43 replies to this topic

[Cold_H2O]

I never thought of the travelability side when I purchased my gear. It looks like I might have to go out and purchase another BC for travel. While my big bulky (lots of D-rings and gear holders) BC is great for local trips. I am not looking forward to the supersized bag I will need when dive traveling..

[OilfieldTrash]

I never thought of the travelability side when I purchased my gear. It looks like I might have to go out and purchase another BC for travel. While my big bulky (lots of D-rings and gear holders) BC is great for local trips. I am not looking forward to the supersized bag I will need when dive traveling..

Just get a bigger bag and bigger forarms! It's alot cheaper:D

[Bubble2Bubble]

Colleen your story is like mine. I bought what I thought I needed for local
diving. I dont travel that much but when I do I didnt think that bag size and weight
was going to make a differance but it does! thats why on a boring cold nasty night in arkansas I decided to find out what the hell I could do to make my bag lighter.
and it came down to the BC. at first I thought of just taking the tank mount and put the harness on it and use party favor ballons as a floation device. but then I thought no some disgruntel porkupine fish might have a feild day with me popping the ballons all the time . so it was off to the internet where I found a horse colar BC :lam: Hmmm I said I'll just pony-up and buy the right BC for my needs. so it was off to SD.com to post a thread and what a wealth of info I have now

Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 25 February 2005 - 06:39 PM.

[cincin]

I think Traveling is a real issue! I don't check my gear as I don't want to arrive at my destination with out it. I currently take my mask, snorkel and Reg with computer in my carry on! I've been leaving my BC at home because of the bulk issue as well. Call me a germaphobic but I've gotten respiratory infections many times after using rented gear before I bought my own.

I'm going to check out your BC suggestions!

Do any of you carry on and get the third degree from the security screeners? Like I'm going to beat someone with a rubber hose!!! I know it's for our own safety! But you think they'd get some training on what some of these items are!

[drbill]

I use the Scubapro X-Tek with the TravTek wing. It is pretty compact (essentially SP's version of the Dive Rite Transpac). Very nice. I got two of them used on E-Bay.

Dr. Bill

[fbp]

Yeah, there's another "Traveling" Thread around here somewhere, like "What do you checkin and what do you carry...

Believe most carry Reg/Computer/Mask/camers
Checkin BC/housing/strobes etc... as you can always rent that and the rest..

[lollystoy]

Can anyone recommend a good streamline one for women? I'm interested in getting a new one. I have a zeagle now.

Thanks!
Laura

[Bubble2Bubble]

Laura
Jim has put some pretty cool links up here. there steamline for sure.

Check out the DiveRite Transpac with Travel Wing. I remove the tank bands roll up the wing and it ends up pretty small.

http://diverite.com/...cd/transpac.htm
http://diverite.com/...ells.htm#Travel

B2B

[Bubble2Bubble]

Well I ended up with a Mares Jubilee BCD from my LDS.
Longdistance Dive Shop that is!
Its really what I was looking for. a winged bladder, tank holder, straps, and 4 D rings thats it. its half the size of my old BC. now i need a dive trip to go on to test it out.

B2B

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Time for a resurrection of this thread! 5 years have passed since this thread started, and there are a lot of new travel BC's on the market. Since many of us travel to dive, a nice travel BC is essential.

I dive a Zeagle Zena (and love it - lots of D-rings, zip front & very compact) but due to my excessive "bio-prene", it's a bit snug. My LDS recently had a big 4th of July sale, so I went to see if I could find a deal on a second BC. I tried on everything in their shop, but did not like ANY of them the way I like my Zena, and they were all bulkier and less travel-friendly.

My decision? I've gotten serious about reducing my bio-prene.....and keeping my cool travel-friendly Zena!

Has anyone recently found a great travel BC they want to share info on?

[georoc01]

I've been traveling with my BP/Wing for a while now. The only difference is which wing to pack depending on the type of diving I am doing.

My buddy has been traveling with a travel BC, a Mares Alikai which has been a disaster as far as the weight pouches go. She lost one and we blamed it on user error, but during our last trip, the entire weight pocket assembly broke free. This after about 25 dives. And at the LDS, they showed out how you can pack it up in a small package for travel, something she hasn't been able to reproduce.

So I think she is looking to switch to a BP/Wing too.

[WreckWench]

Back plate and wing all the way. They weigh less than most bc's, they make you trim in the water. They are durable, they take weight off your waist and move it to your back and you usually need less lead to sink as they don't have a lot of extra bulk or padding. They don't take up much room and Heidi aka uwfan just got a great travel bag that she packed ALL her dive gear and travel clothes in that she was able to CARRY ON THE PLANE!!!

(Be looking for that bag on SD VERY SOON!)

Also you can use the same bp/w for your local heavy duty diving as well as your traveling light weight diving. And you can get the wing in RED or PINK for those that are interested.

It is the best investment in timeless dive gear that I have made and we have AWESOME deals with DeepSeaSupply and OMS and some with DiveRite.

Let us know!

[MNJoe]

I will also add that the back plate and wing is great for travel.

And of course it is modular, over time, I have collected pieces that I can mix and match for the different diving that I do.

[scubaski]

I have a hybrid back- plate wing, 24 lbs of lift from wings , more than enough for my warm water travel needs. Back plate is of soft flexible material with some extra cushioning against back and shoulder straps. I have add on basic weight pockets and a few D-rings. I do not use a crotch strap. Unit packs very flat and very lite in weight. I can pack all dive equipment from BPW, regs and safety gear except for knife and fins ( fins have traveled in personal item couple times) and clothes for a week easily.

I'm interested in learning more about Heidi's and new SD.com carry-on bag.

[fbp]

Yep, back plate all the way.
While mine is stainless with weight packs attached, they have the Plastic or whatever ones that are lighter and easier to pack.

As KK mention, those new dive packs where you can pack everything as a carry on are great, unless you're a photog or have to carry other things.. but they are nice..