Ranger "adjustable D ring", yes or no?

[amajamar]

When the Ranger or Ranger LTD claims that it has an "adjustable D ring", what does that mean? The way it looks to me it can only "adjust" about 1/2" up or down. I suppose that the stitching securing it could be cut and then it would "adjust" more, but that seems a little strange.

What am I missing here...?

 

[scubafanatic]

.....my original BC was a Ranger (which I still own) and while it's a sufficient 'starter' BC but I soon came to realize it's many limitations...which you are now discovering. Most Zeagles are not very adjustable/customizable....my Ranger has EVERYTHING sown in place.....so don't try to reposition anything (like pockets/D-rings)...and don't try to swap out anything either (pockets/D-rings are all fixed in position and can't be swapped out for 'better' pockets/D-rings.)

...within a year or two I'd pretty much retired my Ranger (I still have it as a back up BC as it's my 'lightest' BC for travel purposes if I ever do a trip with severe weight limits/airlines.....I'd also use it for something like Bonaire, which is shore-diving and where I'm doing a TON of heavy gear schlepping all over the place and want a relatively 'lite' BC.)

The Ranger is OK for a new (clueless) diver who just wants a quick off-the-shelf solution to just hurry up and buy a BC and start diving.....and I'd say it's overall as good a BC for that purpose as any of it's competitors in that respect...it has the basics, the quality seems pretty good (I never had any quality/reliability problems with mine with something like 50-100 dives on it.)

...however, the Ranger has little growth potential....you'd better like it just the way it is now, because if your needs/requirements grow with experiennce, you will become a more demanding/knowledgable diver and will soon be frustrated with the 'inflexibility' of the Ranger's design......it's just not very 'modular'.

My main BC's for the last few years are a pair of custom/hybrid back-inflate Deepoutdoors harness/Oxycheq wing/Halcyon weight system + pockets units where I can mix/match/rearrange components almost at will.....it's WAY easier to get these BC's kitted-out EXACTLY the way I want them to be !

...and as a completely separate 'rant'...I'm not a fan of the Ranger Rip-cord weight system.....I HATE weight systems that incorporate velcro in their designs.....and while the Ranger is one of the better systems using velcro (at least the weight pockets don't rely on velcro, thank goodness!) I've never really trusted that little velcro weight pull handle, if it snags on something and gets yanked, there go all my weights...YIKES !!! Plus, you can't 'modulate' your release of weights...it's all or nothing...I prefer a system where I can release weights in increments depending on the need...that's why I like my '4 small separate pockets/vertical release/non-velcro Halcyon weight system.)

 

[ScottZeagle]

The D-Rings on a standard Ranger shoulder are only slightly adjustable, however the 2009 Ranger LTD is fully adjustable, allowing you to add or remove D-rings, postion them anywhere you please, etc.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[promocop]

sorry 'scubafanatic' contrarian here. For ME, i find my standard Ranger MORE then enough for my kind of recreational diving. I DONT need the small of amount of flexibilty the LTD provides and the trade off in extra weight and cost is not worth it to ME. As for the weight rip-cord system, I find it brilliant. If I'm dumping weight, I want ALL of weight gone NOW. As for the quality, I cant find anything better. I have had all the major manufactuerers and find ZEAGLES quailty excellent. And one last thing, everything time I call them directly for questions and get someone on the phone, they are helpful, direct and responsive. And no i don't work for them,and this is the first product from them I have owed. Excellent!

 

[amajamar]

The D-Rings on a standard Ranger shoulder are only slightly adjustable, however the 2009 Ranger LTD is fully adjustable, allowing you to add or remove D-rings, postion them anywhere you please, etc.

Thanks,

Scott

Thank you, Scott, for the "official" explanation!

 

[scubafanatic]

sorry 'scubafanatic' contrarian here. For ME, i find my standard Ranger MORE then enough for my kind of recreational diving. I DONT need the small of amount of flexibilty the LTD provides and the trade off in extra weight and cost is not worth it to ME. As for the weight rip-cord system, I find it brilliant. If I'm dumping weight, I want ALL of weight gone NOW. As for the quality, I cant find anything better. I have had all the major manufactuerers and find ZEAGLES quailty excellent. And one last thing, everything time I call them directly for questions and get someone on the phone, they are helpful, direct and responsive. And no i don't work for them,and this is the first product from them I have owed. Excellent!

...well, I'm happy that you're happy with your Ranger...but you'll notice that ScottZeagle didn't really have any arguement against what I said......which I'm interpreting as an admission I was providing a fair and balanced opinion on the Ranger. By the way, if you want to get an idea of true 'quality' in a BC component, get your hands on an Oxycheq Vertex Extreme Series wing, for example...stack a Ranger aircell up against that and see what you then think of the Ranger....also, not to toot my own horn too loudly, but I'm the one who got on the phone with the owner/president of OXYCHEQ (Patrick) and convinced him to produce a dual-bladder version of the Extreme Series wings...and OXYCHEQ is a very well respected manufactuer of 'tech' scuba gear located in cave-country. (Florida) ...so apparently I'm not the only one who understands I actually have a 'clue' about what constitutes a high-quality/innovative design in scuba gear/products....and 'yes' I design/build my own custom BC's for personal use....(I also customize lots of my other gear too) and pretty much everytime I go on a dive trip I'll have fellow divers/DM's spot my gear and want me to do a show-and-tell/demo on my 'toys'.

 

[ScottZeagle]

...well, I'm happy that you're happy with your Ranger...but you'll notice that ScottZeagle didn't really have any arguement against what I said......which I'm interpreting as an admission I was providing a fair and balanced opinion on the Ranger.

Hahahaha...I knew that would happen.

Truth is, you are welcomed to your opinion, and I don't need or desire to agrue with you about it, as you are clearly an Oxycheq fan and that is fine. I'm sure they make a fine product and I am happy that it works for you.

Zeagle has quite a few fans around here as well, and I am happy to listen to them and their ideas as well. Heck, some of them have even called me on the phone and told me about good ideas they have had...but I will let them blow thier own horn, if they wish.

The bottom line is, as long as you are courteous and respectfull, you are welcome to state your opinion, but please don't expect me to spend hours debating with you.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[scubafanatic]

Hahahaha...I knew that would happen.

Truth is, you are welcomed to your opinion, and I don't need or desire to agrue with you about it, as you are clearly an Oxycheq fan and that is fine. I'm sure they make a fine product and I am happy that it works for you.

Zeagle has quite a few fans around here as well, and I am happy to listen to them and their ideas as well. Heck, some of them have even called me on the phone and told me about good ideas they have had...but I will let them blow thier own horn, if they wish.

The bottom line is, as long as you are courteous and respectfull, you are welcome to state your opinion, but please don't expect me to spend hours debating with you.

Thanks,

Scott

Hi Scott, ......no debate required...we both undoubtedly have better uses for our time.....it's not that I'm an Oxycheq fan.....I'm an 'anything that's best in class' fan....I've probably got gear from a couple dozen different scuba gear manufacturers in my 'arsenal'...nobody has a monopoly on the best design/materials/capabilities...so I pick and choose my favorite gear items from whoever/whereever...I'm not here to be 'anti-Zeagle' or push an agenda...just elaborating on the OP's question/comments.

 

[amajamar]

Well, unfortunately this thread has turned into a sparring match. This was not my intention. Sorry, Scott.

As far as BCD's are concerned, the argument of who manufactures "the best", can never be decided, as all such items are devices of someones individual creative design process, and as such, there will never be a definitive "best".

I personally take offense at the comment, "The Ranger is OK for a new (clueless) diver who just wants a quick off-the-shelf solution to just hurry up and buy a BC and start diving." While it's true I am a relatively new diver, I have dove with a few other BCD's and the Ranger, in my opinion, offers some design factors that I find of notable value. It was not purchased to "hurry up and start diving".

I only posted the original question because I thought that is was strange that the Ranger was advertised to have adjustable D-rings; and it's true that they are adjustable, but with a severly limited range. So, I guess it's a semantic argument of which the marketing department must have won. So be it.

To date, I have made one dive on my new Ranger LTD. It felt good. I had no complaints and if anything, the one issue I was trying to resolve in my other BCD's, the location and handling of the weight system, seems to be what I had hoped it would be. I will need to make many more dives to get completely comfortable with the new equipment and to learn it's idiosyncrasies.

I personally think that Zeagle products are constructed of high quality materials and are well designed mass produced products that are worthy of the accolades they receive. Are they perfect for everyone? No. Are they perfect for me? Probably not. Could I make suggestions to Zeagle to "perfect" the Ranger? Sure, but the changes would merely make it "perfect" for me! Not necessarily for you or anyone else for that matter. And that "perfect" Ranger may not be perfect for me down the road if my diving needs change.

Anyway, I like my new BCD, even though the D-rings don't really adjust.

 

[Downing]

I'm not here to be 'anti-Zeagle' or push an agenda...just elaborating on the OP's question/comments.

Really? Let's review:

my original BC was a Ranger (which I still own) and while it's a sufficient 'starter' BC but I soon came to realize it's many limitations

Calling the Ranger a "starter" BC is insulting to the many experienced divers for whom their Ranger is the cat's meow. One experienced diver's "starter" is another experienced diver's prized possession. Surely you must know that.

The Ranger is OK for a new (clueless) diver who just wants a quick off-the-shelf solution to just hurry up and buy a BC and start diving...

Wow, if I had any doubts that you intended to stir the drink here, that word "clueless" pretty much settles the issue.

..well, I'm happy that you're happy with your Ranger...but you'll notice that ScottZeagle didn't really have any arguement against what I said......which I'm interpreting as an admission I was providing a fair and balanced opinion on the Ranger

Careful with the "interpretations" there, big fella. You really think you just got the President of the company to concede that the Ranger's a "starter BC" with "many limitations" but nevertheless is ok for a "new" and therefore "clueless" diver? I can't wait to see that brochure. How you got there from Scott ignoring you is beyond me.

also, not to toot my own horn too loudly, but I'm the one who got on the phone with the owner/president of OXYCHEQ (Patrick) and convinced him to produce a dual-bladder version of the Extreme Series wings

Two words: honk, honk.

Sorry, Scott. I don't usually get involved in this stuff, but I just can't let this self-serving papola slide by.