Travel BC owners, why?

[Johnboy70_99]

I would guess a large # of people with travel BC's have that as there only BC rather than one of 2+. In that context you get a BC that fits the diving you do, which means that if all (or the vast majority) of your diving is warm water that you have to travel for, the lightweight compact nature of a travel BC is appealing.

This is why I got mine (LiteHawk). I live in MA but only dive in Asian tropics where I work. I have a 3mm wetsuit that I mostly wear just to block the jellyfish stings and sea urchins. The 2 or 3 times I dove here at home were shallow dives and I rented a 7mm suit and wore 22lbs of weight. It wasn’t the most comfortable but it was ok.

I do admit if I was going to choose something now I would probably get a bp/w. I think I had 10 dives total when I bought the litehawk and honestly didn’t know what a bp/w was.

 

[jellycatsdad]

I do admit if I was going to choose something now I would probably get a bp/w. I think I had 10 dives total when I bought the litehawk and honestly didn’t know what a bp/w was.

The Scubapro Hawk series as well as the Hydros family are all back-inflate as well, so when you go to a BPW, you’re already used to the feeling of having the air cell on your back.

I dive a Tusa T-Wing locally here in NorCal. It uses a dogbone aluminum backplate with a 27lb lift wing. It does work surprisingly well locally but I took it down to Catalina with me during the summer. I was able to pack it with my regs and fins in a duffel bag. If I buy a setup more suited for local diving(35-40lb lift wing, steel plate) I’ll hold onto to my Tusa for travel diving.

 

[Nemrod]

It is really hard to live with just one BC or wing/BP.

 

[Mike McG]

It's just a way for manufacturers, suppliers and reviewers to describe that the BCD is small and light. Some people only dive abroad and may wish to purchase the lightest gear so they can avoid airport charges. It doesn't necessarily mean you can only use it for travel but the trade off is usually durability. It's not a case of needing both it's a case of buying what suits your intended diving. It's essentially just a marketing strategy.

 

[TravisD]

My "travel" BC (Zeagle Tech Express) spends most of it's time in the pool, since in a 3mm shorty and a steel HP80 I don't need any additional weight from my metal plate. It tends to be what I bring on the rare occasions that I get to travel, to save a couple bounds in the luggage. If I've driving anywhere, especially cold water stuff, I bring the steel plate rig.