tiburon72157
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Anyone used both of these and have a first-hand review?
SP Nighthawk and Zeagle Ranger?
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ProfessorAronnax
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Did an internet search for the NightHawk and no review came up. A lot of questions from other forums though. Obviously, I'm a Zeagle guy so I won't bore you my impression-that'll be up to the many Ranger divers who can offer an unbiased opinion. A couple facts though: The Ranger is manufactured in Zephyrhills, Fla, U.S.A. and carries a Lifetime Warranty. Good Luck with your research!
Rap
Rap
Hoosier
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As you see, Rap is biased in this matter..... 
I have a knighthawk. It must be a very decent BC for the rec diver, but I don't think there are many active members who are using any ScubaPro BCs including Knighthawk in our board. Most active members are using BP/W. In addition, we have many Zeagle guys here, too.
SP bc only comes with 2 year warranty and lifetime warranty on the seal...
I have a knighthawk. It must be a very decent BC for the rec diver, but I don't think there are many active members who are using any ScubaPro BCs including Knighthawk in our board. Most active members are using BP/W. In addition, we have many Zeagle guys here, too.
SP bc only comes with 2 year warranty and lifetime warranty on the seal...
I use a Knighthawk. I haven't dove the Ranger, so I also can't be un-biased either. I do love my knighthawk though. It's a very comfortable fitting BC, it's light, and other features like the integrated weights that clip in instead of using velcrow or something are great. I also enjoy the back inflation far more than the jacket style BC's.
Most of the people I dive with dive SP BC's, and I haven't heard any complaints.
The only thing that I would change about the knighthawk is the lack of pockets. There is one very small pocket (I keep my mask defogger in there) and then a roll out pocket.
Most of the people I dive with dive SP BC's, and I haven't heard any complaints.
The only thing that I would change about the knighthawk is the lack of pockets. There is one very small pocket (I keep my mask defogger in there) and then a roll out pocket.
We carry both, so my bias is on what I like... not what I sell... The zeagle has a life time warranty instead of a few years... And the zeagle is component design. I can remove the shoulders and replace just them, or the waist panel, or the bladder instead of replacing the whole bc if I have a problem. That also allows for very customized fitting, where we can take say, large shoulders and put them on a medium waist panel for the tall skinny person.
I much prefer the zeagle weight system, a one move action to dump both sides - while it a 2 step on each side to release the scubapro weights - and then - you've lost your weight pockets.
And as previously mentioned - the pockets on a knight hawk are virtually non-existent, and you have 2 big zippered ones on the ranger.
I also like the 2 tank straps on a Zeagle vs. one on the Scubapro.
But I find the ranger bladder very bulky. The knight hawk is more streamline in the bladder department. The ranger bladder was originally designed for diving twin tanks... and I'm a single tank kind of guy.
That is why I had Zeagle custom make the Brigade for me... which is basically a Ranger, with an extra roll down pocket, but put on a more stream line bladder - much like the one on the knight hawk, it is also used on the escape, and the zena.
So you gave a choice between the two... when faced with a choice between two things - why not take the best of both? http://scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?product_id=ZeagleBrigade
I much prefer the zeagle weight system, a one move action to dump both sides - while it a 2 step on each side to release the scubapro weights - and then - you've lost your weight pockets.
And as previously mentioned - the pockets on a knight hawk are virtually non-existent, and you have 2 big zippered ones on the ranger.
I also like the 2 tank straps on a Zeagle vs. one on the Scubapro.
But I find the ranger bladder very bulky. The knight hawk is more streamline in the bladder department. The ranger bladder was originally designed for diving twin tanks... and I'm a single tank kind of guy.
That is why I had Zeagle custom make the Brigade for me... which is basically a Ranger, with an extra roll down pocket, but put on a more stream line bladder - much like the one on the knight hawk, it is also used on the escape, and the zena.
So you gave a choice between the two... when faced with a choice between two things - why not take the best of both? http://scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?product_id=ZeagleBrigade
ronpriskie
Contributor
ththooft, you hit the nail on the head! A real pocket on my Knighthawk would be a pleasure! Other than that, I love it!
djanni
Contributor
tiburon72157:
IMHO a better comparrison is the Knighthawk (reviewed a time or two by Rodales) and the Zeagle Brigrade or Zeagle Stiletto.
The Ranger is larger and more adaptable to different diving needs than is a NightHawk. I use a Stiletto but I do like the fit and feel of a KnightHawk. The Ranger is more bc than I need. I think the Zeagle brand is at the head of the class.
Don
Knighthawk , I like mine , and it does have a very comfortable "backpack" feal to it that I like when walking across those large beach to get to the ocean, beach dives
DB
DB
I've used them both--the Ranger (LTD) for Monterey Diving (more lift) and the NightHawk for tripical diving. It doesn't hold as much lead as the Ranger, but was more streamlined, as Larry pointed out, so the Nighthawk was better suited for travel (for me). In the end, I got rid of the Nighthawk and got a Zeagle Stiletto--I'm very happy with the Stiletto, and I've got the same weight release mechanism for both my BCDs.
I use the Zeagle Ranger and love it......I fit the profile that Larry was talking about (tall and skinny) and I have to say that the modular ability of the Ranger has helped tremendously with the fit of the BC for me. I just returned recently from Bonaire with my Ranger and it worked wonderfully with only one complaint. The bladder is quite large and bulky especially for travelling. Had the Brigade been available when I purchased this from Larry, I would have probably gone with it, but I dont regret my Zeagle purchase in the least, and will purchase from them in the future. Hope this helps
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