Zeagle Zeus and Zena couple: opinion?

[Lorenzoid]

I'm not unhappy with my current BC, but I am considering a true "travel BC" because I find that the vast majority of my diving involves flying to a warm water destination with my dive buddy, my wife. My wife started using a Zena last year and really likes how much less bulky and lighter it is than what she had been using, both in the water and when packing for travel. I am envious.

Should I buy a Zeus?

I realize there are many "travel BCs" to choose from, but I see an advantage in having a BC that is nearly identical in construction/operation to my dive buddy's. Thoughts on this perceived benefit? Thoughts on the Zeus in general?

 

[scubafanatic]

I'd wait until Zeagle releases the 'Poseidon'.....

 

[Lorenzoid]

I'd wait until Zeagle releases the 'Poseidon'.....

I can't find any info on the Poseidon BC (Poseidon reg, yes, but BC?). We've got a trip to Indonesia coming up in June, where we're going to be doing some rainforest exploring and other activities in addition to diving, so I'd like to buy a travel BC within the next month.

 

[claymore]

You may also want to look at the Zeagle Express Tech. It is very light, packs very small, very comfortable, inexpensive, will fit almost any one and is very expandable with add ons.

I can get my whole kit (except for fins), Regs, computer, mask, BC with 4-5# weight pouches, 6' SMB, small light, save-a dive kit, skin and a 3 mil shorty wetsuit with room left over for a smallish camera in one carry on bag.

There are several threads on this board about the Express Tech that talk about it's virtues.

 

[ScottZeagle]

I'd wait until Zeagle releases the 'Poseidon'.....

I can't find any info on the Poseidon BC (Poseidon reg, yes, but BC?). We've got a trip to Indonesia coming up in June, where we're going to be doing some rainforest exploring and other activities in addition to diving, so I'd like to buy a travel BC within the next month.

I believe that scubafanatic was joking...we don't have (or plan to add) a Poseidon BC.



If you like the Zeus, go for it!!!

Thanks,

Scott

 

[ScottZeagle]

You may also want to look at the Zeagle Express Tech. It is very light, packs very small, very comfortable, inexpensive, will fit almost any one and is very expandable with add ons.

I can get my whole kit (except for fins), Regs, computer, mask, BC with 4-5# weight pouches, 6' SMB, small light, save-a dive kit, skin and a 3 mil shorty wetsuit with room left over for a smallish camera in one carry on bag.

There are several threads on this board about the Express Tech that talk about it's virtues.

I almost said the same thing, but in the original post he states that he wants his BC to be similar to the one his wife is diving, so the Zeus is probably the better choice.

Scott

 

[DiveMaven]

We were on a boat with a guy who had a Zeus (first time I saw one in action) and he raved about how easy it was to wear, travel with, and dive. He echoed my remarks about my Zena about it never moving once it's properly adjusted and tightened, and really preferred it to a BC with a cumberbun.

Honestly when I first saw the design of the Zeus I thought it was a little silly looking, but when the guy had it on, it looked like he wasn't even wearing a BC since the front panel blended right in with his wetsuit.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Thanks for the replies, especially from Scott. So it seems that nobody who actually dives a Zeus has replied with either words of praise or criticism, though there are a few threads on SB in which someone said they like it. Also, nobody has voiced an opinion on whether having a BC that's built identically to one's buddy (releases, etc.) might be of any benefit. Those were the things I was looking for.

That said, the Express Tech is one to consider along with the Zeus, and I've now read through many of the threads discussing it. There almost seem to be more fans of the Express Tech than the Zeus, though maybe that's due to the buzz surrounding a relatively new and different product and/or a bias toward tech gear that I often detect on SB. It's quite the minimalist BC, and buying a new BC with fewer features than my current BC is sort of counterintuitive. It seems I have a lot to think about before I make a decision.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Hey guys, I've been reading all the threads on both the Express Tech and Zeus, and now that I have really thought about what goes into a BC, I have some very basic questions about BC design.

I've never really thought about it much before, but what is the intended purpose of the traditional cummerbund on a BC? Tech setups like a BP/W and tech-light BCs like the Express Tech don't have cummberbunds but rather only a belt/buckle. If a belt/buckle is sufficient to keep one's BC on and is not totally uncomfortable, then why the heck did pretty much every traditional BC for the last several decades have a huge cummerbund AND a strap/buckle? I guess my assumption has always been that having both a cummberbund and a buckle is to provide redundancy, to ensure that the thing does not come undone unintentionally. But is that really it? Or is the thought that distributing the securing force across a greater surface area of a well-padded cummberbund decreases discomfort? Or maybe the relatively large surface of a cummberbund against one's abdominal area provides friction that resists against the BC riding up? Or something else? I have not seen any comment on SB to the effect that setups that have no more than a simple belt and buckle, like the Express Tech, are uncomfortable.

Maybe this is really a question for Scott. The Zeus has no cummberbund but does have that abdominal/chest pad with the zipper. I would guess that the intended purpose of having that pad rather than simply a belt/buckle is to improve comfort and/or provide a frictional securing effect similar to that of a cummberbund. If comfort has something to do with the intended purpose of the Zeus pad, then I have to wonder how well it serves that purpose. What I mean is that if the comments on SB about the bare-bones Express Tech are any indication, then it probably doesn't make a big difference in terms of comfort whether there is a padded cummberbund, an abdominal/chest pad or a simple belt. The only comments I have seen on SB about the comfort level of the Express Tech were positive.

Reading the threads on the Express Tech, I see some people recommend the crotch strap accessory to prevent the BC from riding up. Doesn't a crotch strap interfere with comfort and cause inconvenience in donning and doffing the BC? I want a BC that's lightweight and packable (it's going to spend a month riding in my backpack around Southeast Asia in June-July) yet comfortable in the water and easy to use. A crotch strap?--I know that tech divers use them, but they didn't teach us about crotch straps in Open Water.

That said, I am warming to the idea of the Express Tech Deluxe (with the padding--my wife loves the lumbar pad on her Zena and says it makes all the difference).

 

[swordfish66]

I want a BC that's lightweight and packable (it's going to spend a month riding in my backpack around Southeast Asia in June-July) yet comfortable in the water and easy to use. A crotch strap?--I know that tech divers use them, but they didn't teach us about crotch straps in Open Water.

That said, I am warming to the idea of the Express Tech Deluxe (with the padding--my wife loves the lumbar pad on her Zena and says it makes all the difference).

... think you're heading into the right direction. Regarding your backpacking travel plans, I think that every gram or ounce counts.

A crotch strap shouldn't be inconvenient. It keeps your rig from riding up on your back.