Zeagle Brigade vs Dive Rite Transpac II vs Mares Jubilee

[AC Boy]

i'm currently looking for a weight integrated and back inflated BC, and am considering either the following:

(a) Zeagle Brigade
(b) Dive Rite Transpac II
(c) Mares Jubilee

i've also been asking around for views on which BC i should be getting. what i've been told is that if i don't intend to go into tech diving, then by purchasing the Zeagle or Dive Rite, i will be paying for stuff i won't need on a BC. in this case, i should be looking for more affordable BCs like the Jubilee.

have also been checking out reviews on the board and from what i've read, i'm personally keen on the Zeagle. but there aren't many dealers here in Singapore, and i'm worried maintenance will be costly and inconvenient. i'm currently also having some difficulty in trying on the BC for size, as the only dealer here doesn't carry the Ranger in SM (i figured trying the Ranger would help since the Brigade uses the same harness).

would appreciate it if anybody out there can share their views. much thanks!

 

[marcurts]

I have the transpac 2 and like it because I can configure it the way that works best for me. I can change wings to suit the diving that I'm doing. I don't have weight integration, I use a DUI weight harness.

 

[crpntr133]

I dive the Brigade and all can say is that it is a great BC. Now I will beat Walter to his line when he sees your post and tell you that the Ranger/ Brigade is a design flaw. It traps air. Keep in mind that this is Walter's opinion ( on going joke). If you've done any searching here you know what I am talking about. If not PM me.

I did a review on the Brigade here on SB, just do a search.
On Zeagle's web page they have a sizing chart to go by. I was kinda hesitant to order by the chart but it worked. One, of many, good things about Zeagle is that you can interchange the shoulder and the waist. If you are short and plump, no problem. Tall and skinny, no problem.

I don't totally agree with the "unless you are going tech" idea. The Brigade is a good solid BC and is built to last. And most here will tell you that if you are going tech then buy a back plate with wings.

Maintenance, I really wouldn't worry about that to much but it might need to be factored in. Lets face it, there isn't much to go wrong on a BC and you don't have to have an annual.

Just my $.02.

 

[ae3753]

I have dove the Zeagle Ranger and DiveRite TransPacII. Both are great BCs and you can't go wrong with these choices. Both Ranger/Brigade and TranspacII have strong followings on this board for very good reason, and are two of the most recommended systems. The most recommended is a backplate/wing.

All my diving so far has been recreational, and I don't feel that I paid for things that I didn't need on a BC. Maybe there are a few too many D rings on the harnesses, but I'd rather have the option for optimal gear placement than not have the possibility.

Both the Brigade and TransPac are modular in their design for fit. If you need a L shoulder harness and medium waist, you can order it that way. I actually fit a SM Ranger perfectly, but for the TransPac, I need M/L harness with SM waist. And since you're talking Brigade, then that means you're talking with Larry and ScubaToys. Ask him to size you.

Zeagle Ranger/Brigade:
Great all-inclusive package. Solid construction, heavy material. This thing is built to last, and Zeagle's lifetime warranty affirms this. The harness, while bulkier than the TransPac II, actually fits me better, and holds me more solidly in and out of the water. Never had any buoyancy issues with the Ranger, felt very comfortable. Compared the the TransPacII, I was comfortable in the water faster in my Ranger. The TransPac has more adjustment points, but as the result took more time to find the best fit. Don't know about the Brigade wing, but for the Ranger, it has two rear dumps - which I liked for convenience. The only drawback for me on the Ranger/Brigade harness was that it was all-inclusive. For 2/3 my dives, I don't need weights nor pockets. But with the Ranger, I didn't have the option to remove them.

DiveRite TransPacII:
The TransPacII is also well built, but has a simpler harness. And as the result, less padding and less bulky. As marcurts wrote, one of the best features of the TransPacII is its configurability. If you need weight pockets, you add them to the harness. If you need pockets to hold your back-up mask or slate or whatnot, you can add them to the harness. If you need another wing, you can substitue it (this is true with the Ranger/Brigade harness too). The flip size of this configurability is cost. Each of these items costs money, and can quickly run up the total cost of the BC. The DiveRite has a nice singles wings in the Venture and Travel. IMHO, the donut design for singles is better than the horseshoe design. While the Ranger/Brigade harness is more comfortable, I do like the placement of the rings on the TransPacII more. I like the hip D rings as well as the little rings on the back of the harness. Allows you to clip things on your side and behind, as opposed to clipping it all on your chest/front.

Mares Jubilee:
I haven't seen/dove the Jubilee, but I am cautious of the Mares plastic weight integration system. The display model at a LDS had a broken unit, and it just caused me concern. But I don't know how it broke, but I was a little disturbed none the less. Hopefully someone with experience on the system will jump in and give some feedback.

 

[AC Boy]

And since you're talking Brigade, then that means you're talking with Larry and ScubaToys. Ask him to size you.

Mares Jubilee:
I haven't seen/dove the Jubilee, but I am cautious of the Mares plastic weight integration system. The display model at a LDS had a broken unit, and it just caused me concern. But I don't know how it broke, but I was a little disturbed none the less. Hopefully someone with experience on the system will jump in and give some feedback.

thanks ae3753!

well, i've not actually spoken to larry yet abt sizing, although i've checked out the scubatoys website a few times before. just a query, as i'm living in singapore, would larry be able to size me over the phone or email (with all due respect... i've heard great things abt him!)?

as for the problem with Mares weight integration system, have come across a few threads on the board complaining abt it too.

 

[eandiver]

I would recomend the Transpac II. I got integrated weight pockets with it but have never used them. I too use the DUI weight harness system which puts the weight lower on my body than pockets on a regular belt or the IWS.

Had a Mares Frontier X bc and when the plastic back plate/tank mount broke, after 1 year and there were no replacement parts it kind of put me off Mares.

 

[Debay777]

.................I don't totally agree with the "unless you are going tech" idea...........

I agree with that.

I am currently researching the back plate/wing systems. NO, I am NOT looking into tech diving. Im interested in the Wing systems because of the flexabilty they offer. As many have said, they offer you the abilty to adjust your gear to the dive you are doing. Im tired of hearing, "this is really just for tech diving"....., but Im sure I will never hear the end of it. Tech gear is in many ways "better" than standard rec gear. Of course that statement is based soley on one thing. Diver Preference. Some folks LIKE the jacket over the wing. Some folks like to customize. Other folks just like to dive and dont really get gear intensive because they keep to basic rec diving and are happy with how things work out of the box. GUE and DIR divers cringe when strokes, like me, want to get what is considered tech gear and then stroke it out. I LIKE back inflates and wings. I LIKE the flexabilty they offer. IF thats what you want then get it. I may never dive past 40 meters in my life. I may never penetrate a wreck. But my gear will be comfortable and functional to ME no matter what kind of diving Im doing and will be able to change with me and my diving style. And that is the bottom line. As long as you research your gear, learn to use your gear correctly and safely, then I believe that you are fine. I am getting ready to try the Transpac I. If I like it and the price is rite, its mine.

 

[Zambezi]

I've owned a Jubilee since mid 2004 and have had no problems with the weight integaration (no breakages etc). I've done approximately 80 dives with it, all trouble free. The only downside is that it has no pockets except a very small one on the cumberband.

However, after reading all the replies, I'd go with the Diverite, seems the most versatile.