Help with BCD Decision

[Mike126]

I've been away from diving for the past 3 years due to some sinus issues. Hopefully now I can get back into the sport. Before I left I had a Zeagle Brigade but sold it after a few years of not diving. Now it is time to start looking for new gear. I liked the back inflate over the traditional vest and will definitely stay with that setup.

I am looking to purchase a BCD over the next several months. I don't do a lot of diving, maybe one trip to warm water per year and maybe a couple of quarry dives (not my most favorite). For freshwater I carried about 22#'s of weight with the Brigade with a steel tank and 7mm wetsuit and hood etc.

I'd like to get some feedback on the options I'm looking at. I’d like to keep my budget to around $475 max since I am purchasing a regulator and guages:

1. Brigade (35# wing, integrated weight pockets, bungeed wing)
2. DR VoagerPac (35# wing, soft back plate, no bungees)
3. Hollis Ride (37# wing, soft back plate, bungeed wing)
4. BPW (I’ve seen several DR, Oxycheq, Hollis packages with a 30 – 40# wing, aluminum plate, and deluxe Hog harness)

I have never dove a true BPW but after diving the Brigade I think I might like it due to the minimalist setup and overall fit.
Would a 30# wing be too small for freshwater dives since I am carrying at least 22# of weight?

Do bungeed wings offer any real advantage?

Thanks for your help

 

[CT Sean]

I can't comment on any of the BC's besides #4 as that is what I have (and like).

30# wing is a pretty common size for cool water, single tank, 7mm wetsuit type diving. The amount of lead you carry is only relevant if it's in integrated weight pockets (as in carried on the BC itself). The standard response to "how much lift do I need?" is:
The wing has to do two things: 1. Compensate for the buoyancy change of suit compression and gas use and 2. float your rig without you in it - should you ever need to remove it for some reason.
There's a wing calculator link in the sticky at the top of this subforum , The "Ultimate" wing lift calculator that helps determine lift requirements based on gear configuration

I can't comment on bungeed wings either, other than around here I most often see the term "bungeed wing" immediately followed by "of death" . For something in the 30 lb range, I can't imagine why you'd need to bungee it.

 

[robertarak]

The information above about wing size is good. On the issue of bungied wings, the design is to force the gas out of trapped areas in oversized wings. The downside is gas is forced out of any area it can. That mean if you have some failure, the gas will be forced out of that point. Without the bungie, even with an OPV failed open or removed, you can maintain gas in the wing by putting the failure point at the lowest point of the wing. This keep the gas in the wing. The real solution for the trapped gas in an oversized wing is to not have an oversized wing.

 

[Mike126]

Hey guys thanks for the response. I think I am actually leaning towards the Zeagle Brigade again. It is simple enough and seems to serve my purposes well. I will see if any of the LDSs in my area have any of the BPWs to look at as well. After using the online lift calculator, a 30# wing should be fine for me.