Genesis Recon 75

[Tamas]

I have Genesis Recon that I have used for that 2 years and about 220 dives. It is holding up very well and is extremely durable. The weight pockets are very functional and capable of holding 30 lbs of weight if required. The weight pouches stay very secure as long as the velcro is kept clean.

I added the optional backplate to accomodate doubles and this works very well and further improves already excellent stability. It adds about 6lbs of weight and is designed with standard 11 inch spacing for the double bands. It also has a very useful set of perimeter holes and accomodations for a wider crotch strap. The downside is that it is a little on the spendy side at about $180 for the plate kit and the included (whether you want it or not) single tank adapter. When added to my original, $490 cost for the Recon, it makes for a very spendy BP and wing. Genesis also sells a redundant bladder system for it for another $270, but I have never seen the need for this.

I have zero complaints with my Recon it and cannot really find any reason to replace it other than the fact that it is a little bulky for traveling. When I do eventuallly replace it I will probably go with a backplate and an OMS comfort harness or a Dive Rite Transplate harness with a 60 lb wing. Both OMS and Diverite offer weight integration options that, while not quite as slick as the Recon's weight system, seem pretty useable. This will give me a BP and wing with the same relative comfort as the Recon with the utility of a BP and wing for a lot less money even after the weight integration is added. And my existing Genesis single tank adapter should fit if I ever see the need to use it.

It is also an option that you could consider now if you are thinking you will be using doubles in the future. The biggest negative of the Recon is that it is not designed to accept doubles without the optional plate kit. That is not immediately obvious and if I had known that when I bought it and known the cost of the plate kit, I would have probably went with a regular BP and wing.

Do you have a few pics of your Recon all decked out with the backplate and tanks? (mounted, unmounted, plate from angles) I would really like to see the setup once the plate is in, since I have wondered what it's like many times and have been thinking of adding it to my rig.

Please, pretty please!

 

[giles45shop]

Do you have a few pics of your Recon all decked out with the backplate and tanks? (mounted, unmounted, plate from angles) I would really like to see the setup once the plate is in, since I have wondered what it's like many times and have been thinking of adding it to my rig.

Please, pretty please!

I wish this post would have been a couple days earlier. I just bought my second used Recon (one for my 12 YO daughter, one for me) a couple days ago. Mine came with the Genesis back plate kit and a set of double bands.

The back plate goes in between the wing and the vest part of the BC, with another stainless piece about 2.5 inches X 12 " long that goes on the inside of the vest. Two bolts go through the eyelets in the vest and into another couple of square stainless pieces about 2" X 2" that slide into the slots on the back of the BC where the Cam bands would normally go on a single tank set up. The back plate looks like a normal stainless back plate, except it has a couple 2" X 2" holes that line up with raised squares in the vest to locate everything.

The stainless bolts mentoned aboved are threaded through the 2X2 squares to clamp the vest between the inner plate and outer plate. The double tank bands are attached to the portion of the threaded bolts which extend out past the 2X2 plates.

It sounds complicated, but it's really not and looks to be well-engineered.

I can try and get a couple photos this weekend of the disassembled set up, but since I just spent an hour or so converting back to a single tank set up I can't get photos of the assembled unit. I'm not diving doubles (yet), so I don't have a double tank rig to show with it.

It looks to be pretty well thought out and sturdy. It's certainly heavy enough with all that stainless.

I haven't dove either one yet, but I'm really pleased with the overall quality and fit. I also extremely happy with the deals I got. I paid $100 for the XS for my daughter from another SB member and $100 for my large with the doubles kit and the singles set up from my LDS. Both are about a year and a half or two years old and in like new condition. The only drawback is that they both have the velcro integrated weights as opposed to the clip type on the new ones.

I'll try and get photos for you.

John

 

[Tamas]

Any luck on those photos yet? Perhaps even measurements?!

 

[giles45shop]

Whoops! Guess I'm way overdue to get this done. I'll try and get in done in the next couple days. What measurements would you be interested in?

As a follow-up, I've used the Recon twice so far and really like it. One thing I've noticed is that the wing tends to separate from the harness when you don't have a tank attached. It's not really a big deal, since when you put the tank in and pull the cam straps tight it snugs the harness right up to the wing. You just have to watch and make sure that the raised 2" X 2" square in the harness locates into the square 2X2 opening in the wing as the straps are pulled tight.

This is not an issue with my daughter's Recon, as it doesn't separate. I'm guessing that mine is that way because of the doubles kit. I'm thinking about putting the doubles kit stainless steel backplate on and just using the STA that came with it. That way the everything stays together, even without the tank, and I can drop another few pounds off the weight belt.

John

 

[Tamas]

PM-ed ya! John