Excuse my ignorance, but what are the real differences between these two. Does a backplate just make it more rigid? I think I would opt for the Transpac as I only ever dive warm water and the Transplate looks like it would be a bit uncomfortable without a thick wetsuit.
Transpac or transplate...
- Thread starter Jonty
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BabyDuck
Contributor
i can't speak to the differences, but i *can* tell you that a backplate is NOT uncomfortable, even without a wetsuit!
I have the trans pack and love it. The transplate is a trans pack with a metal back plate instead of the plastic and fabric. I would get just a standard back plate and webbing harness.
TransPac and TransPlate share the same design for the harness. The difference is the softpack vs a metal plate.
The metal plate adds rigidity and extra weight. The rigidity is definitely needed for large doubles, though many swear by it for singles too. The weight is nice since, if you go with the SS plate, that's approximately 6# that you don't have to carry on your waist. I agree with others that a plate isn't uncomfortable in the water. Wore a plate with .5mm, and felt great.
The softpack is padded so is more comfortable top side. Nice for long hikes with minimal exposure protection. For single recreational diving, I find the TransPac very stable. Actually packing for a vacation now, and am taking the TransPac and leaving my backplate at home.
The metal plate adds rigidity and extra weight. The rigidity is definitely needed for large doubles, though many swear by it for singles too. The weight is nice since, if you go with the SS plate, that's approximately 6# that you don't have to carry on your waist. I agree with others that a plate isn't uncomfortable in the water. Wore a plate with .5mm, and felt great.
The softpack is padded so is more comfortable top side. Nice for long hikes with minimal exposure protection. For single recreational diving, I find the TransPac very stable. Actually packing for a vacation now, and am taking the TransPac and leaving my backplate at home.
I don't usually dive doubles and find the SP X-Tek (their equivalent of the TransPac) to be very comfortable and stable... more so than the backplates I've used. Also very easy to pack for travel. I do use a DiveRite backplate when I dive doubles (rarely).
Thanks for all your comments,
I am a DM and looking to do my nitrox / adv. nitrox, but that is as far as I think my technical will go. I will most likely only ever dive singles and normally only in warm water so the transpac sounds like the best option (especially as I rarely dive with a wetsuit).
I am a DM and looking to do my nitrox / adv. nitrox, but that is as far as I think my technical will go. I will most likely only ever dive singles and normally only in warm water so the transpac sounds like the best option (especially as I rarely dive with a wetsuit).
flyguy
Contributor
I've dove with both, used to dive a transpac and now a transplate with a standard web harness. The transpac is DEFINATELY more comfortable out of the water mostly due to the harness but you can get the deluxe padded harness for the transplate as well. The soft pac is more comfortable than a steel backplate but it's hardely noticeable.
I like that the transplate with the basic harness (just like any other regular bp/w) as is much more minimalistic in the water and you don't have the extra shoulder padding and cumber bun to worry about.
I like that the transplate with the basic harness (just like any other regular bp/w) as is much more minimalistic in the water and you don't have the extra shoulder padding and cumber bun to worry about.
ChrisA
Contributor
Jonty:
Why would you take "adv. nitrox"? I thought the only use of O2 over 40% would be for use as a decompression gas. So if you are below a decompression ceiling you don't have access to the surface. Wouldn't you want doubles in that case? If you are using double you will want the backplate.
Just trying to figure out why someone would want to take advanced nitrox class and not want to dive doubles.
Jonty:
For the most part, any wing will fit with any backplate. However, there are definitely exceptions. For example, the DiveRite travel wing will only fit the TransPac. If you have a question on a combination, ask the board and most likely there will be more than a few people who have tried the combination out.
As for mounting the wing to the backplate, there are three ways:
(1) Sandwiched between the backplate and a single tank adapter (STA). The wing is held in place by the mounts on the STA that thread through the mounting holes that are spaced 11" apart on the wing and on the backplate.
(2) Sandwiched between the backplate and the tank. The wing is held in place against the backplate by the tank when cam bands are tightened.
(3) Mounted to the backplate via sex bolts. Short stubby bolts connect the wing and backplate together via the mounting holes.
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