Need BC Recommendation

[jmps]

The Sea Quest Balance has padding and a cummerbund. Those add drag. Not fun in current and increases your work load (and air consumption) on any dive. I'd pass it by.

I'm not familiar with the Riptide Zone II.

The Balance does not have a cummerbund just a waist strap. I love mine. It does not handle doubles. It handles both local and travel for singles well since it packs very small.

 

[WingNutt]

I don't have many dives under my belt but I can tell you I do my research. As of just a few hours ago I ordered my own gear. Tired of beat up rentals I put the cash down at Scuba Toys (talk to Larry) on a Zeagle Brigade BC, Mares Proton Ice reg and octo, and some analog gauges (that's until I have the extra cash for a AI computer). I chose the Zeagle Brigade for many reasons. I liked the rip cord wt release versus those expensive pockets. I know if you play by all the rules and take care of your gear and not take chances (yeah right your 130ft below the surface-tell me thats not taking chances,LOL) and you should never have to dump your wt, or at least chances are slim that you would. The versatility of the BC and the ability of being able to change just about anything on it lead it to being a good choice. The bladder on the Brigade is the smaller Escape BC bladder, great for travel and warmer water or single tanks. BUT, lets say you want to double tank dive and need a larger bladder, its a simple swap to a larger bladder and you still only need one BC for the most part. The harness is the Ranger harness with its metal D rings (I prefer actually). And Scuba Toys and Zeagles customer service and assistance from the gentleman I talked too at Zeagle (sorry dont remember his name) and Larry at SToys is second to none, AWESOME AND NICE. I am confident that in my purchase today that if anything goes wrong (which I doubt) The network behind those products will be there for me. The only place you can find that BC is at SToys, you may want to check it out. Plus for the price and what it comes with you cant beat it.

 

[JustinW]

The Scubapro Knighthawk is what I use, its also used by a bunch of other people around here. The whole thing can be had starting in the upper 400 range if you look around. Its a back inflate, not quite bungied but has a system that keeps it from tacoing around your tank and trapping gas and doesn't have a bunch of unnecessary crap on it. D rings placed just right and worth checking out.

 

[SangP]

I really don't want to have to own two BC setups. What would people recommend I consider?

Let's see...
SET A:
1. Back inflate bc like the scubapro knighthawk(warm & cold water single dives).
2. Bp/w for twin tank diving
You got 2 rigs already... costs $490 Knighthawk
http://www.dolphinscuba.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=759
+ $430(Oxycheq SS plate #50lbs signature & hog harness) - $445 (DSS doubles setup).
Total $935

SET B:
Oxycheq SS singles setup w/ sta $464, + $310 (sig #50 doubles wing) Total = $774
or
DSS singles rig $445 + $350 (#45 Torus doubles wing) Total = $795

Set C: Multi plate setup for specific dives.
Oxy Alu singles setup w/ sta $449 + Oxy SS doubles setup $430 Total = $897
or
DSS Kydex singles setup $400??? + DSS doubles setup $445 = $845

It's still cheaper than any BC (high end back inflate of course) + doubles setup.

A bp/w setup is any day cheaper than a bc + doubles setup if you just get 1 plate, sta, 2 wings setup.

I usually mention DSS or Oxycheq only cus I have research DSS and personally own Oxycheq & Halcyon (too darn expensive). Golem seems ok but when I compared the wings of DSS, Oxycheq & even Halcyon's they appear a whole lot smaller than Golem.
Golem #35 http://www.golemgear.com/images/product/icon/163.jpg
Oxycheq #30 http://www.golemgear.com/images/product/icon/216.jpg
Golem #55 http://www.golemgear.com/images/product/icon/164.jpg
Oxycheq #50 http://www.golemgear.com/images/product/icon/218.jpg

Just get a BP/W and be done with it LOL!

SangP

 

[AC Boy]

I second WingNutt on the Zeagle Brigade.