Who has dived BOTH a Transpac II and a BP?

[JohnCollins]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my jacket BC in favor of one of these. People who have one or the other love them, but I'd like an opinion from someone who has experience with both to compare (not someone who is speculating on why theirs is better without trying both - not that speculation is always bad, it's just that there's plenty of that).

I'm not ever going to be a "serious" tech diver, BTW. I might do some "cavern" diving and maybe some easy wreck dives in things with big holes in them. It's not that I can't do serious tech dives at my age (47), it's just that I'm not ever going to accumulate the diving experience and it takes a lot less to peg my excitement meter the older I get .

So the Transpac II seems like not a bad idea to me and owners seem to really like them. I'll dive mostly singles, with the occasional doubles rig maybe a couple years hence. I could go either way, but I'd love to hear about diving comparisons from folks who have owned both.

Thanks!

 

[Mverick]

I have a lot of different backplates... Different wings for either...Duals or Singles... Different set up for single AL80, Single HP100, Hp80, LP108's.... Also different set up for Dual HP100's, HP80's, AL80's, LP108's....

I also have a Transpac 2. With Trek wing....

I haven't use my Transpac all year this year... Had it for 4 years if I remember... Used it before a backplate.... I like my Backplate better for travel and home... It's smaller to pack with a small single wing then a Transpac. Less junk and padding means less weight... Less things to go wrong with the Backplate too....

Basicly I like the Backplate much more then he Transpac....

Others are the other way though... So try both....

 

[Rick Murchison]

I use my Transpac with travel wing for singles, Transpac with Rec wings for light doubles (sometimes). In general I prefer the Transpac for any single tank, BP for doubles. I have removed the extra padding from my Transpac and with travel wing it packs nice & small for travel.
So, from the description of the diving you're contemplating, my recommendation is the Transpac.
Rick

 

[Cave Diver]

I have both.

Haven't used my TPII since I got my backplate. IMO, the bp/w is much more stable and it's much easier to adjust for a proper fit.

I primarily dive doubles. If you have no intention of going to doubles the TPII might be the way to go for you.

If I had to do it over again knowing what I know now, I would have gotten a bp/w for single tank diving and skipped the TPII altogether.

 

[Ari]

I dive the TPII and enjoy it very much.

I have seen people diving, through my LDS, with a TPII + BP for doubles. They like it a lot.

But than again, this might not be the first hand experience you are looking for.

Ari

 

[h2whoa]

I used to dive with a TPII w/ Rec Wings. Worked well for singles and is a great way to slowly move away from a traditional jacket without the shock factor of a backplate. IMO, the Rec Wing is overkill for a single tank and more of a PITA than a blessing. If all you do is dive singles the TPII will never dissapoint however, I would suggest a Trek Wing for singles, enough lift even for cold water and small enough so that it isn't a pain to manage.

In my opinion a TPII with doubles, leaves a little to be desired, I found the rig moved more than I would like however, please be aware that there are some that wouldn't trade their TPII for anything. I have been using a backplate for 6 years now and wouldn't consider going back to a TP harness for doubles.

Although I would probably recommend going for the TPII based on your diving interests consider that if you use a SS backplate you will be able to shed 6 lbs of weight from your weight belt.

 

[JohnCollins]

Maybe I should just make the jump. I don't need to "transition" to the plate through the Transpac, I just wanted to see how folks who used both felt. I really don't want to get both.

I think I'll look into the Halcyon plate because it doesn't need a single tank adapter. Currently, I dive exclusively warm water with a full, 3mm Tilos wetsuit. I'm about to buy a tank, also (never owned one, only rented).

Would you recommend steel or aluminum backplate? With AL80 tank? Since I'm getting the whole enchilada, I'd rather coordinate something intelligent than do it piecemeal. Suggestions? Assume I'm building a configuration just for this warm water, 3mm suit, single tank diving. I think I will eventually move to drysuit and doubles, but it could be a while, so I'd rather optimize for this environment. I'll be able to afford a second plate if I should have a different material later.

Thanks, folks!

JPC

 

[redacted]

JohnCollins once bubbled...
I think I'll look into the Halcyon plate because it doesn't need a single tank adapter. Currently, I dive exclusively warm water with a full, 3mm Tilos wetsuit. I'm about to buy a tank, also (never owned one, only rented).

Would you recommend steel or aluminum backplate? With AL80 tank? Since I'm getting the whole enchilada, I'd rather coordinate something intelligent than do it piecemeal. Suggestions? Assume I'm building a configuration just for this warm water, 3mm suit, single tank diving. I think I will eventually move to drysuit and doubles, but it could be a while, so I'd rather optimize for this environment. I'll be able to afford a second plate if I should have a different material later.
JPC

Halcyon WING has built in STA. The plate is basically the same as any other; except perhaps for the price tag. I suggest you focus on the wing that you want. Then select the plate and STA's if necessary based on weight requirements. I'm using a homemade 5 lb aluminum 1/4 inch plate including STA with a Dive Rite travel wing. With an AL80 and 13cf pony in warm water with .5mm neoprene, I use 2 lb on my belt in SW. In FW, I sometimes add a 3mm shorty to keep from being too negative.

So look at your options from an additional weight requirements standpoint as you make your selections.

 

[mrducks]

bp 4 doubles...transpac 4 single tank. eom

 

[athena]

I've tried the TII with singles and doubles and didn't like it either way.

I find my backplate is far better than the TII for doubles - for stability and overall simplicity. It's marginally more difficult to get into but worth it.

I was also not impressed with the TII on singles, mainly because I don't like double straps, which seem to be quite popular these days and necessary if you don't have a hard backpack on your BCD. Personally I like single strap BCDs with a hard backpack, just seems to keep everything in place better. The TII offers better/more in the way of D-rings than most BCDs and I like the webbing at the waist, for mounting a cannister light and knife, rather than the velcro that most BCDs have, but these are details for me compared to comfort.

Although I've never tried by BP with singles (I don't have an STA) the only disadvantage I could see with it is when travelling and having to add an extra 6lbs to my already too heavy for airlines luggage.

So right now I have a BP for doubles, a Scubapro back inflation BCD for singles (which, BTW has boltholes to mount "smallish" doubles but I've never tried it and up to 46lbs lift) and a Transpac sitting in the closet gathering dust.