Zeagle Escape

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H

HDC

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Hi,
Im considering buying the Zeagle Escape, but I have a couple of questions. Firstly is this BC suitable for use in fairly heavy currents in open seas.
I'm also unsure about sizing, I hear Zeagle BCs can run very large. I am 6' tall 190lbs.
I have never dived with a wing. How different is it to diving with the traditional jacket style BC.

Thanks
 
I tried one on in a shop this weekend. I am about your size (ok, 10 lbs heavier, but I'm working on it), and I put on the large. I thought it fit great, especially given some room for a thicker wetsuit. By the size charts, you seem to fall right in the middle of the Large range.

Make sure you look at the Stiletto as well. Very similar, but with some upgrades. Sorry I cannot speak to your other questions, but I am sure there will be plenty of answers for those.
 
HDC:
Hi,
Im considering buying the Zeagle Escape, but I have a couple of questions. Firstly is this BC suitable for use in fairly heavy currents in open seas.
I'm also unsure about sizing, I hear Zeagle BCs can run very large. I am 6' tall 190lbs.
I have never dived with a wing. How different is it to diving with the traditional jacket style BC.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Give me 1/2 inch and we're the same height and weight. I bought a Stiletto - large. Fit's perfectly. Dived the same way. You have a lot of size/fit adjustments with Zeagles anyway.

Probably can't answer your question about suitability for "fairly heavy currents in open seas." I know 3 couples who dive Cozumel at least once year. It's known for it's drift diving. The guy's - one wares a Zeagle Ranger, one a Zeagle Brigrade and lastly, one wares a Dive Rite trans pac. All of those are rear inflation. I know one of the women wares a Zena. Also rear inflation. The other two women ware a jacket style BC but I don't know the brand or why.

Obviously, a suitability decision is for you to make.
 
djanni:
Give me 1/2 inch and we're the same height and weight. I bought a Stiletto - large. Fit's perfectly. Dived the same way. You have a lot of size/fit adjustments with Zeagles anyway.

Probably can't answer your question about suitability for "fairly heavy currents in open seas." I know 3 people who dive Cozumel at least once year. It's known for it's drift diving. One wares a Zeagle Ranger, one a Zeagle Brigrade and lastly, one wares a Dive Rite trans pac. All of those are rear inflation.

Obviously, a suitability decision is for you to make.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. I was thinking about the Red Sea Im ding a liveaboard there diving the Brother Islands, where there are often heavy currents.
 
I understand the dive shop needs to adjust these models each invidual diver. I here nothing but good about Zeagles.

Enjoy
 
ScubaSarus:
I understand the dive shop needs to adjust these models each invidual diver. I here nothing but good about Zeagles.

Enjoy
Click to expand...

It's not that each has to be adjusted to each diver. If someone is a stock size, like HDC or djanni, a stock size BC will work fine. Part of the beauty of the Zeagle BCs is also that it can be adjusted. Because it is made in separate components which you can choose to mix and match.

For example, let's assume I've got a very tall skinny guy looking for a BC... Let's say 6'5" but only weights 160 with a 33 inch waist. There are not a lot of stock BC's that will fit right, but with a Zeagle, I just take a medium, then put some XL should straps on it and viola! And I've made up some XXL waist on Medium shoulders for someone who is very heavy and short.

So it's not really that the shop "needs" to adjust it to the diver... it just the dive shop "can" adjust it if that is necessary. But it's not anything the diver even has to be there for. It's pretty easy for anyone experienced with Zeagle BC's to figure out which size shoulder panel and which size waist panel with just a few measurements and some questions on what type of diving.
 
HDC:
I'm also unsure about sizing, I hear Zeagle BCs can run very large. I am 6' tall 190lbs.
Click to expand...
I am the same dimensions as you. I dive a medium Ranger w/ large shoulder straps. It fits great.
HDC:
I have never dived with a wing. How different is it to diving with the traditional jacket style BC.
Click to expand...
It is a little different. I think the BC is more comfortable while inflated on the surface. This is important if you do a lot of beach diving where long surface kicks on your back are required. On the other hand a fully inflated back inflated BC at the surface does have a lot of drag which can make your surface kick a little more difficult. To get around this I usually deflate my BC until I am just slightly positive before starting a long kick. Underwater I would think that back inflation BC help buoyancy by making it easier to stay horizontal.

I love my back inflation BC. I have never heard of a person who switches from jacket to back inflation not liking the change.

Aaron
 
I have a Zeagle Escape (one of the early models with velcro weight pockets) and I love it for travelling.

If you sort of turn it inside out and fold it in half you can use the cummerbund to hold the unit in a tight bundle. This makes it excellent for packing in a suitcase. I would estimate that rolled up it occupies approximately 14 X 9 X 6 inches of space.

I live in new england and I have found that when diving locally the amount of lift in the bladder is barely sufficient to float the rig with integrated weight installed at the surface when fully inflated. That's the only gripe I have with it.

For warm water diving the unit is just fine, especially cause it rolls up so small for travelling.

Kelsey
 
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