My review of the Triple-L Instructor BCD. I have just gotten back into diving after twenty years. My experience with jacket style BCDs (I used to use a horse-collar) is limited to four rentals, which were all so worn it was not readily apparent who the manufacturer was, though I am pretty sure that one was a ScubaPro (ScubaPro dive shop) and one of the others was a Dacor.
Ive used the Triple-L in three multi-hour pool sessions and four quarry dives. It seems to be extremely rugged and well made. When I began shopping for a BCD, I was confused by the different styles, manufacturers, and reviews. I wanted to purchase my own BCD because I wanted it to fit properly, be better than rental adequate and be maintained properly, also I like having my own toys (mine, mine, Mine). I had just spent a large amount of cash on the rest of my other gear (including a dry suit) and I was worried about spending $400.00, or more, buying the wrong BCD. I decided to buy a less expensive BCD to use while I was relearning diving and learning about the different types of BCD and their respective manufacturers. This less expensive BCD would be only temporary (a year or so) until I figured out what next to purchase. In light of positive results, I am having second thoughts regarding the temporary status of my new Instructor BCD.
Triple-L seemed to have the lease expensive products on the market so I started to do research on their BCDs looking for the Triple-L BCD with best reviews and customer satisfaction. This proved to be (in my opinion) their weight-integrated Stratos BCD. When I went shopping on their website, I noticed their Instructor BCD which is essentially an upgraded version of the Stratos BCD. In addition to the normal features of the Stratos, the Instructor has five more pounds of lift, safety sausage, extra pouch and Im fairly sure a different waist strap. In one review, I read of the Stratos waist strap being difficult to tighten and tended to loosen up (on the Triple-L website the pictured BCDs do seem to have different waist straps), I had no such difficulty with the Instructor BCD.
I know, I was taking a chance buying the BCD that I have never seen or tried on, but I like to experiment and Im frugal (other people use less kind words). Using the Triple-L size charts, I decided to buy a size medium. I stand 510.5 and had a 35 waist (up to 36 now, still fits but I got to get back to the gym). The Instructor cost about $9.00 more than the Stratos, for a total of $159.30 and 3 day shipping (in the U.S.) was included. I believe the price since then has gone up a little bit.
I have been using the Instructor with a Bare dry suit. It has been reliable and done everything I have asked of it. I believe it to be very rugged but I only have a few dives with it. I have had no problems with the weight drop pockets slipping out (secured by Velcro only), but they are so inexpensive from Triple-L, I just might order a spare set. I have been doing some violent maneuvers (flips, rolls, etc.) experimenting with the dry suit, but the pockets have remained secure. It has not been an uncomfortable BCD in or out of the water, by this I mean that it is secure on my body and nothing pokes or jabs me. Other much more experienced divers have examined the BCD and have had no adverse comments, most have also questioned my initial decision to only temporarily use this BCD. Most have often said something along the lines of it looks good, why buy something else when this is working for you.
Feature list of my size medium Instructor/ and my opinion/.
7 Stainless Steel D Rings /Good locations except for one right above the fanny./
2 large side pockets with Velcro closures /Ive seen other BCDs with less and a few with more storage./
2 smaller zippered pockets in the flaps of the large side pockets /Ive been using one of them to hold my knife./
40 pounds of lift /I wanted extra to play it safe./
2 rear trim pockets on either side of the tank /Easy to load and secure, the manual recommends only putting in 3.3 pounds in each pocket. Ive used 4 pounds, but now that Ive trimmed out properly, Im only using 2# in each pocket./
2 drop pockets /Ive been using 8 pounds in each pocket, the manual states a maximum of 8.8 pounds in each drop pocket. I need 32 pounds to dive with my dry suit and I trim out better with 12 pounds on a weight belt./
Comfort Level / I have nothing negative to say about how comfortable this BCD is, Ive worn and used four that were worse and tried on one (in a shop, a SeaQuest Pro QD) that was more comfortable. The Instructor is secure (very important to me) on my body and nothing pokes or jabs me./
Oral/Power Inflator /Works fine, doesnt leak air. When you pull on the corrugated hose, it dumps air./
2 manual dumps /Located on the upper and lower right of the BCD. They work fine and are easy to utilize./
Extra pouch /This item is pretty useless for me. It attaches to the sternum strap and hangs down the front on you chest. This pouch, if I would ever use it, would cover up the inflator button of my dry suit./
Safety Sausage /It works, but I havent used it on a dive yet. It straps to your right shoulder and is a little bit bulky. If I ever do use it I would probably shove it in one of the large side pockets./
2 Tank Straps /These hold the tank very securely, never had a problem with the tank shifting./
Rigid Carrying handle /It works, what more can you say./
Well thats my review, if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them.
Tom
Ive used the Triple-L in three multi-hour pool sessions and four quarry dives. It seems to be extremely rugged and well made. When I began shopping for a BCD, I was confused by the different styles, manufacturers, and reviews. I wanted to purchase my own BCD because I wanted it to fit properly, be better than rental adequate and be maintained properly, also I like having my own toys (mine, mine, Mine). I had just spent a large amount of cash on the rest of my other gear (including a dry suit) and I was worried about spending $400.00, or more, buying the wrong BCD. I decided to buy a less expensive BCD to use while I was relearning diving and learning about the different types of BCD and their respective manufacturers. This less expensive BCD would be only temporary (a year or so) until I figured out what next to purchase. In light of positive results, I am having second thoughts regarding the temporary status of my new Instructor BCD.
Triple-L seemed to have the lease expensive products on the market so I started to do research on their BCDs looking for the Triple-L BCD with best reviews and customer satisfaction. This proved to be (in my opinion) their weight-integrated Stratos BCD. When I went shopping on their website, I noticed their Instructor BCD which is essentially an upgraded version of the Stratos BCD. In addition to the normal features of the Stratos, the Instructor has five more pounds of lift, safety sausage, extra pouch and Im fairly sure a different waist strap. In one review, I read of the Stratos waist strap being difficult to tighten and tended to loosen up (on the Triple-L website the pictured BCDs do seem to have different waist straps), I had no such difficulty with the Instructor BCD.
I know, I was taking a chance buying the BCD that I have never seen or tried on, but I like to experiment and Im frugal (other people use less kind words). Using the Triple-L size charts, I decided to buy a size medium. I stand 510.5 and had a 35 waist (up to 36 now, still fits but I got to get back to the gym). The Instructor cost about $9.00 more than the Stratos, for a total of $159.30 and 3 day shipping (in the U.S.) was included. I believe the price since then has gone up a little bit.
I have been using the Instructor with a Bare dry suit. It has been reliable and done everything I have asked of it. I believe it to be very rugged but I only have a few dives with it. I have had no problems with the weight drop pockets slipping out (secured by Velcro only), but they are so inexpensive from Triple-L, I just might order a spare set. I have been doing some violent maneuvers (flips, rolls, etc.) experimenting with the dry suit, but the pockets have remained secure. It has not been an uncomfortable BCD in or out of the water, by this I mean that it is secure on my body and nothing pokes or jabs me. Other much more experienced divers have examined the BCD and have had no adverse comments, most have also questioned my initial decision to only temporarily use this BCD. Most have often said something along the lines of it looks good, why buy something else when this is working for you.
Feature list of my size medium Instructor/ and my opinion/.
7 Stainless Steel D Rings /Good locations except for one right above the fanny./
2 large side pockets with Velcro closures /Ive seen other BCDs with less and a few with more storage./
2 smaller zippered pockets in the flaps of the large side pockets /Ive been using one of them to hold my knife./
40 pounds of lift /I wanted extra to play it safe./
2 rear trim pockets on either side of the tank /Easy to load and secure, the manual recommends only putting in 3.3 pounds in each pocket. Ive used 4 pounds, but now that Ive trimmed out properly, Im only using 2# in each pocket./
2 drop pockets /Ive been using 8 pounds in each pocket, the manual states a maximum of 8.8 pounds in each drop pocket. I need 32 pounds to dive with my dry suit and I trim out better with 12 pounds on a weight belt./
Comfort Level / I have nothing negative to say about how comfortable this BCD is, Ive worn and used four that were worse and tried on one (in a shop, a SeaQuest Pro QD) that was more comfortable. The Instructor is secure (very important to me) on my body and nothing pokes or jabs me./
Oral/Power Inflator /Works fine, doesnt leak air. When you pull on the corrugated hose, it dumps air./
2 manual dumps /Located on the upper and lower right of the BCD. They work fine and are easy to utilize./
Extra pouch /This item is pretty useless for me. It attaches to the sternum strap and hangs down the front on you chest. This pouch, if I would ever use it, would cover up the inflator button of my dry suit./
Safety Sausage /It works, but I havent used it on a dive yet. It straps to your right shoulder and is a little bit bulky. If I ever do use it I would probably shove it in one of the large side pockets./
2 Tank Straps /These hold the tank very securely, never had a problem with the tank shifting./
Rigid Carrying handle /It works, what more can you say./
Well thats my review, if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them.
Tom
