any info on IST BCD's?
- Thread starter jvevil
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prandyulo
Contributor
In the Philippines, it is 20% less (complete with harness and SS backplate $480)than Halcyon with materials and quality of workmanship about par. The design is also very similar. The dive shop that distributes it rents it at less than $5 a day just to try it out and the rental is with comfort harness and 2 utility pockets. The Cosco price you quoted is even lower than the price here and worth it for me to buy it there if the price already includes the backplate.
prandyulo
Contributor
I was referring to a BP/W; and I noticed you were referring to a BCD jacket. My mistake.
IST were/are a manufacturer for a some of the big brands for a long time. I had an IST BCD for a while a few years back, perfectly reasonable piece of basic kit, although I had to re-design the attachment for the integrated weight pockets as they kept falling out - sold it to a DMT who then used it for a couple of years, so it was well-enough made. It's always a balancing act between price and value, but I reckon (and it's an entirely personal opinion) that with a no-name manufacturer like IST you get a little bit more than you pay for, with a lot of the big-name brand stuff you get a little bit less...
As with any piece of kit, it really comes down to whether it'll do the job you want it for and whether it's comfortable to wear and use. As a basic BCD the IST'll do the job, so just make sure it's comfortable for you!
Grae
larry mckinnon
Registered
Here is a report on my Costco IST Proline booties. I was around my Costco and saw them selling scuba stuff, you know I'm going to stop. They had a pair of boots, the price being so good I couldn't resist. I really didn't need them, i just wanted them, especially at around $29.00. The end of September I have them in Mexico for a 5 week dive trip, my wife calls it a vacation. I use them about 5 times a week, swimming with fins and scuba diving around 5 times. They start to fall apart. Wow, never have I seen that happen with boots. My old pair I was replacing were Tekna's, very old and very used, but still work fine. My Tekna's appear to have outlived my new IST Proline Titanium Costco boots. So I try to find them, can't. I read on a blog they are located in Taiwan. So that is the end of those boots, they laminated by the way, not worth the effort to keep looking for them. My bottom line, never buy something unless it's made in the country you live in or at buy name brand product direct or through your LDS. I purchased a new Oxy Cheq Wing, when I had a question, i sent an email to Oxycheq, Peter answered the same day. So something I have always known, the cheapest is sometimes the most expensive. If they haven't figured out how to laminate something, I sure don't want anything else
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koozemani
Contributor
try looking for reviews at seavenger.com. they carry ther IST brand
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