Travel or Non-Travel BC

[stever2002]

Ok - I'm in the North East US where diving is generally cold. No, I haven't explored dry suits yet, but I don't want to rule it out, either. Also, I've always been a bit challenged with my buoyancy. Others have told me that getting my own BC will allow me to apply some consistency to the problem.

So I'll probably dive around home to keep up my skills, but am looking to vacation and travel more. So, should I look for a travel BC or non-travel BC. I do like the "jacket" style, hence the Knight Hawk or Axiom are on my short list right now, but are obviously heavier then travel BCs. When ever I try on a travel BC, I just don't have that "nice secure feeling" that I'm used to. Maybe its just me and that I've logged <20 dives.

Questions for conversation:
Does anyone travel with a standard (Knight Hawk or Axiom) sized jackets?
At what point in your diving career did YOU invest in a BC?
Is it worth the consistency to drag it around the globe? I do own regs, computer and the typical personal gear.

Any tips welcome (although the budget doesn't allow me to buy both right now!),
-PH

 

[dmaziuk]

Does anyone travel with a standard (Knight Hawk or Axiom) sized jackets?
At what point in your diving career did YOU invest in a BC?
Is it worth the consistency to drag it around the globe?

1,3. My gear, including my backplate and wing (here, I said it), packs into a (1.5" longer than 'standard' carry-on size) backpack. We take a checked bag for stuff that can't go into cabin luggage, but with my kit out of there, there's plenty of room. So my better half bought herself a regular-sized jacket instead of a "travel" type. If you're taking a checked bag anyway, and have room in it, why not.

2. Part of it is how soon you will pay the price of a BCD in rental fees and that depends on how much you vacation-dive.

Edit: I'd say dive more first. And try to rent different BCs while you're at it, back-inflates and BP&Ws if you can find them, before you decide what to buy.

 

[BoltSnap]

The two BC's you are evaluating can be used for local, New England, and for travel no issues. I am more familiar with the AL Axiom and it is a fairly "light" BC and it will work for travel for sure. Did you look at the "SeaHawk" also? I was considering the Seahwak to fit me better with drysuit. If you decide that you need a second BC for travel, I'd look at the Equator from SP also. It is VERY light and very compact when folded yet it is a full featured BC.

 

[mi000ke]

I got my own BCD (and wetsuit, reg set, fins, computer, etc) shortly after getting certified, primarily for the reason you mentioned - the ability to dial in my buoyancy with some consistency, plus just general familiarity with my equipment makes diving much more pleasurable. It pays for itself over time as well. Once I got my new equipment I did an hour of private instruction to dial in my buoyancy, weighting and trim (essentially a peak performance buoyancy course), and that really helped.

I do all my diving in warm climates, so wanted something that could travel but more substantial than a travel bcd. I settled on the Zeagle ExpressTech (lots of favorable reviews on SB) which is sort of a prepackaged BP/W. It would work fine up north as well. I travel with all my gear, but as I'm usually going to a Caribbean island I don't need much space in the suitcase for clothing

 

[diversteve]

Small point - an Axiom is a traditional Jacket BC - a Knighthawk is more correctly a Back-inflation BC since all the floatation is behind you on it. If "secure" is liking the way a jacket wraps around, squeezes slightly and holds you vertical at the surface maybe the Knighthawk isn't a good match.

Assuming your interest is increased lift for cold water wetsuit diving - here's another option.

In addition to Zeagle's Express Tech - which comes standard with a 24lb. lift wing - you can upgrade to a 34 - possibly even larger wing (Zeagle wings aren't the cheapest though) and swap them if needed for cold water use - they also sell their Stiletto model as

A rugged BC for travel and local diving that doesn't compromise on features - See more at: Stiletto BC

It's a slightly smaller/lighter conventional BC (bungied wing etc.) rather than a true "travel BC".I did stuff one into a legal sized carry-on roller bag once but it just barely fit leaving room for almost nothing else. I don't think that's their idea though, just less bulk in your checked bag. Compared to my Ranger it's quite a bit smaller. I believe the wing is sewn on - not interchangeable like others in their line.

 

[stever2002]

Small point - an Axiom is a traditional Jacket BC - a Knighthawk is more correctly a Back-inflation BC since all the floatation is behind you on it. If "secure" is liking the way a jacket wraps around, squeezes slightly and holds you vertical at the surface maybe the Knighthawk isn't a good match...

You are right, sorry. The ScubaPro I was looking at was the Glide X.

All great points, gang.
-PH

 

[BoltSnap]

You are right, sorry. The ScubaPro I was looking at was the Glide X.

All great points, gang.
-PH

The Glide X is a solid versatile BC and I'd love to use it in our dive school if it were available in our area but it isn't unfortunately. Since you are in New England and most likely you will go for a dry suit sooner or later if you are going to be an active local diver (I was for over 20 years there starting when I was attending WPI), I'd recommend the Seahawk over the Glide X since it will be much more accommodating in sizing and comfort for the time when you will make the transition to a dry suit. If you know for certain that you won't get a drysuit, then Glide X is excellent choice.

The Glide X, or even the Seahawk, will be OK for travel but the Equator is far more appropriate for travel if you can afford owning two BC's, one for local diving and one for travel.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Ok - I'm in the North East US where diving is generally cold. No, I haven't explored dry suits yet, but I don't want to rule it out, either. Also, I've always been a bit challenged with my buoyancy. Others have told me that getting my own BC will allow me to apply some consistency to the problem.

Questions for conversation:
Does anyone travel with a standard (Knight Hawk or Axiom) sized jackets?
At what point in your diving career did YOU invest in a BC?
Is it worth the consistency to drag it around the globe? I do own regs, computer and the typical personal gear.

Any tips welcome (although the budget doesn't allow me to buy both right now!),
-PH

Yes, having your own BC (and all gear, for that matter) helps you with your buoyancy because each time you dive, you know exactly how much weight you need and how your equipment performs and feels. It's consistent and you take the guesswork out of using a dive to figure out how much weight, if the size is right, etc. For our regs and computer, we know how it breathes and that it has been serviced or when our computer beeps at us, we know what it means or what the numbers we are looking at are. There's already newness to diving in a new place with a new group of people or DM, it's one less thing to worry about.

I have a Ladyhawk and my dive buddy/SO has a Knighthawk. We live in California and local diving is cold - drysuit or semi-dry cold. They have enough lift for local diving and are also manageable enough for packing and traveling to tropical climates for diving. We love it. You may also want to look at the Hydros Pro if you are considering the Knighthawk. It's more expensive, but it has enough lift for local cold water diving and is lighter and more packable for travel than the Knighthawk.

I did not invest in a BC or reg until I was about 40 dives in. At that point, I had a good idea of what I did and didn't like in speaking with people about their experiences on dive boats, here on Scubaboard, and the items I've rented. I invested in a dive computer first before everything else though - I liked not having to tinker and learn whatever was on the rental fleet of the shop.

 

[2airishuman]

Questions for conversation:
Does anyone travel with a standard (Knight Hawk or Axiom) sized jackets?

Some do. I encounter them in my travels.

At what point in your diving career did YOU invest in a BC?

I bought a backplate and wing before my first pool session.

Is it worth the consistency to drag it around the globe?

Yes, but not the way you think. Core buoyancy skills are largely the same across BCs.

The consistency comes in: all the straps being exactly the right length, all the D rings being in exactly the right places, all my gear stowed in the same spot it always goes, the length of the corrugated hose being the same, weight and trim being what I expect, etc.

I do own regs, computer and the typical personal gear.

You'll go far.

Any tips welcome

On my most recent trip I took my DSS backplate and a 17# wing and was well pleased with the portability and the performance in the water. I made a bag to fit the backplate and hold all my stuff, photos are in another thread. It worked out pretty well overall. I may bring a lighter backplate next time.