I'm looking at two different bcds. Both are Seaquest. One is the Pro QD which is what I'm leaning towards because I've only dived with the vest style BCD when renting gear from my LCD and of course I am comfortable with. But I also looked at the Balance which is back inflation. Looking through the boards a lot of you seem to like the black inflation. I'm just looking for a description of the difference. Why so many of you enjoy the back inflation? What are the advantages?
back inflation vs vest???
- Thread starter JFras30
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I don't have experience with the BC's your speaking of, however, I do have experience in a jacket style and back inflate BC.
The jacket BC was fine, though it seemed to fit loosely through the shoulders and such, i.e., unable to be tightened down or snugged up comfortably. It also had the cummerbund bit around the abdomen which I found to be uncomfortable for surface swimming because it didn't allow me to breathe well with air in the BC. Other than the feeling the tank was floating up on the bottom when it was lower on air, the BC did exactly as I was intended.
The wing set up I am diving with now eliminated the cummerbund squeeze that I experienced, the tank float feeling and the loose feeling in the upper part. The reasons are that the rig basically fits like a hiking back pack with a waist strap and single tanks are double strapped (one in the upper 1/3rd and one in the lower 1/3rd of the tank) to keep them tight to the configuration.
Both BC styles I used have had ample places to clip gear to. Both were light weight and easy to travel with. Trim and bouyancy was easy to achieve with either BC as well. It just boiled down to comfort while diving for me.
The jacket BC was fine, though it seemed to fit loosely through the shoulders and such, i.e., unable to be tightened down or snugged up comfortably. It also had the cummerbund bit around the abdomen which I found to be uncomfortable for surface swimming because it didn't allow me to breathe well with air in the BC. Other than the feeling the tank was floating up on the bottom when it was lower on air, the BC did exactly as I was intended.
The wing set up I am diving with now eliminated the cummerbund squeeze that I experienced, the tank float feeling and the loose feeling in the upper part. The reasons are that the rig basically fits like a hiking back pack with a waist strap and single tanks are double strapped (one in the upper 1/3rd and one in the lower 1/3rd of the tank) to keep them tight to the configuration.
Both BC styles I used have had ample places to clip gear to. Both were light weight and easy to travel with. Trim and bouyancy was easy to achieve with either BC as well. It just boiled down to comfort while diving for me.
RICHinNC
Contributor
My first bcd was the Pro QD and it was a fine piece of equipment. The things I didnt like about it was that it always moved up on me because the cumberbund could never be tightened enough......and it did not travel well, very bulky.
I decided to go to the DR TransPlate because when I looked at the Balance I didnt think it would travel as well as the TransPlate.
I have been very happy with my decision and of the two you are looking at suggest the Balance if you plan to travel much at all. And, if you are willing....go to a bp and wing like the TransPlate if you want the ultimate in travel convenience and performance.
I decided to go to the DR TransPlate because when I looked at the Balance I didnt think it would travel as well as the TransPlate.
I have been very happy with my decision and of the two you are looking at suggest the Balance if you plan to travel much at all. And, if you are willing....go to a bp and wing like the TransPlate if you want the ultimate in travel convenience and performance.
laserdoc
Contributor
Just bite the bullet and get a Zeagle ranger!!!! You will be glad you did and so will all your friends!!
sasscuba
Contributor
laserdoc:
or my personal preference...Zeagle Brigade.
lamont
Contributor
The air-bladder that wraps around your diaphram seems like a major design flaw of the jacket BC to me. I helped to tow back a guy a year or two ago who was complaining about not being able to breathe (and working himself into a panic which looked strikingly like exactly what I'd seen in my Rescue course) because of an overinflated jacket BC.
Jacket BCs also often have a lot of excess padding and other stuff which requires more lead to offset it. The less there is of a BC, the less lead you need to make it go down...
Jacket BCs also often have a lot of excess padding and other stuff which requires more lead to offset it. The less there is of a BC, the less lead you need to make it go down...
Diver Dennis
Contributor
True Lamont but I've been using a jacket BC for quite a few years and have never had a problem. I weigh about 190 and use 8 lbs with a 3/2 full. I also use the SeaQuest Unlimited Pro which has a lot of padding.
My advice is to try both styles and see what you like best.
My advice is to try both styles and see what you like best.
Island Hoppa
Guest
bar none, back inflate! i dive with the zeagle brigade, great bc. check out zeagle, or just go to scubatoys.com. good luck.
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I use a Balance, but used the ProQD during my OW classes... as mentioned previously, the main difference is comfort. The jacket seems to get in the way on the ProQD and it's extremely bulky while the Balance is totally out of the way, there's no cumberbund, just a nice strap that you can adjust to your liking. Basically you're wearing a harness with a bladder behind you.
As far as the Zeagle products... I found the fit to be very similar between the Stilletto and the Balance the deciding factor was the weight release system on the balance worked better for me.
As far as the Zeagle products... I found the fit to be very similar between the Stilletto and the Balance the deciding factor was the weight release system on the balance worked better for me.
I should add that neither of my BC's had integrated weight, I chose to use a seperate weight belt versus an integrated system. I've since dropped the weight belt with the change to steel tanks. In the event I do use AL's I slip 4-5# onto my BC to offset the bouyancy.
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