SeaQuest Black Diamond vs. Zeagle Ranger

[jagfish]

Have the Black Diamond. I like it, but do have a couple points I am hung up on; has two pockets, one is useless, the other is almost useful. Also, while the while the SQ Balance has a strap that comes in fastens across the front of your body, the Black Diamond has a rather intrusive cumberbund (Sp?) with a uselss little pocket, making it even more intrusive. I have learned to live around it, but next BC will be something different (like a zeagle), or BP and wings....

JAG

 

[scubatoys]

Thanks for the advice. One of the things that was turning me off of the Ranger was SCUBA Lab's equipment reviews of these two BCs. They gave the Black Diamond the highest marks with not much bad to say about it except a slight winging effect when deflated. The Ranger, however, produced a longer list of drawbacks including "Slow pull dump. Marked inherent buoyancy. Storage pockets easily confused with weight pockets. Difficult to re-arm ditch system once activated." For you Ranger fans, what has your experience been with these issues? Thanks.

Ranger Review:
http://www.scubadiving.com/article/...9X10X11X12X13X14X15X16X17X18X19X20-16,00.html

You must realize that everything Rodales says in reviews is pretty much BS. If it is something that can be measured - they pretty much have to tell the truth... like this reg puts out X amount of air per minute... But they don't really tell you when they are objective vs. subjective... "Could not tell pockets apart??" Was this test only conducted by morons?? One pocket closes zipping up - the other down. One is a big heavy zipper pull (the weight one) and the other is lighter and has a string attached to it. It is extremely easy to tell them apart - even just by touch.

A previous report from them compared masks... I had to laugh when they reviewed 2 different masks - which were in fact - the same mask, made by the same company - just two different names silk screened on them... but one was great - the other sucked... yea right.... The same damn mask! I guess which name you silk screen on the frame makes a huge difference in mask quality...

So as I'm sure you can tell from looking at the responses here - The Zeagles win hands down in that contest... And basically ignore anything you read in Rodales.. It's a bunch of paid for advertising disguised as "tests".

In fact ScubaPro just send Rodales a letter saying they would no longer participate in their tests... because they didn't want to put up with the BS....

 

[JPBECK]

all pockets on all BC's are a waste of space and only create drag!

Therefore the only real choice is still a BP and Wings!

Get rid of all the fancy crap and join the dark side! Get back to building Skills to make yourself comfortable dont try to mask it with fancy gear that looks cool!