I was able to test out the BCD GoPro Extended Mount Build Kit from Z-Gear this past weekend. Below is my review, including details of each step, from putting the unit together to diving with it.
Pros: Simple and quick to put together, customizable sizing, sturdy and secure, versatile and adjustable during use, great for hands-free filming.
Cons: For me, the mount did get in the way of some tasks, but that was partly due to my gear configuration as described below. Included leash was too short to connect GoPro to BCD when mounted on the extension.
Build: The Z-Gear BCD GoPro Extended Mount Build Kit came mostly assembled, except for the extension arm portion, so building the remainder of the mount was extremely easy and allowed for some customization depending on how long you wanted the extension to be. The kit came with a tool that made snapping the ball/socket joints very easy, so the only decision to make during the build is how many extension arms to connect. You can customize the length, and you can adjust the length at a later time should you desire something different, but for my test I connected all four included extension arms (hence, the “extended” mount). This puts the end of the arm (if straight out in front of you) at a distance of about 16 inches or so, although when diving with it curved a bit, it was probably only about 10 inches or so away from my body. While this was a good length to check the versatility of the mount, I will probably shorten it for future dives to move it a little closer to my body. The entire unit was very stable and adjustable (there are actually a total of 13 independently-movable adjustment points on the mount when all arms are attached), and total time to build the whole unit was less than 5 minutes.
Setup: Setup in the field was very simple, with two included Velcro straps to attach the mount to the shoulder strap of the BCD. As in the Z-Gear YouTube video (https://youtu.be/I9aTHr9kaWE), I installed the mount on my right side BCD strap to keep it away from my inflator hose and SPG. Because I was diving solo and carrying a slung 19cf pony bottle on my right side, along with my wrist computer and hand mounted dive light, this made my right side very crowded, and ultimately made for some frustrations because of the mount getting in my way. This is no fault of the mount itself, but the next time I will just install it on my left side instead. One thing I did notice was that the included leash to connect the GoPro to the BCD was too short for the extended length of the mount. According to the video, there is an extended long-arm leash, but the one that I received was apparently the regular length leash. The mount is very secure so it wasn’t an issue for me, but something I noted in my review.
Donning: Because of the mount placement, it did make it a little more difficult for me to don my scuba unit. Part of this difficulty was also because I was diving in a drysuit with a heavy undergarment and dry gloves, so it wasn’t necessarily a smooth operation anyway. I'm confident that this will probably be made easier in the future by attaching the mount to my left side. Once I got my scuba unit on, it was easy to adjust the mount down and to my side so that it wasn’t in the way while I entered the water from the shore.
Diving: Once I entered the water and started diving, the unit performed great. Having the GoPro mounted away from my body allowed me to see what I was recording (I use a Hero 4 Silver with an LCD screen), and being hands free allowed me to focus on my diving. Because of the placement of my pony bottle, computer, and light all on my right side as described earlier, the mount did restrict my arm movement to some degree (for example, trying to orient my computer compass in the right direction). If I had mounted the unit on my left side, I think most of the “getting in the way” issues would have been eliminated. Overall, I was impressed by the simplicity and adjustability of the mount and how secure it was throughout my dive.
Final Analysis: For those that dive with a GoPro and want (or need) a hands-free setup, this is a great option. It is highly configurable during the build portion, and with the included tool in the kit, putting the extension arms on (or taking them off to shorten the length) is extremely simple. Once configured, it is a sturdy mount for your GoPro and offers the user a great hands-free experience. Most of my issues during the single test dive I was able to do stemmed from placement of the mount on my right side. Because I carry so much gear on that side when solo diving, there were lots of times where the mount (or my gear) just got in the way. With a slightly shorter setup and placement on my left side, I can see this mount being very useful for getting some great dive videos in the future.
Pros: Simple and quick to put together, customizable sizing, sturdy and secure, versatile and adjustable during use, great for hands-free filming.
Cons: For me, the mount did get in the way of some tasks, but that was partly due to my gear configuration as described below. Included leash was too short to connect GoPro to BCD when mounted on the extension.
Build: The Z-Gear BCD GoPro Extended Mount Build Kit came mostly assembled, except for the extension arm portion, so building the remainder of the mount was extremely easy and allowed for some customization depending on how long you wanted the extension to be. The kit came with a tool that made snapping the ball/socket joints very easy, so the only decision to make during the build is how many extension arms to connect. You can customize the length, and you can adjust the length at a later time should you desire something different, but for my test I connected all four included extension arms (hence, the “extended” mount). This puts the end of the arm (if straight out in front of you) at a distance of about 16 inches or so, although when diving with it curved a bit, it was probably only about 10 inches or so away from my body. While this was a good length to check the versatility of the mount, I will probably shorten it for future dives to move it a little closer to my body. The entire unit was very stable and adjustable (there are actually a total of 13 independently-movable adjustment points on the mount when all arms are attached), and total time to build the whole unit was less than 5 minutes.
Setup: Setup in the field was very simple, with two included Velcro straps to attach the mount to the shoulder strap of the BCD. As in the Z-Gear YouTube video (https://youtu.be/I9aTHr9kaWE), I installed the mount on my right side BCD strap to keep it away from my inflator hose and SPG. Because I was diving solo and carrying a slung 19cf pony bottle on my right side, along with my wrist computer and hand mounted dive light, this made my right side very crowded, and ultimately made for some frustrations because of the mount getting in my way. This is no fault of the mount itself, but the next time I will just install it on my left side instead. One thing I did notice was that the included leash to connect the GoPro to the BCD was too short for the extended length of the mount. According to the video, there is an extended long-arm leash, but the one that I received was apparently the regular length leash. The mount is very secure so it wasn’t an issue for me, but something I noted in my review.
Donning: Because of the mount placement, it did make it a little more difficult for me to don my scuba unit. Part of this difficulty was also because I was diving in a drysuit with a heavy undergarment and dry gloves, so it wasn’t necessarily a smooth operation anyway. I'm confident that this will probably be made easier in the future by attaching the mount to my left side. Once I got my scuba unit on, it was easy to adjust the mount down and to my side so that it wasn’t in the way while I entered the water from the shore.
Diving: Once I entered the water and started diving, the unit performed great. Having the GoPro mounted away from my body allowed me to see what I was recording (I use a Hero 4 Silver with an LCD screen), and being hands free allowed me to focus on my diving. Because of the placement of my pony bottle, computer, and light all on my right side as described earlier, the mount did restrict my arm movement to some degree (for example, trying to orient my computer compass in the right direction). If I had mounted the unit on my left side, I think most of the “getting in the way” issues would have been eliminated. Overall, I was impressed by the simplicity and adjustability of the mount and how secure it was throughout my dive.
Final Analysis: For those that dive with a GoPro and want (or need) a hands-free setup, this is a great option. It is highly configurable during the build portion, and with the included tool in the kit, putting the extension arms on (or taking them off to shorten the length) is extremely simple. Once configured, it is a sturdy mount for your GoPro and offers the user a great hands-free experience. Most of my issues during the single test dive I was able to do stemmed from placement of the mount on my right side. Because I carry so much gear on that side when solo diving, there were lots of times where the mount (or my gear) just got in the way. With a slightly shorter setup and placement on my left side, I can see this mount being very useful for getting some great dive videos in the future.
