gear i'm looking at buying...what do you think

[iflyprops]

You certainly don't want the Zeagle BC. It's bulky, poorly designed, ill-fitting, has numerous failure points, not streamlined and simply does not perform well.

I'll second the making that up opinion also. Must have never dove a zeagle rig before...you aren't a Halcyon dealer...are you? LOL :54:

Seriously. I have the Zeagle Escape and absolutely love it for warm water diving here in Florida. It's a great travel BC with many strong features. I took the bungee off of it and I gained a few extra pounds in lift as well. Everyone speaks lowly of the ripcord weight release system and how complicated it is...but the truth is its dirt simple and very very effective. In fact I believe a trained monkey could re-rig it in under 5 minutes!

PM me if you have any questions about the escape.

Good luck on your purchase...but choose some different regs, your life depends upon it!

 

[ElectricZombie]

This is the BC we are all refering to:

http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/weba...6&cgrfnbr=964&parentCategory=954&sort=prsdesc

If you fail to see how this product meets my previous description, I don't know what to tell you.

Yes, I have dove a Zeagle rig before...didn't like it at all. I'm not a Halcyon (or any other brand for that matter) dealer.

 

[jonnythan]

It's bulky, poorly designed, ill-fitting, has numerous failure points, not streamlined and simply does not perform well. As suggested earlier, look into a backplate and wing setup from Halcyon.

The Escape is anything but bulky. I actually think it's a fairly well designed BC - as far as BC's go, it's very minimalist and streamlined. It's an order of magnitude less bulk than the Ranger. Ill-fitting? Yeah, cause you've dived one and it didn't fit you right? Right. Failure points... two 2" Fastex buckles hold up hundreds of thousands of tanks every day, it's negligible for most people. The "doesn't perform well" doesn't even mean anything, so how can one refute it?

The fact is you pulled out the "generic list of problems with BC's when compared to bps" and you won't admit it. I dive a Pioneer and think it's quite superior to any BC on the market, but handing over a laundry list of complaints for a BC you've never put on is beyond absurd.

The Escape is sort of the minimalist version of the Ranger. It gets rid of the big pockets, moves to a smaller wing, gets rid of lots of extra attachment points, and simplifies a lot of the strapping. It's pretty gimmick-free. It gets good reviews, and one of my buddies owns one and is quite impressed with it. So was I, and that was during my first dive with my Pioneer. As far as BC's go, it would be one of the first I would choose to wear.

I would agree in recommending a bp/wing setup before the Escape, but if I were a WW, I'd probably think about the Escape first. None of your objections are valid.

 

[blackice]

Aeris Atmos 1 Console with compass 229.95
Viper America 159.95
Dacor Viper Octo 74.95
Zeagle Escape BCD 286.95

As some others mention it's hard to tell if the gear is correct for the diving that you plan to do. Many will assume that you will be diving like they do and rate it against how it would work for them, others will rate it against there gear and some may have issues with certian companies or styles of diving and move towards or away from brands do to there assocation with different groups.

Remember that diving life threating. Being able to breathe underwater is very important. Take the regulators as number one importance - as if they fail nothing else matters .. except your buddies regs!

:54:

 

[blackice]

On other thing to think about and there are many when it comes to buying dive gear. Is to imagine that you are in the water and horizontal. Take a note of what hangs off you, what is going to touch the coral or catch on a wreck. Think about how clear the BC is, does it have a single point of release? Are there many different straps hanging off that would confuse a would be helper? Are there things that you will not need? Many BC's have pockets but many divers dont have anything to put in them.

 

[ElectricZombie]

"None of your objections are valid."

I can't make you see what you don't want to beleive.

 

[Albion]

Many years ago our parents, parents, parents had pocket watches but it would appear most people today have them on their wrists where htey are easy to read, why pay $230 for a computer then put it somewhere it can bash against rocks and coral

 

[firedogut]

Ok i see you point on the computer.

This is why i'm talking here before buying....

Still unsure about the Ranger or Escape BC.
I had a LDS offer me
-- the UWATEX Aladin sport plus wrist computer
--Scubapro Mini VIP Priessure Gauge
--The Zeagle Ranger or Zeagle Escape with the Octo+ (the yellow octo that is part of the BC's hose)
--Dacor Viper.

I've talk to two guys and two different LDS who use the Dacor Viper and they are happy with it. These LDS also sell Scuba Pro, Atomic, and Zeagle therefore i don't think they are trying to push the dacor regs.



Now about the octo that is part of the BC.. anyone use this before?

I can do basically the same set up with a Aeris Atmos 1. Which is better and why.


the divering i will do is mostly in texas. Coldest water is about 54-56 in dec-jan. Also still need more imput on the BC's


thanks guys for the help

 

[jonnythan]

Between the Ranger and the Escape, get the Escape. I'd still recommend a bp with a small wing, though. Chances are you'll be putting the Zeagle on eBay in a year or two anyway, so go ahead to the bp now.... you won't regret it, I assure you.

Whatever you do, DON'T get the inflator-integrated octo. Do a search, it's been covered over and over. Get a real backup regulator.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Well, I prefer the Ranger, although the escape is a nice travel bc. I would go with another reg. Im not a big fan of Dacor. There are better regs out there (Apeks, Aqualung).