Transpac vs. BP for recreational

[ronrosa]

Sold my Seaquest Balance.

Have been researching the Transpac II with travel wing. Almost every post I have read on the Transpac, the backplate setup gets mentioned. I must admit the BP/wing has me curious, but it seems like overkill for the single tank, warm water recreational diving I do. I prefer a weight belt so the integrated weight systems don't matter.

I regularly change from a 5mm to a skin from trip to trip. How easy is it to adjust the BP harness ?

I don't anticipate ever diving doubles. Pricing doesn't seem to matter as I can get a new Transpac II with travel wing for $340, which is about what a BP setup would cost.

Opinions ? Please no flames about the Transpac being stroke gear.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I own and dive an AL backplate, a steel BP, and a Transpac, so I can pick & choose the best harness (for me) depending on the dive and the tanks.
I use the Transpac for singles and occasionally light doubles, the steel BP for light (85's & smaller) doubles and the AL for 104's.
With the Transpac, I use the travel wing with singles and the Rec wing with light doubles.
Rick

 

[Tavi]

I Dive BP and wings in open water, whether it's singles or doubles, Drysuit or wetsuit. I don't re-adjust between diving my drysuit and diving my 3/2 wetsuit although I probably could use a little more room with the drysuit. I do remove the crotch strap for warm water wetsuit dives. In warm Caribean waters I enjoy my Heavy BP and 27lb wing with no weightbelt.
I have 2 plates and a few different wings so there is always a combination that works.


I like the BP and wings much better than the TP-II

 

[ronrosa]

I don't use much lead. 4lbs with my skin, 10lbs with my 5mm.

If I'm shooting video, no lead with my skin and 5lbs with my 5mm.

I guess that means an aluminum backplate for me.

The wetsuit thickness difference between a 5mm and a skin doesn't warrant tightening the harness ?

 

[Tavi]

I use 2 lbs less with a BP than I did with the TP-II. I think that the padding has some inherant buoyancy.

I don't think you would need to re-adjust for the difference between a 5 mil and a skin, but that's just my opinion

 

[ronrosa]

My Seaquest Balance was a little small on me. The shoulder straps were almost at their ends. The only way I could get into and out of the BCD were the quick releases. I know adjustable straps and quick releases are failure points. How do you put on a BP/harness without them ?

I can't see myself lifting the tank over my head and sliding into the harness. At least not on a crowded boat.

 

[Tavi]

Over the head donning isn't a good Idea.
If you need adjustments there are other options.
Some use a quick release on the left shoulder.
Also Dive-Rite makes a harness called the transplate. Its the same harness as the Transpac II but it goes onto a Backplate.
Zeagle makes something similar.

I don't find the one-piece harness difficult at all to get in or out of. To get out just pull the D-ring away from your body (like off of your shoulder)with your thumb, then slide your hand under the strap, then away from you. Just one side then slide out of the other.

hmmm. that was interesting trying to picture and explain that!
(probably not very well)

 

[ronrosa]

My minds eye isn't working too well. I'm having trouble picturing the harness being loose enough to get on/off easily while being tight enough to avoid the tank slopping around.

Interesting idea about using a backplate with an adjustable harness. Stability and adjustability. Does the Transpac have stability problems with a single tank ? I noticed with my Seaquest balance an Aldora steel 120 moved around a bit.

 

[mwilding]

ronrosa once bubbled...
My minds eye isn't working too well. I'm having trouble picturing the harness being loose enough to get on/off easily while being tight enough to avoid the tank slopping around.

It has plenty enough slack to don/remove until you tighten the belt and crotch strap- then it is as snug as a bug in a rug

 

[RAN]

I have the TP II with travel wing perfect for travel and single tank dives.
can't go wong with either system.