Transpack with a MachV ?

[Glub000]

Would anyone happen to know if a OxyCheq Mach V 30# wing will fit a Dive Rite Transpack harness? Does this require a STA or any additional gizzmoes? Would the Dive Rite travel 30# wing work just as well? It doesn't seem as stream line. I'm going to do single tank diving in a both warm and cold climates, 3ml to 7ml wetsuites and eventually a dry suite. Thinking of beginning wrecks and possible novice caverns. This seemed like a fairly adaptable set-up and it appears many of you really like the Mach V. Thought about a bp/w but I have a bum shoulder with limited range of motion. Any thoughts, comments, advice or dirty jokes are welcome. Thanks, Glenn

[Landlocked Amphibian]

I think the Mach V is a better wing. If you are going to be using a 7mm wetsuit and eventually a dry suite, you will probably want the extra weight that would be provided by a SS backplate. As far as the bum shoulder and range of motion is concerned you can get the Transplate Harness, which is almost the same harness that is on the Transpac, but you attach it to a backplate. There are a number of other companies that also make a similar harness.

As far as you question about whether the Mach will work with the Transpac, I am not sure. I have never actually seen one in person so I will let someone else answer that question.

[DJCAREY]

I use both the tranpac and backplate. If you are going to be switching wetsuit and drysuit often I would go with the transpac. The webbing is easier to adjust for the amount of thermal protection. This years, and maybe last years Mach V requires a tank adapter. You might be able to find some of the older ones with the cutouts if that what you want. Just ask around. The Mach V extreme has the cutouts.

[Landlocked Amphibian]

Originally Posted by DJCAREY

I use both the tranpac and backplate. If you are going to be switching wetsuit and drysuit often I would go with the transpac. The webbing is easier to adjust for the amount of thermal protection. This years, and maybe last years Mach V requires a tank adapter. You might be able to find some of the older ones with the cutouts if that what you want. Just ask around. The Mach V extreme has the cutouts.

The Transplate harness or similar product with a backplate will be just as easy to adjust as the Transpac.

According Oxycheq's website, the Mach V doesn't need a STA. The description of the Mach V Signiture wing on ST says that it doesn't have slots for the cam straps, but if you read the reviews it does have these slots. ST just has not updated their description.

[Aquatrax]

I faced the same questions as you and went with the Transplate harness and Mach V wing. The stability of the hard backplate and stainless STA just feels more secure.

i too have a bum shoulder and the transplate harness is a breeze to don/doff.

IMO, fine choice for Rec diving

[Landlocked Amphibian]

Another option would be to take a standard hog harness and spend an extra couple dollars on some quick release buckles. This could save you $100 over the Transplate harness and give you the easy access you need. Some people will also only use one buckle. They will slide their arm into the side without the buckle and then buckle up the other side. However, this makes it a little harder to adjust if you are changing exposure suits a lot.

Another thing to consider is just the price of the Transpac. If price is no issue than this doesn't matter, but the Transpac is $400. You can get a full setup with plate, wing, cam bands, and harness for around $460 from DeepSeaSupply. I think there wings are comparable to the Mach V and in some ways better. I also just want to say that I am not trying to talk you out of the Transpac, I just want to make sure that you know all of you options.

[CWSWine]

To answer your question - I have the Transpac and the Mach V wing and yes it will mount on the Transpac by just using the cam bands. ST description of the Mach V is incorrect and the version of the wing that is shipping currently has cam bands. I emailed them twice and talk to several employees back in Dec and Jan about descriptions of couple products being incorrect and they haven't change them yet. I know of one sale of the Mach V wing they lost because of the description being incorrect and probably a lot more sales. If you email the manufacture they will tell you that the one without cam slots are the old style wings and the new ones have cam bands.

[Glub000]

Thanks for the help everyone. I hadn't really looked at the Transplate, I'll check it out. An instructor showed me the Transpack and it seemed like a much nicer option than the jacket style BC that I was origanally looking at. CWSWine, how do you like the set up? Any pros, cons or possible changes in the set up that you would make? Is the 30# wing enough? I would think a 40# is overkill.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Glub000

Thanks for the help everyone. I hadn't really looked at the Transplate, I'll check it out. An instructor showed me the Transpack and it seemed like a much nicer option than the jacket style BC that I was origanally looking at. CWSWine, how do you like the set up? Any pros, cons or possible changes in the set up that you would make? Is the 30# wing enough? I would think a 40# is overkill.

The TransPac was way ahead of the standard BC but I have switched to a SS BP/Wing. I'm feet heavy and moving weight upwards over my lungs really made a difference in trim. The pros are is you can switch out wings, use it for side mounts, it will do doubles and from what I have been told it just OK but a BP/Wing is perfered method (I have not dove it with doubles). Cons is cost with the weight pockets and trim pockets and accessories pockets it can dive the cost up.

[Glub000]

That helps alot. I've only tried to put on a BP/W once without any proper advice. Thats probably not a fair test drive. I read that adjusting it to fit different wet suits or dry suite was a pain. Do you need to adjust yours often or do you dive the same setup most of the time? Opinions on the transplate is an option?