Travel BCs jacket style - and sadly negative experience

[scubadada]

Hi @pelan-pelan

I have had Scubapro BCs for 20 years, more than 2000 dives, have never lost a weight pocket, extremely secure, visibly locked. At the same time, easy to release and safely hand up when diving from a liveaboard RIB.

The SureLock weight pockets on the Aqua Lung Outlaw were one of the things I disliked about it in the short time I used it. I was always afraid I was going to lose one.

 

[JMBL]

My travel BCD is a Scubapro Go : light weight (even in the xxl size) confortable, reliable, easy to put on and to pack, and to install on the tank. Can't complain.

 

[mcohen1021]

I had a back inflate , and hated it.

If you pay attention closely the original poster had a problem with the cressi travel BC… I have 27 dives on my new Cressi travel BC and I have not had a problem with the weight pockets….. I will agree that sometimes they are difficult to clip in but once they are clipped in how would they possibly come out?

All dive equipment is personal preference. For example, I am not a fan of scuba pro equipment and will never buy a piece of scuba pro equipment.

 

[Cheizz]

I had a quick look around on the major brand websites. There are not many BCs out there that are jacket style (i.e. not just back-inflate, but the bladder actually wrapping around your sides), have integrated weight systems but not those click-type pockets AND are kind of light-weight (since you want something to travel with).
I could find only two: the Scubapro Go (as mentioned above), and the Beuchat Infinity Light Weight. All others are back-inflate (Scubapro Hydros Pro, for example), or have those weight systems that you don't want.
Perhaps I should also the Tusa Crestline. It has no integrated weight as such, but it does have zippered pockets which you could fill with lead weights.

 

[Cheizz]

I had a back inflate , and hated it.

If you pay attention closely the original poster had a problem with the cressi travel BC… I have 27 dives on my new Cressi travel BC and I have not had a problem with the weight pockets….. I will agree that sometimes they are difficult to clip in but once they are clipped in how would they possibly come out?

All dive equipment is personal preference. For example, I am not a fan of scuba pro equipment and will never buy a piece of scuba pro equipment.

Actually, Cressi has had several travel BCs: the Travelight, the Lightwing, the Travelwing... All just slightly different. I am not at all trying to downplay OP's bad experience with the BC. Just adding notes for myself. Just want to know which travel BC had these issues. Not just with the weights, but also with the airdump.

 

[mcohen1021]

I understand. I'm just saying if the thing is properly clicked in I don't know how it could possibly come out as it took significant effort to make it come out afterwards….. My guess is its usually user error and not properly clicked in

mine has 27 dives without a single issue

 

[BoltSnap]

SP has the Hydros X that came out last year which is a jacket style BC with all of the features of its back inflate Hydro Pro but in jacket style. A former student of mine bought the Hydros X last year and he is always raving about it and especially how "stable" it is u/w.

Hydros X: https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/bcds/bcds/hydros-x-bcd-men

Hydros Pro: https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/bcds/bcds/hydros-pro-bcd-men

Glide BC (traditional jacket style that is fits very secure): https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/bcds/bcds/glide-bcd


Seahawk 2 BC (backinflate in jacket form. Good for travel and local diving): https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/bcds/bcds/seahawk-2-bcd



Go BCD (VERY light jacket style BC): https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/bcds/bcds/go-bcd

 

[BoltSnap]

I understand. I'm just saying if the thing is properly clicked in I don't know how it could possibly come out as it took significant effort to make it come out afterwards….. My guess is its usually user error and not properly clicked in

mine has 27 dives without a single issue

Its design leaves no margin for error and hence it isn't an optimal design. It had at least one, maybe two, recalls few years ago. The Scubapro design is simple, sturdy and doesn't allow for "user errors" and hence is a much more reliable and reliable design. I have been using the SP weigh integration design since circa 1996 in many different models and NEVER had any issue with it, none, not even a single instance of failure. In fact, the SP weight pocket system is designed to continue to work and hold the weight pockets even if one of the plastic clips that holds it is broken. Same can't be said of the AL, Mares and Cressi designs.

 

[Cheizz]

Is 9.71 lb / 4.4 kg considered 'light-weight', or at least enough for the BC to be 'travel-friendly'? The Hydros X weighs that much (according to the Scubapro website). Just curious as to what weight you guys think is travel-friendly.

 

[mcohen1021]

The Scubapro design is simple, sturdy and doesn't allow for "user errors"

Unless the thing clips itself in, everything has a margin for human error