I am trying to purchase my first back inflated BC. I can purchase either a SeaQuest Balance or a Zeagle Ranger for about $220. The SeaQuest is through a relative and is almost brand new. The Ranger is on online and says it barely used. Any thoughts on which is more durable or a better buy? Thanks
Which BC should I buy?
- Thread starter vidalex
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
BDSC
Contributor
I have no experience with either one but if I remember correctly, a new Balance is like $450 to $500 so if you can get one that is "like new" for $220 then you'll be getting a really good deal. Either would make a fine BC for you.
Also, if you buy from a relative, you would have a better oportunity to try it on and maybe try it out before you buy.
Also, if you buy from a relative, you would have a better oportunity to try it on and maybe try it out before you buy.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
I agree with BDSC. I haven't personally used either BCD, but both are made by good companies. One of my dive buddies has put 400+ dives on his Balance...and he loves it. Zeagle makes great BCDs, too. The Ranger does have a reputation for being quite durable. $220 is probably a decent price for either BCD.
The key point in my opinion is that your family member is the seller of one of the BCDs. This means that you'll be able to check out the item in person and test it out in a systematic/comprehensive way. If your family member bought the BCD new and there is some sort of warranty issue, I'm sure that he would be willing to help you obtain that warranty service. The other BCD is being sold by a stranger over the Internet. You have no idea if he/she is giving an accurate description of the Ranger. It's simply an unknown quantity.
The key point in my opinion is that your family member is the seller of one of the BCDs. This means that you'll be able to check out the item in person and test it out in a systematic/comprehensive way. If your family member bought the BCD new and there is some sort of warranty issue, I'm sure that he would be willing to help you obtain that warranty service. The other BCD is being sold by a stranger over the Internet. You have no idea if he/she is giving an accurate description of the Ranger. It's simply an unknown quantity.
- Messages
- 26,272
- Reaction score
- 5,883
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
Some observations - I've seen/tried on both (around 2004) and own a Ranger.
So a lot of my comparison points are from the DiversDirect Balance ad.
"more durable" seems to be the Ranger.
Balance:
420-denier nylon construction with plush padding and contour pack with Traction pad.
Ranger:
Heavily reinforced 1050 denier Ballistic nylon construction
Is the used Ranger a 2008 or 2009 model? Prior to 2009 Rangers didn't have a right shoulder pull dump - just the integrated left shoulder/inflator dump. The Balance does. My Ranger wing has 2 lower dumps - from what I read the Balance may only have one.
The Ranger has twice as many d-rings as the Balance - 6 vs. 3.
And the Ranger has almost twice the weight capacity.
Balance weight system:
# Surelock Weight Release System - utilizing up to a total of 20 lbs.
# Non-releasable rear-weight pockets are buckle-locked. Holding up to 5 lbs. in each pocket
Ranger weight system:
# 30-lb capacity Ripcord® weight system
# 20-LB capacity rear trim weight system
The back weight pockets on the Ranger are velcro releasable but they don't release when you pull the Ripcord - only both front pockets dump. I don't know how the Surelock system on the Balance works but it appears that you have to release and drop each pocket separately as needed.
It appears that the Balance is more of a lightweight travel BC whereas the Ranger would be considered a heavy-duty BC. Maybe a better comparison is the Ranger vs. a Seaquest Pro QD or the Balance vs. a Zeagle Stilletto.
I couldn't find the lift for the Balance in the ad but the Standard lift for the Ranger is 44#.
The Ranger will take doubles with an add-on mounting kit - 2 brackets and 2 wingnuts. No mention of that for the Balance. The bladders on the Ranger are also interchangeable from 30 something lbs. up to 85lbs. lift in the event that you do more technical diving in the future. I don't know if the Seaquest line allows for that also.
The Balance has swivel shoulder straps, that's something that Zeagle added to the Ranger for 2009. Although I can't complain about mine. I have the lumbar pad and it's very comfortable - I only dive in a t-shirt.
If there's anything I dislike about the Ranger it's that the pockets sit on top of the weight pockets. So there's the complexity of 4 zippers - in all fairness they open opposite directions - but I've found that it's a lot easier to load/unload the pockets when there's no tank/weight stress on them - either when the BC is sitting in the rack or floating in the water.
If you get the Ranger, see if it has the yellow weight pockets - if not Scubatoys sells them. They make handing weights up onto the boat a lot easier. You don't need them as the Ripcord spacing is close enough that weights don't fall through - once my buddy had a 2lb. bullet weight slip through but he jumped in 4' of water and hit the bottom first.
hth,
So a lot of my comparison points are from the DiversDirect Balance ad.
"more durable" seems to be the Ranger.
Balance:
420-denier nylon construction with plush padding and contour pack with Traction pad.
Ranger:
Heavily reinforced 1050 denier Ballistic nylon construction
Is the used Ranger a 2008 or 2009 model? Prior to 2009 Rangers didn't have a right shoulder pull dump - just the integrated left shoulder/inflator dump. The Balance does. My Ranger wing has 2 lower dumps - from what I read the Balance may only have one.
The Ranger has twice as many d-rings as the Balance - 6 vs. 3.
And the Ranger has almost twice the weight capacity.
Balance weight system:
# Surelock Weight Release System - utilizing up to a total of 20 lbs.
# Non-releasable rear-weight pockets are buckle-locked. Holding up to 5 lbs. in each pocket
Ranger weight system:
# 30-lb capacity Ripcord® weight system
# 20-LB capacity rear trim weight system
The back weight pockets on the Ranger are velcro releasable but they don't release when you pull the Ripcord - only both front pockets dump. I don't know how the Surelock system on the Balance works but it appears that you have to release and drop each pocket separately as needed.
It appears that the Balance is more of a lightweight travel BC whereas the Ranger would be considered a heavy-duty BC. Maybe a better comparison is the Ranger vs. a Seaquest Pro QD or the Balance vs. a Zeagle Stilletto.
I couldn't find the lift for the Balance in the ad but the Standard lift for the Ranger is 44#.
The Ranger will take doubles with an add-on mounting kit - 2 brackets and 2 wingnuts. No mention of that for the Balance. The bladders on the Ranger are also interchangeable from 30 something lbs. up to 85lbs. lift in the event that you do more technical diving in the future. I don't know if the Seaquest line allows for that also.
The Balance has swivel shoulder straps, that's something that Zeagle added to the Ranger for 2009. Although I can't complain about mine. I have the lumbar pad and it's very comfortable - I only dive in a t-shirt.
If there's anything I dislike about the Ranger it's that the pockets sit on top of the weight pockets. So there's the complexity of 4 zippers - in all fairness they open opposite directions - but I've found that it's a lot easier to load/unload the pockets when there's no tank/weight stress on them - either when the BC is sitting in the rack or floating in the water.
If you get the Ranger, see if it has the yellow weight pockets - if not Scubatoys sells them. They make handing weights up onto the boat a lot easier. You don't need them as the Ripcord spacing is close enough that weights don't fall through - once my buddy had a 2lb. bullet weight slip through but he jumped in 4' of water and hit the bottom first.
hth,
- Messages
- 26,272
- Reaction score
- 5,883
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
To the points made by the previous posters - since you live in SoFl, either one is serviceable at DiversDirect since they're dealers for both. And Zeagle is in Zephyr Hills - what is that about 40 mi. from Tampa? I would think that internationally the Seaquest/Aqualung dealer network might be larger.
a22shady
Contributor
go with a Backplate/wing something like a Halcyon Eclipse. You will be much happier in the long run as if you decide to advance further and do more this BC will grow with you.
Joe21
Contributor
Im not so sure about the rip cord system, I think it is just making somthing simple complicated. I can see it having the possibilty of not relsing the weights because the weights get entagled in the rip cord or somthing. I also think that it is nice just to be able to pull the pockets out of your bc quickly to move your bc around.
You really should be getting in the water to try before you buy. A poor fit or layout not to your liking will trump all of the info offered. It's really hard to second guess this outside of a diving situation.
Pete
Pete
It's not possible for the weights to "get entangled in the rip cord". It is really the best integrated weight system I have every seen. It's the only system where I have never once seen an accidental loss of weights, while the ocean floor is littered with pockets from other BC's. I find them all the time. And the ability to just unzip and drop in more weight, or remove weight is far superior to having to yank the pocket out each time.
So coming from one who has used virtually every bc weight system out there... I'd highly suggest the zeagle system.
GrumpyOldGuy
Contributor
I dove a ranger for some time. The rip cord system is the only integrated system I would trust with large amounts of lead. The big drawback of most integrated systems is unexpected release. The ripcord system eliminates this almost completely. The release is good. The ranger is a solid, durable and well designed BCD. I sold mine due to the need to a smaller, lighter and more travel friendly BP/W.
It is possible to remove the weights quickly on deck via the patented system called a zipper
, works great. They even have the yellow weight pockets you can use to keep your weights sorted if you use a collection of smaller ones.The only downside to their system is once you pull the release, it is going to take you 5 minutes topside to thread the zip line. A small price to pay for the rock solid reliability.
Similar threads
