Frustration with LDS and BC purchase for woman

[Zoef]

I am a newbie and have been lurking here reading all of our helpful posts. I am interested in buying my first set of gear and would like to purchase a BC. Everyone on this board says to go to your LDS and try on a bunch of BCs to see which fits you best. This is where my frustration comes in.

I haved looked through this fourm and come up with a list of womens BCs that I would like to try on. I have visited no fewer than 5 LDS (I am in the NYC metro area) and none of them have any inventory. Each seems to have one brand in stock and often not in any more than 1 or 2 sizes. When I ask about other brands that they supposedly carry, I always get the brush off. For example, one of the BCs I would like to try on is the Zeagle Zena based on all of the comments on here. The Zeagle website shows a handful of dealers in NYC that carry their products (one of which is the shop through which I received my certification). So I called the shop asking if they had any womens BCs in stock. They responded that they had the Oceanic Isla. When I specifically asked about the Zeagle, they said "oh that is not a very good BC, people don't like it".

I just cannot figure out for the life of me how you all manage to try on your BCs - other than ordering a bunch off a website and then sending some back. I am so exhausted by this search and my LDS - all of which seem to be interesting in pushing one particular manufacturer on me regardless of my own interests. I would appreciate those of you who are more experienced letting me know your thoughts on what to do. Thanks.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Call scuba toys and talk to Larry. He's on this board. As an oceanic dealer I'd recommend the Isla but there is nothing wrong with the zena. I do prefer oceanic's weight release system but I would never tell you the zena is not a good bc. I'd rather you try both on, and then let me describe the features of each and guide you that way. Both are good, solid rigs. It may be necessary for you to get outside the city to get the service you need. I've been to NYC once and maybe it's my country upbringing but I'm not used to people being so pushy about selling me something when I know what I want or would at least like to see. I prefer a laid back approach as opposed to the "dis is da best we got, why would youse wanna even look at someting else?"

PS I am Italian so don't take it as a slam against us dago's. Ciao.

 

[spectrum]

Zoef,

You have run smack dab into the wall that many of us find. The logic of try before you buy is sound but not always practical, however it's with going the extra mile.

I got lucky, I tried a friends Sherwood Avid pre-certification standing in a sweatshirt. It had the features I wanted and it's worked out very well for me. My wife on the other hand went through 4-5 different rigs at different shops before falling in love with her Seaquest Diva LX. She had very specific dislikes about the others and they became apparent only in the water.

The same is usually true for renting before you buy. Most rental gear that we see is the basic non-integrated stuff. Perfectly good and safe rigs but not what I see most divers buying.

Keep in mind that your perfect BC may not be a womans model. Many ladies do fine in the standard rigs and some have found that the womans cut works against them.

So how do you find BC paradise? Fortunately you are on the coastline. I''d cast a wider net to find some full service stocking dealers. Posting on the Mid-Atlantic Bottom Feeders forum here at SB may get input from some members that miss this post. If my wife could find rigs to try here in Maine I'm sure you can in your region.

Be sure to spend plenty of time in the BC forum getting a handle on features and styles you want. Remember that your ideas may change when you get into the water.

Is there any chance of drawing on what you certified in? Did you like that BC? Do you know the make, model and size?

Good luck,
Pete

 

[Damselfish]

I can only sympathise. There's a decent number of dive shops around here but when I was looking for a new BC a few years ago I ran into the same thing. One here, one there, maybe. One shop offered to get in the model/size of one I was interested in so I could try it on. Another said the one I was looking for should be in soon and they would call. Neither shop called like they said they would. I tried to order something I was interested in from LP which was one of the few places that seemed to be carrying it at the time, and after awhile they finally called me and said the computer said they had one but they couldn't find it. I did finally find something I liked at a well stocked shop locally I'd never been to before.

Buying things at LP has it's pros and cons, lots of threads about them to read if you haven't. But they do have a lot of variety so if you're actually in NYC and haven't checked them out yet it might be an idea. If they don't have something out on display they are supposedly happy to get things out of their warehouse area for you to see. If you go to leisurepro.com there is even a "designed for women" option on the BC search that turns up a bunch.

If you have a list of candidates, I'd suggest calling ahead to see if places have what you want to try to save running around. And while it's a good thing to just be able to go someplace and see and try these on, there are good on-line retailers that will work with you. Ordering a few and returning the ones you don't like is certainly an option, the shipping could normally add up but some might work with you on that if you buy from them. Another thing you could do is post models and sizes here that you're looking for, maybe you would get lucky and find a helpful person on here in your area that has it and willing to meet up. Or find some local dive club where you might be able to find the same help.

 

[Charlie99]

You could always use the lack of local availability to justify a trip down to Florida.

Seriously, SE Florida and the Keys are blessed with many competitive dive shops and a good portion of my dive gear was purchased in Florida.

 

[DiveMaven]

Wow, how frustrating! Have you checked Leisure Pro's brick and mortar shop? They might have a big variety of BC's that you can try on. If that doesn't work, call Larry at ScubaToys for sure. He'll figure out what size you wear and ship you a Zena that would work. Then you can try it on, wear it around your house, and really get a good feel for it. If you don't like it, send it back. Yeah, it's kind of a pain, but IMO worth it to get the right BC the first time.

As most on this board probably know by now, I'm probably the biggest Zeagle Zena fan on earth, and I recommend that ladies looking for a BC try one. I'm not so stupid as to think that the Zena is for everyone, but I do think they are worth TRYING.

JimLap said he likes the Oceanic's weight pocket system better than Zeagle's. My biggest beef with most integrated weight systems is that they rely on a removeable pocket. After having one of my husband's weight pockets on his BC fall out in 700 feet of water and not being able to catch it, I'm not sold on this design anymore. Not only did he have to continue the rest of our trip (liveaboard) without a weight pocket, but he had to put his weights on that side in his regular pocket. Then when we got home, we had to pay $25 for a new pocket.

Zeagles simply rely on a cord being pulled and the weights falling out of the bottom of the pocket. At no time do any parts come off the BC and the most you'll lose are weights, not an expensive pocket. Just my 2 cents.

Whatever you do, don't compromise on your BC. A lot of us bought the wrong BC the first time out and it was more of a hassle to sell the old one and start a whole new search than it would have been to get it right the first time.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Another option is to see if anyone here on the board who is in your area has one they would let you try. That way you get to meet a new dive buddy, get some diving practice and find out if a particular BC works for you. While you're trying BC's you might see if anyone has a BP/wing they would let you try too.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Bobbin-along]

I asked the LDS. He says that for Scubapro, Aqualung, and a couple of other brands the store's local rep either has a model/size you need and can bring it in to try on, or will send one to the store so you can do it. It's a matter of the store and their relationship with their rep. If they can't/don't want to do that, then definitely cast a wider net.

I went through the exact same thing, so I feel for you.

 

[FredT]

There are 2 items I'd suggest,
First off if you want to try a Zena and can't find one, go send a PM to the owner of Zeagle over on spearboard.com. Strangely enough his board name is Zeagle. He should be able to put you in touch with someone who'll have one.

Secondly I'd consider a backplate system as it has less "stuff" to get in the way of your "stuff". My wife prefers hers to all other BCs, of course I did design one to fit her.

FT

 

[Ber Rabbit]

There are 2 items I'd suggest,
First off if you want to try a Zena and can't find one, go send a PM to the owner of Zeagle over on spearboard.com. Strangely enough his board name is Zeagle. He should be able to put you in touch with someone who'll have one.

FT

I'm betting ScottZeagle from here on Scubaboard can help you, may be the same guy FredT is talking about. Click his name to send him a PM.
Ber :lilbunny: