I purchased the Outlaw BCD before a trip to the Caribbean and wanted to share a review for others considering the model. I was drawn to it in my LDS because of its small size and modular sizing. I am an airline employee and frequently travel standby which can be a nightmare if you have to check bags. I wanted something even smaller than my DiveRight TravelPac that I can put in a backpack. The Outlaw looked like it would be just that and I purchased the 25lb wing, L backplate, M shoulder and waist straps. I'm 5'9, 160lbs, 30" waist. The sizing and fit was quite comfortable.
Diving with the outlaw in boardshorts and a rashguard was about as close to diving naked as I care to be. The BCD felt very streamlined with little drag. The padding was just enough to be comfortable without increasing bulk. I'm very happy with the model and think it suits my needs well.
It does have a few areas for improvement and things to consider. I missed having metal D rings to clip onto. There are loops in the webbing that can be clipped to but it did not seem as easy as metal to metal. I used double end snaps to clip to the loops and it worked, but is not ideal. I will continue to investigate other solutions for future trips. The plastic carabiner that is included looks a little cheesy and I didnt use it. There are no pockets for storage, so you will need to clip everything or find an attachable pocket. I felt a little like a Christmas tree with a small SMB, camera, flashlight, backup mask, and a phone case all dangling form clips.
I liked the tank buckle system and it made changing tanks quick and easy. Even with just 1 strap, my tanks stayed secure and never moved or jostled. Unfortunately, the setup lacked anywhere to place a trim weight and I usually like some weight towards the top of the tank. The best solution I found was using a tank strap from an old conventional BCD that a dive shop had. Slip this around the top of the tank before setting up and it worked well. I only needed about 3 lbs of weight with this system to be neutral and trimmed, and I could have put all 3 lbs on the tank strap. (Since my buddy was diving with unfamiliar equipment and still perfecting buoyancy, I chose to keep 2lbs on the back and 2 on a weight belt that i could offer if needed.)
One other area for improvement is the bottom dump valve setup. The release runs through a loop. I will probably reroute the release so that its more accessible and easier to pull. I found that a on a few dives, a bit of air got trapped in the wing and would not expel from the top, so it was necessary to invert and pull the lower dump.
Overall, I am very happy with the BCD. Its at a great price point and probably the smallest, lightest solution I have seen. Its definitely designed as a travel BCD meant for warm water, and to trim weight and bulk, lacks any extras. The modular sizing facilitates a great fit and you can remove pieces to save on space. It does fit into an under-seat cary-on backpack with my reg, masks, and boots. I probably would not recommend this setup to new divers, or those that want something more versatile for dives in any conditions and climates. As an extremely small, compact, lightweight travel BCD intended to be used in warm water, it was very comfortable and streamlined; I am very satisfied with the performance and recommend the model for divers with similar requirements.
Diving with the outlaw in boardshorts and a rashguard was about as close to diving naked as I care to be. The BCD felt very streamlined with little drag. The padding was just enough to be comfortable without increasing bulk. I'm very happy with the model and think it suits my needs well.
It does have a few areas for improvement and things to consider. I missed having metal D rings to clip onto. There are loops in the webbing that can be clipped to but it did not seem as easy as metal to metal. I used double end snaps to clip to the loops and it worked, but is not ideal. I will continue to investigate other solutions for future trips. The plastic carabiner that is included looks a little cheesy and I didnt use it. There are no pockets for storage, so you will need to clip everything or find an attachable pocket. I felt a little like a Christmas tree with a small SMB, camera, flashlight, backup mask, and a phone case all dangling form clips.
I liked the tank buckle system and it made changing tanks quick and easy. Even with just 1 strap, my tanks stayed secure and never moved or jostled. Unfortunately, the setup lacked anywhere to place a trim weight and I usually like some weight towards the top of the tank. The best solution I found was using a tank strap from an old conventional BCD that a dive shop had. Slip this around the top of the tank before setting up and it worked well. I only needed about 3 lbs of weight with this system to be neutral and trimmed, and I could have put all 3 lbs on the tank strap. (Since my buddy was diving with unfamiliar equipment and still perfecting buoyancy, I chose to keep 2lbs on the back and 2 on a weight belt that i could offer if needed.)
One other area for improvement is the bottom dump valve setup. The release runs through a loop. I will probably reroute the release so that its more accessible and easier to pull. I found that a on a few dives, a bit of air got trapped in the wing and would not expel from the top, so it was necessary to invert and pull the lower dump.
Overall, I am very happy with the BCD. Its at a great price point and probably the smallest, lightest solution I have seen. Its definitely designed as a travel BCD meant for warm water, and to trim weight and bulk, lacks any extras. The modular sizing facilitates a great fit and you can remove pieces to save on space. It does fit into an under-seat cary-on backpack with my reg, masks, and boots. I probably would not recommend this setup to new divers, or those that want something more versatile for dives in any conditions and climates. As an extremely small, compact, lightweight travel BCD intended to be used in warm water, it was very comfortable and streamlined; I am very satisfied with the performance and recommend the model for divers with similar requirements.
