BCD for women

[jponline77]

My wife is looking for a good BC. She has narrowed it down to three choices:

1) Zeagle Lazer - Very new and very little information out there on it. Haven't yet found one in our area to try it on so not sure how it will fit.
2) Zeagle Zena - Many good reviews on this BC but the front zipper seems odd. Also, haven't been able to try it on.
3) Mares Kaila - Jacket style BC but has a very back inflate quality to it. It also is very non-intrusive and gives a "squeeze" only when completely full (not a situation too likely to occur during a dive). Also has good weight integration system and fits well on her. One she has actually been able to try on.

I know a few people will suggest BP/W but I don't think she's into that at the moment. Maybe after a few years of experience.

Does anyone have some advise or experience that would help her narrow down the search? We really haven't been able to find anything bad about any of these BCs.

Vote for the BC she should go for...

Thanks for the help!

 

[TSandM]

You haven't gotten many answers yet.

I can't speak about the Zeagles, because I don't think I've ever seen one. But I can talk about fitting BCs to women. I am a small woman (5'4", 120 lbs, and small framed) and I had the dickens of a time finding something that fit. I eventually bought a women's small back inflate BC, but it never really fit very well. The tank was always moving around on my back, and it was uncomfortable AND added to my difficulties with buoyancy and stability underwater.

My mentor lent me a backplate and wing setup to take a class, and from the first dive, I was completely sold. After the class, I told Bob, "Give me a price on the rig, because you aren't getting it back." Thus my vote. It's the infinite adjustability of a harness that's the biggest selling point for women, I think.

 

[BabyDuck]

i had a mares journey for a few months. i couldn't get the shoulder straps snug enough.

my advice would be to make sure that whatever she gets (assuming bc, because as lynne said above bp's are pretty much infinitely adjustable) is adjusted to somewhere in the 'middle' of possible adjustments (middle of the cummerbund, middle of the shoulder strap snugness, etc) while she's dry in the store, so it has somewhere to go when she's wet & it needs adjusting.

 

[spectrum]

Well of the choices the Kaila gets a vote simply because she got to try it on. Trying is a must a pool dive is good and an openwater demo dive is ideal. Unfortunately getting a BC one would really want to buy nto open water is a rare advantage.

Don't be overwhelmed by the BP/W faction here, it's not the way most of the world dives and it is in no way needed to be a fine recreational diver. It's a platform for tecnical diving that also translates into a fine recreational rig enjoyed by many. It's all good. I am convinced that for most BP/W single tank converts the WOW factor is because their former jacket BC never fit right or was inappropriate for them in sytle.

My wife is fond of her Seaquest Diva LX and it consistently gets high reviews. It is a jacket with a wing element. Having the wing element it will try to do a face plant if you really pump it up on the surface and did not consider your weight placement. I've used it in a pinch and it's cool.

Pete

 

[Jinjer]

I just switched from a Dacor Xtremelle to the Seaquest Diva, and so far I have been really happy with it.

We did get the Zeagle Zena for our 14 year old daughter. The zipper just helps make the BC more secure. It is a similar concept to other women BCs. For example the Dacor Xtremelle had a neoprene jacket that helped keep the BC from moving. My new Seaquest also has something similar, just no zipper. The only thing I have noticed with the Zeagles is that due to the placement of the valves, it is more difficult to dump all of the air.

 

[scubatoys]

All are great choices! I have not dove them ( I’m a 6'7'' 285lb guy! Now that would be a ugly sight ) so all I can go on is what is the best selling for us and the Zeagle Zena is by far the best selling! My wife loves hers, she likes the fact that she can change size and color just by switching the front.

The Mares Kaila comes in second, the women that try it on say it very comfortable!

Then we have the Zeagle Lazer it is ideal for the woman who wants a lightweight but rugged system, for both travel and local diving that doesn't compromise on features.

So now I have a new poll for you who wants to see the freak in a Zena? (Just kidding!)

Joe

 

[Debraw]

The Mares Kaila has indentions cut out for the hips. It has extra padding for support in the lower back and around the neck. It is heavier duty and I think adds more overall support than the Zeagle Zena. We sell both. I sell more Mares Kaila's will compared side by side. The Zeagle Zena is a back bouyancy and the Mares Kaila is a vest inflation. It's kind of hard to recommend one over the other because they are two very different BCD's.

 

[Chad Carney]

I put a vote in for the new Lazer, because a friend of mine got one this year and likes it better than her Zena.

Like Joe, I have not tried on a Zena, but do dive the Zeagle Stiletto, which was modified slightly for women, creating the Lazer.

Chad

 

[suthnbelle]

My advice is for her to try on and dive as many different BCs as she can. That is what I did my first year certified and finally settled on a bp/w. I think I tried on and dived at least seven different BCs before buying. The bp/w was my first and only BC. For me it was a smart choice. I have the Dive Rite Venture wing for a single cylinder, Alum bp, and traditional harness which is the single piece of webbing. Dive Rite has different harnesses she could check out if she wants to go in that direction. http://www.diveriteexpress.com/bcs/ Plenty of other manufacterers that have bp/w but I'm recommending the Dive Rite gear because that is what I dive and can speak for.

 

[DiveMaven]

I have to say that although I voted for the Zena, there is no ONE BC that is best for every woman IMO. Hands down the BC that fits best and that the diver is most comfortable with is the RIGHT one.