I'm starting back up with my certifications and want to become a MSDT and tech/cave diver; I will also be performing basic small boat husbandry. I want a piece of equipment that will perform for the next decade or two, with no major issues. . . . So far I've found the Zeagle Ranger!! Versatile and tough . . . Any thoughts on the best BCD for my needs?
I will echo some of the points made by fisheater and decompression. I would not suggest the Ranger for someone interested in pursuing technical or cave diving. That doesn't mean it cannot be made to work - it can, if that is what you already have and are not in a position to acquire better-suited gear. But, it is not the BCD I would purchase to start with. Likewise for teaching, it can be made to work, but it is not the BCD I would purchase to start with.
I bought my Ranger 15 years ago, it was my first BCD. I seldom use it anymore, and it sits in my closet now. Yes, the Ranger is rugged / durable. Historically, Zeagle has also provided excellent customer service (they repaired torn weight pockets on my 11 y.o. Ranger at no charge, as long as I was able to show them my original purchase receipt). How things will go with Huish remains to be seen (not an implied criticism, I just don't have enough experience with the company recently to make an assessment). But, here are some concerns I have - as a long-time Ranger owner, an instructor, a technical diver, and technical instructor:
1. As a BCD for single cylinder diving, the Ranger is generally overkill (44 lbs of lift with the standard bladder). Not only that, you 'use up' some of the lift to accommodate the extra weight most of us need to off-set the inherent positive buoyancy of the unit. I do not like carrying extra weight simply to accommodate my 'floaty' BCD. (If you are exceedingly lean, and even with a Ranger and wetsuit you need no added weight, then you are in a different situation and my comment, above, may not be relevant to your situation.) Yes, you can swap out the standard bladder for a smaller unit (24 lb, 34 lb), but they are only available from Zeagle as horseshoes, not donuts, and swapping isn't all that easy.
2. As a BCD for double cylinders it can be made to work, if you are using DBL AL80s, for example. If you are diving DBL HP130s, with a couple of deco bottles, you may want a bit more lift - at least I do, and 50 lbs is my minimum for that. Yes, you can swap out the bladder for a larger (lift) unit, but the configuration is still not optimal for the kinds of gear (can light, etc) that a technical diver is likely to want to carry.
3. Swapping wings is much easier, and more time-efficient, with a BP than with a Ranger.
4. I wouldn't put a new Ranger in the pool, unless I really like faded color panels
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I personally have found that, for teaching in Confined Water (the pool), using a very inexpensive BCD (in my case, a simple Aqua Lung Wave without integrated pockets) to be preferable. I take my (metal) BP/W in periodically, to show students what they might want to consider when they decide to purchase personal equipment, because of the better weight distribution it offers compared to a jacket or fabric back-inflate. I have not yet found an inexpensive wing that I want to use in the pool on a regular basis, perhaps other instructors have. I do use my BP/W in OW teaching, particularly for AOW and specialty courses.
I do not allow students who wish to pursue technical training with me to use a Ranger with double cylinders. If that is their choice, that's fine, I simply encourage them to seek out another instructor (and I tell them why). I am not in the business of selling gear, so my aversion does not arise from a desire to outfit them in shiny new (and profitable for me or a shop) gear. In fact, I often loan gear - BP/W, cylinders, etc - to students at the beginning so they can focus on their training, not exhaust their wallets with new gear. But, I do not believe a Ranger is the best configuration for someone who is serious about pursuing technical diving.
