New Mares SLS BCD

[1nfinite]

Hi, im about to purchase a new BCD as am after one for holidays with its own weight system & from my research I think mares SLS system looks the best on the market right now for the price.
Please correct me if you think im wrong.

Im stuck between the dragon & the cheaper quantum.

Does anyone know why the dragon is more expensive...doesn't seem to look much different or have much greater tech to it to warrant the price gap. Maybe the material is more superior?

Cheers.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

While my local dive shop is Mares dealer and I will only dive Mares regulators, their BCD's are big, clunky and heavy. If you are looking for a light BCD for travel, I would look at some of these travel BC's. TravelPac BCD |
weight pockets can be added to the Dive Rite TravelPac
32 lb (14.5 kg) IQ Lite Performance Mono
Biolite
I am looking at getting the Dive Rite TravelPac before our spring vacation. I like that it doesn't have any extra crap you don't need, most of the hardware is stainless steel, and it has 2 tank bands.

 

[1nfinite]

Ontwreck I am after a bcd with integrated weights I have a normal bcd.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

If you look, both the OMS ( they call it a ballast system) and the Biolite have integrated weight pockets, just a different style than Mares and weight pockets can be added to the Dive Rite also.16 lb QB Weight Pocket | Dive Rite

This could be another option. Litehawk BCD, w/ Air2 V GEN, Blue, XS/S | SCUBAPRO

 

[1nfinite]

True the biolite is very light.
The OMS would cost me about £500 is expensive in UK.

I like the look of the mares weight system.
The quantum I can get for £300 I think is a great price even tho a little heavy 4.5kg.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Don't get me wrong, I love Mares gear. It's high quality gear but their BC's are big and heavy. I have a 16 year old Mares Dragonfly BC that is still going strong but again it's big & heavy. Here in Canada my dive gear goes for free as long as it's under 20kg. But if it's over weight it costs $78.75 each way, so weight has to be a big consideration for me.

Since you like the Mares weight system, here's another "out there" option. Red Devil Single Backmount Set You can add the weight system to this setup.

 

[npole]

The Pure SLS is the lightest BCD with back inflate available on the market with rigid backplate and integrated weight system, on pair with the Scubapro Hydros Pro, with the difference that the Hydros cost like the double (at least here in Europe).

On the market you cannot find anything lighter and cheaper with the same characteristics (that is the crucial part): back inflate, integrated weight system, rigid back plate.

You can surely find lighter BCD's, but not with all the above characteristics (ie: not integrated weight.. or soft black plate.. etc.). My suggestion is: get used of get rid of the integrated weight, if it appear very useful at the start (in example passing the weight to the boat), if you travel a lot, having a more simple BCD (or better a minimal wing with aluminium back plate) is tons better.

I own both a Mares Pure SLS and a XDeep Ghost Deluxe.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

A Plate and wing with Stainless steel plate meets all of those. Cheaper, modular, better weight distribution since it puts the weight over your lungs, and you fit it to you. Once set, it fits the same. Every time. How much weight do you really need? Many divers are overweighted and if properly weighted you should only need to dump a fraction of your lead to stay positive. Like maybe 2-4 lbs. If you need to dump more than that, on the surface in an exposure suit, you just dump the whole rig.

 

[npole]

You missing the point, there's people that travel a lot, like me.. even 10 gr. more or less for us is important, especially if you dive in couple and you have to stay long aboard.

Stainless back plates are a no no option for us, that's why I own a XDeep Ghost (alu/aurenautical metal backplate) and a Mares SLS (rigid plastic). The only wing that come near to this is a full alu back plate, but still more heavy than those.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The OP did not specify that he didn't want a steel plate. I wouldn't buy any MARES BC. Too many reports of issues with them and their integrated weights. I just looked and the thing also has 40lbs of lift. For single tanks that's nuts and unnecessary. The d-ring placement is a joke, the inflator is a Mares design instead of a basic standard inflator and size large weighs nearly 9 lbs. My al plate and 23 lb wing is less than 7. I also would not buy a BC that wasn't completely modular. Especially for traveling. The ability to replace only parts of the system would be my primary concern. I have traveled with a SS Plate a number of places. Never needed to take my al plate.