Travel BC: Zeagle or Scubapro?

[tkdgodess]

Scubapro litehawk is wearing well. Its my pool bcd, 4years old... 5-10hours pool a month.

 

[humuhumunukunuku]

as far as bcd's go....zeagle kicks the crud out of scubapro! i've had a zeagle stilletto for 7 years and it's still doing great, and i love the rec/tec combo. the scout mentioned is made of the same very durable 1000 denier fabric (unheard of for travel bcds) and just has fewer pockets than the stilleto. if you are diving warm water then you can just use the two weight pockets on the tank strap on each side of the tank. they do have red handles at the bottom you can pull to ditch the weight and having the weight close to the tank instead of further out on your waist is even more stable and very nice. we had scubpro bcd's at one shop i worked at and i hated them! felt sorry for the customers.

 

[Lopez116]

I've taken my Stilletto everywhere for the past 7 years and love it. I don't know if it's a "travel bc" per se, but it travels fine. We fit my Stilletto, my wife's Zena, two reg sets, and two fin sets in a roller bag with no problems.


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[EL Pistoffo]

I've taken my Stilletto everywhere for the past 7 years and love it. I don't know if it's a "travel bc" per se, but it travels fine. We fit my Stilletto, my wife's Zena, two reg sets, and two fin sets in a roller bag with no problems.


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Not sure it's under the "Travel BC" category. It weighs in at just under 10lbs. I'm sure its a great BC but double my budget. The Scout still seems like a fine BC for myself. Considering our warm water diving and lack of needing a lot of lead, it should serve us fine.

 

[rhwestfall]

OP's got a budget of >$300. That Mach 5 18# wing is $400 list by itself. 18# MACH V Chroma Series *Mariner Blue* : OxyCheq - DiveOps, Analyzers and Scuba Diving Equipment

No personal experience with them but what about an Aqualung Zuma? $299 on LeisurePro recently. They even come with weight pockets included. (or optional?)

Although I'm personally leaning towards an Express Tech myself with the Zip Touch weight system. Won't be under $300 though.

Without much effort, this is $418.25 (no sales tax, and free shipping too), yes, above $299...

Colored OxyCheq 18 lb Travel Wing Closeout discounts on sale OxyCheq - $275...
OMS Continuos Weave Harness discounts on sale OMS - $30.00
Dive Rite Aluminum Backplate discounts on sale Dive Rite - $85.00
Dive Rite Stainless Steel Cam Latch Tank Strap discounts on sale Dive Rite - $28.25

want it for home or more lift (the 30 is a tiny bladder too):

Colored OxyCheq 30 lb Mach V Wing Closeout discounts on sale OxyCheq - $275

---------- Post added February 10th, 2014 at 09:39 AM ----------

or a package: - $375.00

BackPlate and Wing Package discounts on sale Dive Rite

 

[MasterChief D]

Would you consider a DiveRite TravelPac (http://www.diverite.com/products/catalog/wings/t4000)? Packs flat, lightweight, decent lift, integrated weight pockets if you so wish - I've been diving with one for quite some time & love it. And should in the future decide to go down the BPW route with a TransPac, you won't feel any difference as the harness is the same.

 

[Damselfish]

whatever you decide, remember there's no reason you and your wife have to have the same BC, if that's where you were going - she may very well prefer the fit of a different one than you and should be choosing her own.

 

[agilis]

The thing I like best about my Scout is the comfortable and effortless way it fits. The lack of restriction and the ease of movement can make you almost forget it's there. Sleek as a seal.

Part of this is due to the almost infinite amount of adjustments its modular design allows. It's not perfect, of course; nothing is. The pockets, being a design afterthought (early Scouts had no pockets) are set inconveniently far back. Still, I greatly prefer it to the several other lightweight easily packable BCDs I've used.

 

[Goat_Tower]

OP's got a budget of >$300. That Mach 5 18# wing is $400 list by itself. 18# MACH V Chroma Series *Mariner Blue* : OxyCheq - DiveOps, Analyzers and Scuba Diving Equipment

Cave Adventurers has a BP/W set for $395. If you can scrounge up the $95, it's a good set that will last through most any diving you do.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Thank you all for the advice. You have left me with more to ponder than when I first started.