Zeagle BCD's - Which one??

[BB1]

Hi Folks,

I'm still fresh in the diving world and looking for some advice on which Zeagle BCD is going to be best for me and the diving I'll be doing.

I currently live on Australia's east coast in warm to temparate waters so I only need a 3mm wetsuit and occasionaly a 5mm in mid winter.

PADI AOW now and current plans are only to progress training as far as wreck penetration, Nitrox and maybe just maybe PADI deep (40M?) - not looking to dive with doubles (yet but who knows...).

Currently I dont see me in a BP/W or harness so I've been looking at the Zeagle range of BCD's and can't decide which would be best for me now and into the future?

I am a big sturdy fella - 6'4" and 240lb's (110kg) and even proportions. It takes 18lb's of lead for me in a 3mm suit with jacket BCD and AL80. Thats a lot on a belt so would like to reduce this and integrate most into the BCD.

I am torn between the Brigade, Stilleto (STD and LTD) or Ranger in about that order.

I do think the 44lb Ranger wing is to much for me with single tank but may be wrong due to my physcal size?

I wish the Brigade came with the heavier duty Stilleto wing and I reckon the choice might be easier then.

Sorry for the essay but trying to give as much info as possible to help with the advice from you more experienced divers.

Does anyone know if they have a womens brigade for the wife using the womens ranger harness??? Wife wants new toys to..

 

[burna]

Hey BB1,

I was in virtually the same position as you a couple of years ago. I bought a Stiletto bc and I liked it a lot. I was living in Brissie at the time too but have since moved to Melb.

I can understand your reluctance to go down the BP/W path as almost no one dives them on the regular charters up there, well ... I only ever saw 1 anyway.

I would urge you to at least give a BP/W a try, I have just recently retired my stiletto and got a zeagle BP and (for me) the difference was amazing. I only have a handful of dives on it so far, but I wish I had tried one out at the start.

(One of my buddies is going to give me such a caining if she reads this as I said I wouldn't be one of those posters singing the praises of BP/W all the time!! )

You can put all the intergrated weight systems on the zeagle BP too if you want.

Shop around but make sure you at least shoot this guy an email.
www.divetub.com.au

Hope this is of some help.

 

[herman]

Pretty much any of them will do. If you are going to be traveling by air, weight and size needs to be taken into consideration. Don't worry about doubles, if you decide to go with doubles later you will need a different BC anyway.....even with the BP you would need to swap wings. Don't go overboard with the lift, 35lbs is usually plenty of most anyone unless you are diving big steel tanks or doubles. As long as you have enough lift to float the tank/reg/weights at the surface then you have plenty of lift.

 

[SkimFisher]

Don't bother getting a Zeagle that doesn't come with the ripcord weight system. If you THINK you might dive doubles - then get something that will take doubles. It's a difference of $200 now vs. $600 a year from now. Buy more than you need. If you buy the minimum you are leaving yourself no room to evolve. I dive a Ranger LTD and it's a great BC. It will dive doubles. It's got more D-rings than I know what to do with - and I like that - because it leaves me room to grow without having to purchase an entirely new BC.

 

[Shark Bait!]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...h-first-last-bc-most-will-ever-need-want.html

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

I know that you want to go with the Zeagle BC, however, I know that a lot of divers complain about the weight integration design (rip cord). If you want a soft pak, I would recommend a DiveRite Transpac.

Dive Rite Trans Pac Package ST3000P *Buy Dive Rite at DIVESEEKERS.com 888-SCUBA-47

I know you said that you don't want one but I recommend what "Burna" said and you should entertain a BP & Harness System.

Halcyon Eclipse System HES *Buy Halcyon at DIVESEEKERS.com 888-SCUBA-47

I think that they must becoming more popular in Australia because we shipped a bunch of them there this past year. If you go with a Halcyon Eclipse System with the 6lbs insert then you'll probably need no wgt at all. If you like the idea of ditchable wght then you won't need the 6lbs insert for the sta and you'll just use the wght pockets that the system comes with.

 

[ScottZeagle]

I know that you want to go with the Zeagle BC, however, I know that a lot of divers complain about the weight integration design (rip cord). If you want a soft pak, I would recommend a DiveRite Transpac.

I'm just curious - where are all these divers who complain about the ripcord weight system?

There are thousnads and thousands of users who have zero issues with it...and numerous people on this forum alone who swear that it is the best thing ever...but you guys don't sell Zeagle, so of course you will recommend the DiveRite gear...

 

[SkimFisher]

I'm just curious - where are all these divers who complain about the ripcord weight system?

There are thousnads and thousands of users who have zero issues with it...and numerous people on this forum alone who swear that it is the best thing ever...but you guys don't sell Zeagle, so of course you will recommend the DiveRite gear...

I second that. Never met a single one.

 

[claymore]

Never heard of a ripcord failure but several cases of velcro or clasp systems failing or improperly attached.

 

[Hatul]

I know that you want to go with the Zeagle BC, however, I know that a lot of divers complain about the weight integration design (rip cord). If you want a soft pak, I would recommend a DiveRite Transpac.

Dive Rite Trans Pac Package ST3000P *Buy Dive Rite at DIVESEEKERS.com 888-SCUBA-47

I know you said that you don't want one but I recommend what "Burna" said and you should entertain a BP & Harness System.

Halcyon Eclipse System HES *Buy Halcyon at DIVESEEKERS.com 888-SCUBA-47

I think that they must becoming more popular in Australia because we shipped a bunch of them there this past year. If you go with a Halcyon Eclipse System with the 6lbs insert then you'll probably need no wgt at all. If you like the idea of ditchable wght then you won't need the 6lbs insert for the sta and you'll just use the wght pockets that the system comes with.

I hate to be cynical but you carry Halcyon and DiveRite and not Zeagle. So a lot of people complain about Zeagle weight integration. I bet lots also complain about lack of weight integration and try to add all kinds of weight pockets to all those BP harnesses and DiveRite TransPac.

There's a bit of a conflict of interest in your advice.

Adam