Advertise yes. But customers are not billboards. It just looks crass.
Two specific questions about the Aqualung Zuma
- Thread starter Diver0001
- Start date
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Advertise yes. But customers are not billboards. It just looks crass.
BDSC
Contributor
I now dive the Scubapro Litehawk. It's a great travel BC, has two tank straps, and I can get 20 lbs of weight in it with no problem although I don't use that much. It has two rear trim pouches and has two "accessory pouches" that you could put weights in as well to get to 20 lbs if you need it. Liked it so much I came home after the first trip and sold my other BC. It's all I dive now. Great quality as well.
Different strokes I guess (no pun intended).
I don't like the mares harness either. It's too "loud" for my taste. I may still buy the wing and/or the BP but I'm pretty sure I'll be putting generic strapping on it
I guess the flip side, of course, is that I'm happy to be the Mares poster boy but they need to give that strapping to me for free xD.
If they pay me to wear it I'd reconsider too. It's not just the webbing, the tri-glides are etched with "Mares XR" too!
But the black anodised aluminium D Rings are lightweight and hard to find elsewhere.
admikar
Contributor
I have Apeks WTX 30 wing. It has anti-roll bars built in and with two cambands, steel 15l is not moving at all.
@Diver0001, I guess being called a Mares Poster Boy is not the worst I have ever been called. I agree with you though, it would be nice if I got all the Mares gear for free.
I don't like the mares harness either. It's too "loud" for my taste. I may still buy the wing and/or the BP but I'm pretty sure I'll be putting generic strapping on it
On a quick side note, the picture you uploaded has been photo shopped (not saying you did, because I assume this is downloaded from Google Images), although, I wished it did look like this. The Harness itself only has the logo on one side, so the waist strap is black once it is threaded to the plate. Or of course you could flip the harness to where the logo would not show on the shoulder straps, but then it would show on the waist strap and it would be upside down. But the generic strapping would be the simplest fix. I wonder though, is there anybody that can make me a custom harness with my company's logo???? I need to check into that.
I think Strapworks does that
Custom Straps, Nylon & Polypro Webbings, Metal & Plastic Buckles at Strapworks.com
I have 2 Zumas and hundreds of dives on them - pool, quarry, and tropical. I use between 10-20lbs in the pockets and have used 80cf and 100cf tanks. I've never had any stability issues, assuming you set it up correctly, following the instructions, and cinch the upper strap properly. I bought the first Zuma for travel. I'm a big dude, and my Sherwood BCD was taking up 20% of my 50 lb checked bag. The Zuma, even in XL/XXL, really is less than 5lbs, all in. I found the first one so much easier to deal with that I started using it in the pool for classes. After 2 years, the bladder developed a small leak, but AL replaced the bladder under warranty with a much more robust one (the current design). That original Zuma is 5 yrs old, and now dedicated to pool use. It's going strong with the new bladder. The Zuma is so light and dries so quickly - it's a joy to take on trips.
The D-rings are pretty weak and small - that's true. I also experienced what one poster said about air getting trapped near the shoulder region. But those issues are minor. The only other thing I would add in the negative column is that the cam band sits very low compared to most BCDs. This can cause DMs on boats to set it up incorrectly. If I'm in a setting where someone else handles BCDs, I always show them the proper way and check it. The low cam band can also cause issues with the assembled BCD not fitting in the tank holders on a boat (depends on tank holder design). There are lots of good travel options, as people have said - but don't dismiss the Zuma.
The D-rings are pretty weak and small - that's true. I also experienced what one poster said about air getting trapped near the shoulder region. But those issues are minor. The only other thing I would add in the negative column is that the cam band sits very low compared to most BCDs. This can cause DMs on boats to set it up incorrectly. If I'm in a setting where someone else handles BCDs, I always show them the proper way and check it. The low cam band can also cause issues with the assembled BCD not fitting in the tank holders on a boat (depends on tank holder design). There are lots of good travel options, as people have said - but don't dismiss the Zuma.
Rob
The dss bp/w has a built in single tank adapter. One other thing I like about them is that you can just pull the wing off the plate for packing. Oh and another thing I always forget about my switch from the zuma is how much faster it dries out for packing at the end of each trip. There is just a feeling I have about the dss bp/w when I use it that is like, “this is how it should be, everything you need and nothing you don’t” easy to service the inflator too.
I’ve been criticized on this forum for being a fanboy that should be more humble but it’s hard not to like this gear. Good luck with your decision. Shopping for new gear is it’s own reward.
The dss bp/w has a built in single tank adapter. One other thing I like about them is that you can just pull the wing off the plate for packing. Oh and another thing I always forget about my switch from the zuma is how much faster it dries out for packing at the end of each trip. There is just a feeling I have about the dss bp/w when I use it that is like, “this is how it should be, everything you need and nothing you don’t” easy to service the inflator too.
I’ve been criticized on this forum for being a fanboy that should be more humble but it’s hard not to like this gear. Good luck with your decision. Shopping for new gear is it’s own reward.
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