No one likes Jacket Inflates?

[irishsquid]

This is off topic and I apologize; but, I gotta know.
DeliciousBrownTaste, what is the story behind your screen name?

 

[lmorin]

I started with jacket BCs; no other choice in rental gear. However, when I started trying gear with an intent to buy, I tried on a Seaquest Balance BC (back inflate) at a LDS and I was hooked. It just felt sooo much better. My wife, on the other hand, likes being "hugged" by her jacket BC and is unlikely to ever switch.

 

[Damselfish]

Here's the thing - there is a bit of prejudice on this board against jackets - lots of people use them, but the people that dislike them are so vocal that the jacket wearers sometimes get tired of being yelled down (or hearing references to poodle jackets) and often tend to stay silent. And there's no statistical relationship between what people on this board do and what you see in the real world. So it's really hard to decide this by looking at threads on here, the best thing you can do is try both and decide for yourself. There are pros and cons to each, like most things. And the pros and cons are not even the same for everyone.

I've had both, there's things I like and dislike about each. For my diving, I just don't really care all that much. My current BC is a BI, mostly because it fit best of everything I tried. Before that, I dove a Dacor jacket for over 10 years which fit nicely and that was fine too. And for a couple years before that, I dove a non-adjustable Scubapro jacket that didn't fit me right, and I despised it.

 

[shoturtle]

Here's the thing - there is a bit of prejudice on this board against jackets - lots of people use them, but the people that dislike them are so vocal that the jacket wearers sometimes get tired of being yelled down (or hearing references to poodle jackets) and often tend to stay silent. And there's no statistical relationship between what people on this board do and what you see in the real world. So it's really hard to decide this by looking at threads on here, the best thing you can do is try both and decide for yourself. There are pros and cons to each, like most things. And the pros and cons are not even the same for everyone.

I've had both, there's things I like and dislike about each. For my diving, I just don't really care all that much. My current BC is a BI, mostly because it fit best of everything I tried. Before that, I dove a Dacor jacket for over 10 years which fit nicely and that was fine too. And for a couple years before that, I dove a non-adjustable Scubapro jacket that didn't fit me right, and I despised it.

I agree that the BP/W and BI/BC are more vocal. Maybe for the more technical diver BI/BC and BP/W works better. But not everyone's diving is tune toward that.

I have used both, but the jacket is what I prefer. Underwater the bi/bc are okay and is a little easier to keep horizontal. But I like the way the jacket keeps me afloat on the surface, I am not lean forward as much. But that is because of the diving I do, warm water reef dives mostly. I do not dive doubles, and all the vacation rentals are AL80. The jacket makes it easier to stay upright when waiting for pick up with the AL80. My diving is for enjoyment and relaxation.

 

[Boxcar Overkill]

Don't ya know that the chicks dig a guy in a bp/w? These things are like internet stocks in the late '90's - all the cool kids have 'em.... Wait, maybe that wasn't such a good metaphor...

 

[CompuDude]

I dove jackets exclusively for many years before I found myself trying a bp/w instead of trying a back inflate. Why go halfway, plus the buoyancy advantage, right? I was hooked instantly by NOT having all that stuff in front of me. On vacation, if I can't use my own gear, I'll dive anything. But I prefer the bp/w for the uncluttered front it gives me... the streamlining and weighting advantages are pluses, too, especially with the diving I'm doing now, but I still value the uncluttered front the most, from a purely personal perspective. The discovery of real pockets (on the drysuit, x-shorts or even waist band) didn't hurt, either... I always though jacket bc pockets were pretty pathetic, but since I always dove rental wetsuits in warm water, I had nothing to compare it to and didn't know it could be better.

To each their own... if you're a good diver and you prefer jackets, and it supports the diving you're doing, that's great. But for me, given a choice, I'll take the bp/w or back-inflate design.

 

[hoestenbach]

I began without a BC, a few thousand dives ago, before nylon. Now I use both, depending on the dive and what I'm doing. Scuba Pro Classic Jacket and Zeagle Escape back-inflate. I've had others, all good BCs. Students and newbies should try lots of different gear, rent from different sources and find out what they like for their type diving before investing long-term. Remeber its not the initial cost (you've either got the money or you need to keep saving) but the cost of proper upkeep that you should be considering as buy the best equipment for you and your diving.

 

[Divedoggie]

Toyota and Honda crushes them all.

True, they by far make the best artificial reefs.:mooner:

 

[pazz]

It has been awhile, but here are my comments.

I lived on Kwajalein Island in the Marshall Islands for 9 years and basically dove every week (also dove Bikini). Having the luxury of living in this type of dive environment allowed me to observe and use lots of different equipment. In Micronesia I dove Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk/Truk, Guam, Yap and Palau. I also made dive trips to the Philippine and Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the SS Yongala. The last time I bought a new BC I bought a jacket (Oceanic Probe). I like the way a well made jacket works for me above and below the surface. As others have said: try different styles, and based on the type of diving that you do/like, go with the one that best suits your needs.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

Simple, neither is better than the other depending on your needs and preferences. I have both and dive my Zeagle tech more now, because I keep loaning my Tusa to a friend. Not a big deal.
Whatever you choose, choose it because it's best for your diving comfort and needs, NOT because some of us tell you what you Must have or you won't be the cool kid...