Recreational BC?

[BadFish]

I find intergrated weights to be much more comfortable then a weight belt. Also my BC (Halcyon) weight pouches have a clip that prevent the weights from falling out, but still allow for quick release.


:flame:

 

[TexasMike]

Originally posted by ucladiver
While we're on the subject of Weight integration, does anyone find that the wieghts fall out easily or that the BC is too cumbersome to carry around?

Weights Falling out: If you're asking about this happening during the dive, I've found that that occurance depends on the design of the weight system. With my Zeagle Ranger, the top of the weight pocket is zipped closed, and the ripcord system holds even the smallest beanbag weights in place. But I have seen weights lost on others when the user did not fasten the closure correctly or securely.

So generally, the likelihood is low, but can happen if you don't secure the pocket correctly.

Cubersome to carry around: Generally, the weights are removed before you carry the BC around (say from car to dive area or back)

Also as far as winsgs are concerned, what are the major advantages over a vest type? Thanks again.

The biggest advanted of the BP/Wings systems is that you can totally reconfigure the system for the particular dive you are doing. If you are doing a relatively tame recreational dive, you can go with a "light" wing and the basic harness setup. But if you are doing a hardcore tekkie dive, you can add in the items that will allow double tanks, heavy lift wings, and attachment points for all the gear you need for the dive.

And in many cases, the BP/Wings BC's are often better fitted to the different body sizes than the vest BC's (due not needing as much material in it's constructions.

 

[herman]

I have not had any trouble with my Ranger and I can't see any way that it can happen (losing weight)with the Ranger. My wife dives a Diva with slip in pockets that are held in place with velcor, she has had no problems. There was a thread a couple of days go that ask the same question and as I recall, no one had had a problem. Try a search for it. Now these are both high quality BC's, the lower cost one may not do as well (a guess, not backed up by info). On the other hand, I have seen and have had happen to me, weight belts spinning around and/or getting loose esp when you are wearing a wetsuit. As for carring the BC's, both ours have removeable weight pockets. You simply remove the pockets just like you would remove a belt, you just have 2 smaller thing to hold on to.

There are actually 3 types of BC's:

The vest type- These have an air bladder that wraps around you with some of the bladder actually in frount of your waist. Most likely the type you rented/trained in. These tend to squeeze you when it is fully inflated. Some people don't like this but they tend to float you in an upright position at the surface.

The back inflation type- My Ranger is one of these. All of the air bladder is located behind you and around the tank. These don't squeeze you when fully inflated and usally offer more lift than the vest type. Some have interchangeable bladders. They do tend to float you face forward at the surface but this is fairly easy to overcome with a little experience.

Finally, there is the Backplate/wings combo. These consist of a metal backplate with a simple strap arrangement to wear it with. Attached to this assembly is an a air bladder that can be easily changed with other sizes. These are more "customizeable" than the other types of BC's.

Which is best, well that's one of the hottest debated question on the board. Each group has a bunch of reasons why they think their style is best. Some of the reasons I buy and some I think are BS. It really depends on the type of diving you are doing, what your budget is and most important, which type YOU like the best.

 

[tombiowami]

I lost some small soft weights from a Ranger pocket pretty easily, I would definitely recommend the yellow weight pocket inserts if you go that way.

Yep, Mike, I will probably be selling my Ranger also, they go for around 350 brand new on Ebay and 200-350 for the used ones.

I have been trying to find some medium straps for maybe my wife to use, but have only been able to find them through a retailer would wanted around 250 for them which I was aghast and found ridiculous as one can get the whole bc used for that, just pull the straps off, and have an extra bc to boot. Anyway.

We'll see..

Tommy

 

[TexasMike]

Tommy,

Are you talking about just the "shoulders" for your wife or the entire harness system?

 

[tombiowami]

Whole system, straps and the waist/cumberbund in medium is what I tentatively need. I am not sure whether to just keep it and use it for backup or eventually get the straps or just try to sell it outright.

Do you have a line on cheaper parts? I kind of had a guy who was willing to let me have them for what he said his cost was, which was still over 100 I think, but that was only if I got another Halcyon rig from him which I did not want to do.

Tommy