Storage.... no air or some air?

[JJHACK]

Just curious, I've never considered this before with some average quality BCD's I've owned. However, since spending the money on this higher end Ranger model, I want to be sure it's stored properly whether a week, over night, or a maybe even a month.

Should it be stored as empty as possible or with some inflation?

 

[snowdog61]

dry is more important in my mind to deter bacterial proliferation (and of course in the air condition). I leave mine open at the inflator hose (screw off inflator is one reason I wanted the Zeagle). The bladder just holds the air, the outer shell will actually take the load (pressure) of the filled bladder.

 

[northernone]

Clean and dry first. I've left mine lightly uncapped or somewhat inflated. Avoiding sticking to itself and weird critters living inside

 

[KeithG]

Maybe a LDS per will chip in and tell us how bcds are shipped to them?

We store ours with one of the pressure relief valves removed.

 

[AZNetEng]

I always thought you left air in them. Not a lot, but enough to keep the bladder walls apart.

 

[JJHACK]

I'm glad I asked this with the opinions so far. Seems there is not 100% consensus. I suppose for me logically, I would make sure it was rinsed out and then dried completely on the outside. After which a few manual puffs of air in the bladder keeps it from sticking together. Also my paranoia, lets me be certain that there is nothing leaking either, after a couple days of sitting with some air.

 

[AZNetEng]

I'm glad I asked this with the opinions so far. Seems there is not 100% consensus. I suppose for me logically, I would make sure it was rinsed out and then dried completely on the outside. After which a few manual puffs of air in the bladder keeps it from sticking together. Also my paranoia, lets me be certain that there is nothing leaking either, after a couple days of sitting with some air.

Exactly how I clean mine at the end of the weeks diving. I rinse with water several times, BC conditioner in, rinsed and dried for a week then about 5 breaths in manually, and on the BC hangar in the closet, with regs underneath.

 

[Belzelbub]

After a thorough rinse with the hose, I drain then hang upside down to dry. Once dry, I bring inside where it is stored in a climate controlled environment. The inflator (Octo-Z) is removed and stored with the regulator, so the inflator hose is open. There is a little fluffiness, but it's open to the air, so not under any pressure greater than ambient.