soft vs. hard

[Mako Mark]

I agree wholeheartedly. My statement was based on a casual observation from reading the posts here.

cool, 'cause my observation is that I have NEVER seen anyone wear bp/wings in the recreational diving environment, OTOH I dont dive naff quarries

.

 

[Walter]

My impression is that padding would be something you'd want in a BC with a hardpack.

A common misconception that leads folks to buy overpriced inferior gear.

Also, unpadded BCs, usually with hard backpacks, seem to inhabit the lower end of the spectrum, ie "basic," "beginner," "budget" (lots of B's there) while the fancy, pricy ones seem to use soft backpacks and loads of padding as selling points.

Excellent point. Sales is based on perception of need, not actual need. Add a few features that look good (even if they are actually a detriment) and you can raise the price. Excellent marketing, bad equipment.

As for cummerbunds, are there any jacket/vest BCs that don't have them?

Yes. I haven't looked around lately, but I know the Scubapro Classic Sport doesn't have a cummerbund. I'd guess there are several others.

This may be a brazen solicitation, but I happen to have an excellent Zeagle "Tech" in a medium size for sale.

That is cruel. I've wondered about your screen name. Why would you want to name yourself after a mythical seaweed?

 

[The Kraken]

Ah, the Kracken was not a piece of seaweed. The Kracken, if my Greek mythology serves me right, was one of the Gorgonians, of which Medusa was one.

 

[Moogyboy]

A common misconception that leads folks to buy overpriced inferior gear.



Excellent point. Sales is based on perception of need, not actual need. Add a few features that look good (even if they are actually a detriment) and you can raise the price. Excellent marketing, bad equipment.

Yup, I figured as much. And the most perceptive of you probably know how I feel about marketing-driven stuff. Marketing types are EVIL--oh wait, I work in marketing. Doh! (Was it Flaubert who said that thing about being quiet and orderly in your work so you can be wild and crazy outside of work...? I digress...) Anyway, I generally don't trust marketing to tell me the truth about anything, and I look at upscale stuff with a wary eye. If style=$$, then eff it, I say.

Yes. I haven't looked around lately, but I know the Scubapro Classic Sport doesn't have a cummerbund. I'd guess there are several others.

Makes sense, the SP Classic is basically a still-in-production vintage BC, ain't it? The good old Stab Jacket by another name? Anyhow, I'm a little wary of cummerbunds based on mine constantly coming unstuck from itself, but I figured that outside of some bp/w rigs and vintage BCs cummerbunds are pretty much ubiquitous.

That is cruel. I've wondered about your screen name. Why would you want to name yourself after a mythical seaweed?

I'm an XL anyway, but thanks for the offer.

cheers,

Billy S.

 

[Walter]

the SP Classic is basically a still-in-production vintage BC, ain't it? The good old Stab Jacket by another name?

Nope. It's more marketing. The Classic is not a BC I would recommend. It has a cummerbund, lots of padding and even <gasp> integrated weights.

The one that is the good old Stab Jacket by another name is the Classic Sport.

 

[Moogyboy]

Classic SPORT. My bad. Amazing what the omission of ONE WORD will do. heee heee

cheers

Billy S.

 

[kidspot]

Cancun Mark - if it means anything, I have seen a BP/Wing config nearly every time I've gone diving so far (both Halcyon and DiveRite, no OMS or Oxycheq yet)- and about 1/4 of the bc's I've seen at the beach are of the back inflate style. So far all of my diving has been done from VERY easy beach entry spots frequented by tourists and BOW classes. So I guess their popularity is growing. Of course most of the LDS employees I've spoken with still don't know what a bp/wing is.

Of course I do watch carefully for them since that's what I use.

Tim