Triple L BC for slim 16year old girl

[eowens]

Just looked at the triple L site ...Great prices and good reviews on this board! My question is ..How to measure for the best fit and are the inflator hose fittings a standard type of fitting or are they propriatary.Any style recomendations or reviews.

Thanks. Big EV.

 

[Marek K]

Just looked at the triple L site ...Great prices and good reviews on this board! My question is ..How to measure for the best fit and are the inflator hose fittings a standard type of fitting or are they propriatary.Any style recomendations or reviews.

Thanks. Big EV.

As you may have seen from different posts from different people with different Triple-L BCDs, they seem to run larger than the size chart indicates. I think that's particularly true if they're used with a thin suit, or without an exposure suit.

And returns can be expensive, relative to their prices (check their policies).

What I would advise is to check the size chart, and evaluate how close you are to the upper or lower limits of the size. If you're not wearing much exposure protection and are close to the bottom end of the size, consider trying one size smaller. And if you will be wearing a significant exposure suit, remember to factor in its thickness... Using basic geometry, a 7mm wetsuit should add about 4-1/2 cm or 1-3/4" to your circumference at the surface. (Any double-checks? Circumference = 3.14 x diameter?)

I have one of their Stratos BCD's. Haven't gotten it wet yet; but the quality and features seem great, particularly considering the price. On the other hand, it's quite heavy, probably due to the heavy-duty materials.

I've gotten a size S Stratos for our 14-year-old son, tall but skinny (5'7", 110 lb). Fits fine. Also seems to fit my size 9, 125-lb wife.

We've also gotten a Juvi for our 12-year-old daughter -- haven't dived it either. She's tiny. The Juvi only comes in XS, and it fits her OK. But there does seem to be a size gap between the XS Juvi and like the S Stratos. So it may depend where your "slim" 16-year-old falls, size-wise.

Yes, the inflator fittings are standard.

--Marek

 

[xSandman3]

My 11 year old dives a Juvi. She's 4'10" and 87 lbs., and it's almost too small for her. My 14 year old uses a small Pegasus back inflate. She's 5'2" and about 115lbs. It's a little big on her, but not so much that it's dangerous. She really likes the back inflate and integrated weights. The power inflator is pretty rugged looking and the whole bc is built like a tank. Dollar for dollar, you can't beat Triple-L, especially for kids who are going to outgrow a bc every year or so.

 

[kidspot]

Triple - L just redid their sizing charts so before second guessing them, I'd suggest asking on their forum about the changes, etc..

Aloha, Tim

 

[Marek K]

Triple - L just redid their sizing charts so before second guessing them, I'd suggest asking on their forum about the changes, etc..

Aloha, Tim

Good point, Tim. I know they re-did their wetsuit charts a couple years ago, because they were apparently off in the other direction. And they've been doing a lot of re-vamping of their web site in general lately (to include, unfortunately, raising prices... with the weak dollar, I can understand that).

Still, my chest measurement is 43.5", which is even on the high side of XL according to their current chart. But the size L BCD I've got is none too small, at least with a 1mm Microprene suit.

But my overall point is still valid... to be careful size-wise, because their return policy is relatively expensive... a $35 re-stocking fee unless something is their fault. And I've never seen a flat answer from them as to whose fault it would be if a by-the-chart BCD still doesn't fit right.

What I would do is get an assurance from them in that regard, in advance -- on their forum, as you say, now that their live chat feature has apparently been discontinued.

Please understand -- I'm a big Triple-L fan, and have bought a lot of their stuff! I think any size-related risk is worth it.

--Marek