I am newer to diving and going to get my first my first BC. i am thinking of getting a back BC instead of a "traditional" one. Right now i am looking at the tusa x-wing but i can't find very much reviews on them (actually the same goes for almost all scuba gear, review seem to be few). is it a good unit or should i look at something else?
looking for a back inflate bc
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There is nothing disasterously wrong with it. There is also nothing particularly good about it, other than the fact that it is a back-inflation unit.
Perhaps, the more important question is, Why are YOU considering the unit?
Personally, I would not buy this unit. But, the reasons I would not buy it could apply to a lot of BCDs on the market.
1. It is a ‘floaty’, padded, positively buoyant BCD, and you pay a price – in having to carry more lead, to dive with a unit like this. The touted ‘3-D Foam Padded Lumbar and Back-Pad’ is NOT an asset, it is a liability.
2. It is weight-integrated, and the weights are placed, like (too) many BCDs, in a position (too low on the diver compared to the position of the bladder) that makes it more difficult to achieve good horizontal trim.
3. It has a horseshoe bladder rather than a donut (360) bladder.
4. If you require a size Large BCD, you have a bladder with 40lbs of lift, more than you need for most single cylinder diving.
5. TUSA markets the inflator as Revolutionary New Technology. In fact, the inflator unit is unnecessarily complicated and cumbersome.
6. It is Needlessly Expensive ($630 MSRP), unless you buy the older model from Leisure Pro, in which case it is merely Expensive ($399)
On the slightly positive side,
7. It does have trim weight pockets, to partially offset # 2. And, these can be placed on the upper cam strap
8. It does have dump valves at the bottom of each side of the horseshoe.
At the end of the day, however, my reasoning is not really the issue. Rather, your reasoning in looking at this unit to begin with is more important.
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you are finding few reviews because of the reasons mentioned above. Look for backplates and wings, you'll solve all of the problems above, and have a better quality rig. Deep Sea Supply is my preferred brand for that, and it is best to call Tobin and explain what you are looking for, and he'll set you up.
bryanmc57
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This is excellent advise.
Is_907
Contributor
Do as mentioned above and research BP/W setups... if you like them I recommend Deep Sea Supply...
If you don't like the BP/W style and still want a full BC experience that's back-inflate, take a look at the Hollis HD200 and the Zeagle Ranger (or Brigade from ScubaToys.)
I have the HD200 and love it. It's lightweight, trim, doesn't get in my way, and meets all the needs I have as a recreational diver. I have a BP/W here next to me that I plan to try after I get back from a big trip I have in two weeks, too, though. It's all about options for me
If you don't like the BP/W style and still want a full BC experience that's back-inflate, take a look at the Hollis HD200 and the Zeagle Ranger (or Brigade from ScubaToys.)
I have the HD200 and love it. It's lightweight, trim, doesn't get in my way, and meets all the needs I have as a recreational diver. I have a BP/W here next to me that I plan to try after I get back from a big trip I have in two weeks, too, though. It's all about options for me
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why? It's $150 more than the Deep Sea Supply, is made overseas vs. in the US, customer service is a joke, has way too much lift for most divers, is still very gimmicky with the pockets and padding, isn't versatile, and has essentially no real resale value. Not bashing the system, it's not bad, but when you compare it against something like the DSS Rigs or most of the BP/W's on the market, they start to look more and more ridiculous.
thanks for the replies. first, i am not a tech diver (in fact right now i have less than 10 dives in my book).
here is what i liked about the xwing:
-the LDS that i am going to is a tusa dealer (among other brands). i try to buy stuff like this local if i can to help support smb biz instead of always finding the best deal (just a personal thing)
-the features back inflate vs standard sounded like a better deal. i think i can get use to laying back on the surface (negative) for better horizontal control (plus) under water and less junk around your arms and sides (plus)
-so far all the open water dives i have done are in the Caribbean off a boat. the local dives here (in mo) are all walk in's into lakes. the harness with a little padding didn't seem that bad of an idea if having to walk in and out. i plan to both travel with it and local dive with it
-i did plan to change the inflator to something like an atomic ss1 (octo/inflator combo)
-i has 3 dump valves which is nice to have (especially with using something like a ss1).
-i have used tusa bc's before and liked the weight system. they seem sturdy and you know when they are locked. i have seen other people drop weights before. in my cert dive some else dropped a weight halfway through (mares).
-the price isn't bad on them. i have seen them for 400
l looked the zeagle stuff but the few places that i could find a review they weren't usually good. and as far as reviews go, finding review for a lot of stuff it hard and few between. all the bc's i have looked at i can't really find anything (tusa, mares, aqualung, etc). also a lot of regulators and computers are the same. most review i have seen are on leisurepro which isn't always the best place to look for reviews (ie the sites that sell the items)
here is what i liked about the xwing:
-the LDS that i am going to is a tusa dealer (among other brands). i try to buy stuff like this local if i can to help support smb biz instead of always finding the best deal (just a personal thing)
-the features back inflate vs standard sounded like a better deal. i think i can get use to laying back on the surface (negative) for better horizontal control (plus) under water and less junk around your arms and sides (plus)
-so far all the open water dives i have done are in the Caribbean off a boat. the local dives here (in mo) are all walk in's into lakes. the harness with a little padding didn't seem that bad of an idea if having to walk in and out. i plan to both travel with it and local dive with it
-i did plan to change the inflator to something like an atomic ss1 (octo/inflator combo)
-i has 3 dump valves which is nice to have (especially with using something like a ss1).
-i have used tusa bc's before and liked the weight system. they seem sturdy and you know when they are locked. i have seen other people drop weights before. in my cert dive some else dropped a weight halfway through (mares).
-the price isn't bad on them. i have seen them for 400
l looked the zeagle stuff but the few places that i could find a review they weren't usually good. and as far as reviews go, finding review for a lot of stuff it hard and few between. all the bc's i have looked at i can't really find anything (tusa, mares, aqualung, etc). also a lot of regulators and computers are the same. most review i have seen are on leisurepro which isn't always the best place to look for reviews (ie the sites that sell the items)
Do note that the person you replied to - like some 95.4% of the world's population - is "made overseas" as well.
:d
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in order
not a tech diver-doesn't matter. BP/W's are limited to tech diving, they are simply the choice of tech divers because they are the best option out there.
LDS-agreed, but if they aren't selling you the best products, or matching prices, it is worse for their business because you'll get frustrated later down the road. Deep Sea Supply makes all of their products in the US, and are a small company. Tusa makes all of their products over seas, so you're really only supporting the margin for the US distributor, and your dive shop vs actually supporting a US company. Dive Rite, Oxycheq, Zeagle and Halcyon are the only other companies that produce BC's in the US *Zeagle might still be, but not sure*. Dive Rite Hunter Pac would be a better choice than the Tusa if you don't want a hard plate, but with a hard plate you remove 6lbs from your weight belt in a rig that weighs the same.
Back vs standard, correct, but wing is better.
padding doesn't matter if you're wearing exposure protection, but you can buy neoprene sleeves for the BP/W that are cheap.
Air2, don't. bad inflator, bad regulator. Buy a proper octopus setup. Look at the Dive Rite Advanced Open Water regulator and call Cave Adventurers for it.
3 dumps, doesn't matter. You should only ever have to use the bottom dump while diving with the exception of your initial descent
weight system. see above, with a BP/W you remove most of the weight from your weight belt *caribbean diving*, and the rest can go in something like a weighted STA, or for the DSS rig with their weight plates for local diving.
DSS rig is right around $500, $600 with weight plates, for a Made in USA product that is higher quality, will last longer, has better resale value should you decide to sell it, and is more versatile should you decide to get into CCR or doubles. Give Tobin a call, ask for his recommendation. If sidemount looks appealing to you, the same can be said for most of the sidemount rigs, in which case call Cave Adventurers and talk to Edd. Many of them can do single tank backmount diving as well.
---------- Post added September 1st, 2015 at 11:13 AM ----------
OP said he was in Missouri and wanted to support local business. That to me means something made near where you live.... Tusa=Tabata USA, Japanese company, with production of that BC likely in Taiwan. Deep Sea Supply, California, Dive Rite, New York, Oxycheq and Halcyon in Florida, all small businesses. Zeagle is now part of Huish, and while I think they moved production to California, it's not a small business anymore.
Jordan, take no offense, the overseas was in reference to being important from Asia somewhere.
I also have no problem with things being brought in from Asia. Quite often they are worth importing, but when you can buy a product that is cheaper, higher quality, better CS, and supporting local small business, why would you import?
not a tech diver-doesn't matter. BP/W's are limited to tech diving, they are simply the choice of tech divers because they are the best option out there.
LDS-agreed, but if they aren't selling you the best products, or matching prices, it is worse for their business because you'll get frustrated later down the road. Deep Sea Supply makes all of their products in the US, and are a small company. Tusa makes all of their products over seas, so you're really only supporting the margin for the US distributor, and your dive shop vs actually supporting a US company. Dive Rite, Oxycheq, Zeagle and Halcyon are the only other companies that produce BC's in the US *Zeagle might still be, but not sure*. Dive Rite Hunter Pac would be a better choice than the Tusa if you don't want a hard plate, but with a hard plate you remove 6lbs from your weight belt in a rig that weighs the same.
Back vs standard, correct, but wing is better.
padding doesn't matter if you're wearing exposure protection, but you can buy neoprene sleeves for the BP/W that are cheap.
Air2, don't. bad inflator, bad regulator. Buy a proper octopus setup. Look at the Dive Rite Advanced Open Water regulator and call Cave Adventurers for it.
3 dumps, doesn't matter. You should only ever have to use the bottom dump while diving with the exception of your initial descent
weight system. see above, with a BP/W you remove most of the weight from your weight belt *caribbean diving*, and the rest can go in something like a weighted STA, or for the DSS rig with their weight plates for local diving.
DSS rig is right around $500, $600 with weight plates, for a Made in USA product that is higher quality, will last longer, has better resale value should you decide to sell it, and is more versatile should you decide to get into CCR or doubles. Give Tobin a call, ask for his recommendation. If sidemount looks appealing to you, the same can be said for most of the sidemount rigs, in which case call Cave Adventurers and talk to Edd. Many of them can do single tank backmount diving as well.
---------- Post added September 1st, 2015 at 11:13 AM ----------
OP said he was in Missouri and wanted to support local business. That to me means something made near where you live.... Tusa=Tabata USA, Japanese company, with production of that BC likely in Taiwan. Deep Sea Supply, California, Dive Rite, New York, Oxycheq and Halcyon in Florida, all small businesses. Zeagle is now part of Huish, and while I think they moved production to California, it's not a small business anymore.
Jordan, take no offense, the overseas was in reference to being important from Asia somewhere.
I also have no problem with things being brought in from Asia. Quite often they are worth importing, but when you can buy a product that is cheaper, higher quality, better CS, and supporting local small business, why would you import?
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