MSilvia
Contributor
According to Aquatec's site, that BC features:
Taking these points one at a time, these are my impressions:
Cordura is in fact a durable material, so it should last you for a while.
The one cell bladderless design is probably a good thing, but the way the cell wraps around the sides will make you slightly less stable than with a back inflate. Still, it's a minor thing, and the jacket style will help you float upright at the surface.
The cummerbund is a matter of preference, and the adjustability is only a selling point if you plan to use different exposure protection or gain/lose a lot of weight. Otherwise, if it fits you, you shouldn't have to make many adjustments.
Stainless steel D rings are good, but only if they're where you want them. I doubt it's possible to relocate them if you want to, and it's hard to see how they're secured. Bottom line, I'd rather have 3 D-rings where I need them than 10 where I don't.
Zippered pockets can be a mixed blessing, as things zipped into them are quite secure, but it can be difficult to open them in a hurry sometimes... especially with gloves on.
Basicly, it looks like it's on the good side of pretty generic, but it's hard to say without trying one on. It should be adequate if all you're interested in doing is open water in favorable conditions.
As for the scubalert power inflator, the horn is a nice safety feature, but I'm wary of the combination inflator/backup regulator. It seems like breathing out of the same device you're using to dump air on ascent while sharing with an out of air buddy might be a lot of task loading for a new diver.
It's probably fine for most recreational dives, but that BC sounds a whole lot like the one I dove for a couple of years and shelved in favor of a better one.
- 1000 Denier Cordura for the utmost in durability
- One cell bladderless design elimiates trapped air cells within the BCD
- Equipped with a comfortable adjustable cummerbund and easy to adjust shoulder straps
- 4 Stainless Steel D-Rings allow you to mount many dive accessory where you need it
- Expandable Zippered pockets allow you to carry medium sized dive accessories
- 2 Over Pressure / Dump Valves (Right rear waist level and Inflator Hose Pull Dump)
- Easy to use Weight Integrated Design eliminates the need for a separate weight belt
- Internal shoulder webbing attached to hard back plate prevents "BCD Sag" when a tank is attached
Taking these points one at a time, these are my impressions:
Cordura is in fact a durable material, so it should last you for a while.
The one cell bladderless design is probably a good thing, but the way the cell wraps around the sides will make you slightly less stable than with a back inflate. Still, it's a minor thing, and the jacket style will help you float upright at the surface.
The cummerbund is a matter of preference, and the adjustability is only a selling point if you plan to use different exposure protection or gain/lose a lot of weight. Otherwise, if it fits you, you shouldn't have to make many adjustments.
Stainless steel D rings are good, but only if they're where you want them. I doubt it's possible to relocate them if you want to, and it's hard to see how they're secured. Bottom line, I'd rather have 3 D-rings where I need them than 10 where I don't.
Zippered pockets can be a mixed blessing, as things zipped into them are quite secure, but it can be difficult to open them in a hurry sometimes... especially with gloves on.
Basicly, it looks like it's on the good side of pretty generic, but it's hard to say without trying one on. It should be adequate if all you're interested in doing is open water in favorable conditions.
As for the scubalert power inflator, the horn is a nice safety feature, but I'm wary of the combination inflator/backup regulator. It seems like breathing out of the same device you're using to dump air on ascent while sharing with an out of air buddy might be a lot of task loading for a new diver.
It's probably fine for most recreational dives, but that BC sounds a whole lot like the one I dove for a couple of years and shelved in favor of a better one.
