New diver, BC opinions please.

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Thanks for all the information, truly appreciated. The Zeagle Escape is indeed looking quite applealing, I'll look into all the links you have all supplied. Much obliged!
GUE sounds right up my alley, as I was reluctant to take PADI since I originally wanted CMAS and then settled for SSI seeing as I believe they have a better curriculum. Thanks, once again.
 
If GUE sounds right up your alley, then it's important to note that GUE/DIR have specific requirements on BCs (backplate/wing). And you should really read about it before making equipment purchases, cause if you decide later on to take any of their courses, then you'll have to repurchase gear.

Since you first started the thread asking about inexpensive jacket style BCs, you should check out Triple-L stuff. People on this board seem to really like their Stratus BC (jacket style).

Btw, Zeagle makes great products. And it's a lifetime warranty!
 
The Triple-L's Orion look similar to the Zeagle Ranger, so it's definitely worth checking out. I have purchased a wetsuit and bag from Triple-L and have been very happy with their products and customer service.

It's great that you've dove a lot of BCs, and as everyone says, that's paramount in the decision. I have a Ranger, and it's an impressive BC. I like its ruggedness and quality, and have been very comfortable in the water. However, it's not the optimal BC for the type of diving I do. I recommend it all the time, but personally, it's a little too bulky for my body type and for my warm water diving ways. Sure I look damn good, but I don't need all the lift, and I don't use all the pockets (including the weight integrated ones). For me, a more streamlined BC would have been a better choice for my current dive plans. Now, if I moved to colder climates, I could be singing a different tune.

From reading your last post, it seems like you're down to the Triple-L Orion or the Zeagle Ranger. If you know that the Ranger is what you want in the end, then it's ultimately cheaper to buy the right thing once (I'm sure you've read that a lot already). However, if your main concern is cost (as noted in your original post), then the Orion is the way to go.

From my experience with both these companies, they make solid products. Plus, both Zeagle and Triple-L have representatives that frequent scubaboard!

Good luck on the decision! And enjoy the diving!
 
uberspeed:
I'm looking at the Orion with a single bladder and the double-tank "kit" (looks like a strap only). Would this be very close to the Ranger? What about the Pegasus? It's also rear inflation. Looks like the Orion might be tough to assemble. No?
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The Orion was fairly easy to assemble. Basically threading the bladder straps behind the tank straps on the harness. It took all of ten minutes (if that). I do not have the double-tank kit so I cannot give any feedback on that piece.

I will say that I am very satisfied with my Orion, and I am glad that I chose that instead of the $400 dollar bc I was thinking about originally. Now I can dive, purchase the rest of my gear, and save for the bc that I really want without having to rent an unfamiliar piece of equipment on every dive. Tanks are my next big purchase and then it will be save save save.

Joe
 
uberspeed:
Thanks Joe. Did it come with instructions/manual? Are they well illustrated? Thanks.
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You look at the illustrations and think, "this is it?!" and that is about the extent of it. The wing is separate from the harness. Everything else is attached. So all you have to do is feed the shoulder straps through the top of the wing and then feed two additional straps behind the tank bands and you are done. Very easy.

I have read where someone on the board had a bag that was not in the proper position within the wing, but that was not the case with mine. To get to the actual bladder all you have to do is unzip the wing and adjust. When I inflated mine completely, it inflated equally and without problems.

The only thing that I have had to do on since I purchased it was to readjust the straps behind the tank bands after my first two dives. They had come a little loose. But that was all. I have seven dives on the bc as of today.

Joe
 
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