In the market for a Travel Lightweight BCD

[diver 85]

BP(alum)/ wing would work(about 5 lbs---mine is anyway)......OR, about the same weight(5.5 lbs) is my Scout BC by Zeagle....

 

[Pavao]

Just curious, WTH are doing with these BCs that you're so worried about a bladder rupture? I have never seen it happen to a non BP/W style BC that isn't at least 30+ years old, I'm in south Florida, we have tons of wrecks here, and I'm in the industry, never seen it happen!

The major cause of leaks is a "pinch flat". The wing gets pinched between the plate and the tank (or another hard object like the deck of a boat) that causes a small hole (sometimes called a snake bite) in the inner bladder and a leak. The main cause of pinch flats is storing and transporting the wing attached to the plate and careless setup.

The Zeagle Express Tech would be less susceptible to pinch flats because it has no inner bladder (at least on the 24 lb. wing) and more importantly no hard plate.

Gotta check those glasses you have there, maybe it's the smoke in front of your eyes!

 

[Colliam7]

Here is my dilemma, traveling a lot overseas. . . . Was thinking of getting a lightweight BCD simply because I hate the normal jackets they rent. Would like a back inflate aka wing. . . . Besides I don't know if I need service in SE Asia or Europe I can easily find a Zeagle dealer or Oceanic or any US manufacturer. . . . Perhaps I should get a backplate / wing and piece it together myself? . . . if I need service I need a great worldwide dealer support network.

There are a number of options. The discussion seems to have evolved toward consideration of a backplate, and since you specifically mentioned back-inflation units, travel, light weight, and service support, here is something to consider.

The simplest approach to something that is a) lightweight, b) easy to maintain yourself, and c) easy to service and repair without a brand-specific dealer available, is a modular system - if something fails and cannot, for whatever reason, be repaired, it can simply be replaced at minimal cost. That can be a hard OR soft backplate, with webbing, some D-rings and a buckle, attached to a wing with a bladder inside a durable external casing.

For travel, IF you are particularly concerned with weight, perhaps the easiest approach is to build a BCD out of a 'soft' backplate, some webbing, some hardware, and the wing of your choice. Dis-assembled, it packs easily (frankly, it packs easily even when assembled), it is VERY easy to take care of, and the possible need for service is - for the most part - independent of a dealer network. Zeagle sells the Express Tech backplate (http://www.zeagle.com/showproduct/1049/Express-Tech-Backplate/), Apeks/Aqualung now offers an ultralight travel plate (Ultralight Travel Plate), there are probably others. For that matter, something as simple as a Dive Rite Transpac would do. You buy 6 - 8 feet of webbing, some stainless steel hardware, the wing of your choice (plus 2 'sex bolts' / assembly screws - http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=SSAssemblyScrew - to attach it), a couple of cam bands (and a crotch strap if you wish), and and you are ready to go - putting a BCD together is not rocket science. If the bladder gets punctured, you can pull it out of the casing and patch it (even if duct tape is all you have). If an inflator fails, put another one on (whatever brand is locally available will probably do). There won't be any plastic quick releases to get smashed when a cylinder gets dropped (get stainless steel hardware). There is essentially little / no need for a brand-specific dealer to be available for service.

If you want integrated weights, add something like a Dive Rite pocket set (SCUBA Diving Equipment for Technical, Sidemount, Rebreather, Wreck and Cave Diving: Dive Rite, Inc - Product Catalog - 16LB QB Weight Pocket), or an Apeks pocket set (WTX Tek Pockets), on the waist strap (although I don't know why you would need integrated weights, anyway). Frankly, I would forget the integrated octo / inflator, if I was considering ease of service (personally, I would forget it in general, but that is my individual bias).

On the other hand, if you don't want to assemble anything, go with the Cressi, or any one of 6-12 other so-called 'travel' units. They will be a bit heavier, not as modular, but will probably work reasonably well, unless you expose them to some extraordinarily harsh usage. One drawback to many of the travel BCDs like the Cressi is that they don't have a D-ring on the shoulders that allows you to secure a light (for example), and because they don't have a waist strap it is hard to add a pocket to secure gear such as wetnotes, or spare mask, etc. Not a terminal limitation, just an inconvenience.

 

[Darren Dodge]

Have you looked at the Aeris Jetpack? My partner and I both have one and while I only have 3 dives on it so far, I love it; perfect for travel. We've paired ours with Oceanic AirXS2 Octo/inflator and AI with dramatically cuts the amount of gear you need to lug on a plane. Just my poor 2 cents.

 

[jebmobile]

+1 for a Zeagle Covert. I'm not aware of anything lighter weight or more packable currently available other than maybe an aluminum backplate. Top quality and more durable than any of the other name brand travel BC's I've seen.

 

[ams511]

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Gotta check those glasses you have there, maybe it's the smoke in front of your eyes!

I was giving you (an others) the explanation of why you do not see more conventional bcs with punctures. In short, no metal plates. I have seen BCs under 30 years of age with leaks but these were due to either manufacturer's defects or the diver's carelessness.

---------- Post added February 13th, 2014 at 07:29 PM ----------

Have you looked at the Aeris Jetpack? My partner and I both have one and while I only have 3 dives on it so far, I love it; perfect for travel. We've paired ours with Oceanic AirXS2 Octo/inflator and AI with dramatically cuts the amount of gear you need to lug on a plane. Just my poor 2 cents.

Darren brings up another consideration. Besides weight a travel BC should be able to be packed compactly.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

So for the same price which is preferable. A Zeagle Scout or a Zeagle Wicked Lite Ranger (formerly the Covert)?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

So for the same price which is preferable. A Zeagle Scout or a Zeagle Wicked Lite Ranger (formerly the Covert)?

Actually Covert is the current name, Wicked Lite is the old name. I would go with the Covert as it's a few pounds lighter and just as capable for you.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Actually Covert is the current name, Wicked Lite is the old name. I would go with the Covert as it's a few pounds lighter and just as capable for you.

I can get the Wicked lite for $130 less than the Covert, and I'd need to buy 2. Sure it has some tacky tribal pattern but fashion, or lack of it, is of no importance to me. Wicked lite is about 1 lbs heavier than Covert, not a deal breaker.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I can get the Wicked lite for $130 less than the Covert, and I'd need to buy 2. Sure it has some tacky tribal pattern but fashion, or lack of it, is of no importance to me. Wicked lite is about 1 lbs heavier than Covert, not a deal breaker.

Go for it. I was just correcting what name was current, and suggested the current model. I'd also get the Wicked Lite for the reasons you mention.