Try before you buy?

[Mike126]

Ok so it looks like I might not be able to actually try the BC that I'm looking at buying (Zeagle Brigade). I've called the shops in the area that handle Zeagle and none of them rent the Ranger or other Zeagles. The quarry I dive at is having a demo day on 9/9 but it's not looking good that I'll be able to go that day due to some other commitments. And to top it off I don't know anyone that dives a Ranger. :shakehead

About the only thing I can do is try on a Ranger in a local shop. Since I want to get the Brigade from ScubaToys I don't have much options other than to go with a store fitting.

So.... how many of you have bought BCs without actually diving them first?

 

[sasscuba]

Bought my Brigade without ever seeing one in person. Got sized over the phone with Larry. Best BC I have ever owned. This is also my first back inflate in 25 years and will never go back to a jacket! Did not know what I was missing. Highly Highly recommend the Zeagle Brigade!!

 

[DiveMaven]

I wasn't able to test my Zeagle Zena in the water prior to buying, and once we got the sizing sorted out, I've never looked back. Excellent quality BC, and the customer service from both Zeagle and ScubaToys is unmatched IMO. Go for it!!

 

[spectrum]

What you desribe is often the reality of BC shopping. If you are real lucky the shop will let you take a BC into the pool. Most rental gear is at the basic low end and not the stuff most folks I know are buying.

If you can at least try it on dry before buying you can get a pretty good sense. Wear a heavy sweatshert in lieu of your drysuit and see how it wraps to you. Much of the rest is feature shopping so do your homework. I bought my Sherwood Avid after trying another divers while wearing a sweatshirt and it has worked out just fine.

That being said I was not a fussy diver. In class I got the short end of the selection and dove too big and too small BC on occasion and other than fitting like crap I handled them and did OK. My wife on the other hand really needed to be in somehting she knew fit so we made the rounds of the shops with pools until she said Eureka.

Pete

Pete

 

[Doc Intrepid]

So.... how many of you have bought BCs without actually diving them first?

Homer,

After the above question, the next one to ask is this one:

"So.... how many of you have bought a BC that you thought you wanted only to discover in about 3 months that it wasn't what you really wanted after all, and now you had to try to eBay your BC and deal with that?"

Here are a few options to think about:

1. Dunno where you are located (fill out your profile and it will be easier for people to respond to you with relevant information), but there is likely a scuba club somewhere in your general vicinity. Scuba clubs are filled with guys (gender indiscriminant) who have drawers and closets and bins full of items they bought without actually diving them first that they now do not use, and you may very well find someone in the club who owns what you want and will be perfectly willing to let you dive it before buying for the price of a beer or two.

2. There are way more than 50,000 divers on this board, and chances are likely that some of them dive a Zeagle of the flavor you're seeking, plus they may live in your general vicinity. See if anyone on the board has one who lives close to where you live. They too may be willing to meet up with you and let you dive it for minimal outlay.

3. Failing all else, Scott Zeagle (HMFWIC, Zeagle) is a member of this board also. I suspect that if you PM him and ask him to see whether any Zeagle dealers in your state would help you acquire the Zeagle BC of your dreams, Scott will most likely figure out a way to make that happen. He appears to be a customer-service-oriented kind-of-guy...

Best with your quest, and generally speaking it's always more likely to wind up with you happy if you try before you buy. (Alternately, you could join a scuba club with your tupperware bin of items that "seemed like good ideas at the time", just like the rest of us! )

Welcome to ScubaBoard!

Doc

 

[The Kraken]

I'm with Spectrum on this one . . .

I think so many times the advice to try the B/C on thinks one may purchase is just hollow advice.

I know of no shops in our area that rent out top of the line gear for someone to "try out" before purchasing.

All of the rental gear is just that, rental gear.

There are numerous shops that will give one an in-store credit if one is not satisfied with the product, but the sale has been made none-the-less.

the K

 

[Mike126]

Doc - Sorry my profile is not up to date. I'm in Herndon VA (across the river from you).

Kraken - I'd rather do with ScubaToys and the Brigade on this one so the LDS buy then try is not a real option.

I'm off to an LDS that carries Zeagle this morning to try one on. I'll take a large sweatshirt to simulate the wetsuit.

Mike

 

[TravisD]

Given that the Brigade is made of normal Zeagle parts, perhaps the LDS would be able to put the same package together for you?

 

[Mike126]

I'm back from the LDS. I tried on the Stiletto and Ranger. While the Ranger is definately the heavier duty BC the LDS seemed to think the Stiletto would fit my recreational needs better. I actually liked working with the LDS (a new one for me) so I will probably spend a few extra dollars and buy through them.

The Ranger seemed to provide slightly better lumbar support. I'm not sure if that's an issue or not when diving. And I could add the lumbar pad to the Stiletto if I wanted to.

So now its a matter of deciding on the Ranger vs. Stiletto.

Too many choices!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I'm actually in Arlington, myself. PM me some time and we'll go diving!

It's all about the choices...

You'll likely do well with either one.

Best,

Doc