could always put a different inflator on a dive rite wing and be ok with it. But then again economics may just say screw it and go to a BP/W.
 
I have a trans pac II and use the Rec Wings for cold water and the travel wings for warm resort diving. I use the velcro for my power inflator, but most of my diving is in open areas, If I am on in a confined area, I just put the low pressure hose in the velcro and leave the BC inflator hose out. This keeps it in place well enough and provides enough movement to dump air above my head. As far as the dump button placement, I replaced it with a Zeagle Octo +. Haven't had any problem with the alternate air and like the one less hose (also use a hoseless computer with a backup pressure gauge stuffed in BC waste band. Had to make an emergency accent when a buddy's second stage froze from about 40 feet, I didn't have any problem dumping the air on the assent that everybody seems to be discussing about on other threads about the Octo/BC Inflator combinations.
 
chrpai:
But then again economics may just say screw it and go to a BP/W.
You can probably pick up a BP/W for much cheaper than a transpac. If you look around you can pick up the BP and harness pretty cheap and after adding the wing you'll be out around 300-350.
 
Check Leisurepro for Transpac prices. They are the cheapest.

I use my velcro with no problems at all. I like that it keeps the inflator from hanging down too far. I've also replaced the inflator with an Air II. No button problems there either.

I just started using the integrated weight pockets with my TP - very, very comfortable.
 

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