Zeagle Scout v. Aeris Reef Rider v. Seacsub Mitos

[Psyonide]

OK, first gear BCD for me... trying to decide between these 3:

1. Zeagle Scout
2. Aeris Reef Rider
3. Seac Sub Mitos

Both scout and rider go for about $200, the mitos for $250.
I'm an advanced open water diver who dives mainly in warm water. No plans of tech diving anytime soon.

I thought about the bp/w configuration as an option however have not been able to find a good enough deal on those.

So, which is best/better?

 

[diver 85]

Not familiar with the other 2 but I've had the Scout for almost 2 years now & love it---1st BI I had ever used.....I use it with up to 120 hp steel tanks(in Cozumel, with a 2mm shorty & 2mm chicken vest), floats me perfectly.....IMO, you will not go wrong with it.......

 

[Michael Folise]

I am wearing my Reef Rider is the picture at left. It is a great travel BC. Very comfortably packs small and light. $ 200 is an excellent price.

 

[imwright1985]

I have a zeagle nite runner, i like it alot and its very comfortable but one of my friends pointed out the fact the integrated weights is kinda a cheap layout in his opinion and im starting to find that a little myself

 

[pafindr]

I was looking at the Aeris and was wondering, how do you get the weights out?
The Seac BC you need two actions to remove the weights.
The Zeagle only needs one pull on the rip cord to remove the weight.

I have a zeagle nite runner, i like it alot and its very comfortable but one of my friends pointed out the fact the integrated weights is kinda a cheap layout in his opinion and im starting to find that a little myself

I've never heard of a Zeagle nite runner, do you have a picture you can post?

 

[Michael Folise]

The wights are installed through a zipper into a pouch above each hip. The bottom of each pouch is closed by a clip. To release the clip, just squeeze it. Thus, unlike the Ziegle you can choose to release only one of the pouches. With the Zeagle you must release all or none of your weights.

 

[ScottZeagle]

The wights are installed through a zipper into a pouch above each hip. The bottom of each pouch is closed by a clip. To release the clip, just squeeze it. Thus, unlike the Ziegle you can choose to release only one of the pouches. With the Zeagle you must release all or none of your weights.

That's not true.. .

The vast majority of our BCs have front weight pockets and rear weight pockets. If you pull the ripcord, you will dump the front two weight pockets, but not the rear.

However, the original poster asked about the Scout BC, which does not have front weights at all - only the rear weights.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Michael Folise]

The Reef rider is similar. There are two dumpable pouches (one above each hip) and two more non-dumpable on the tank band. Thus, in total there are four pouches, each cabable of holding 5 lbs. each (although I can't imagine why anyone would need that much weight on a warm water dive). I usually have 4lbs. on each hip (independently dumpable) and one lb in each tank band pouch=10lbs. Less if I am not going to wear a wet suit. Using the clips I theoretically can dump 40% or 80% of my total ballast. I can't do that with the Zeagle ripcord system. This isn't a hypothetical difference. Once on a boat dive (small rollover the edge of the boat dive) where they set up all your geat for you and it really isn't possible to do a buddy check they left one of the zippered puches open. Appearently on the roll in I lost one of my weights, didn't cause an insurmoutable problem until near the end of the dive. Had they scerwed up the Zeagle rip cord I could have lost all my weights, although I might have noticed that right away. Lesson leared, after that I never let anyone else set up my gear.

Don't get me wrong- I almost bought the Scout and wouldn't have considered it a mistake if I had. I liked the Reef rider better because of the rolled neck collar, plush lining, (sometimes I dive with just a bathing suit and a rash guard) zero inherent boyancy. If I was going to do a mix of warm and cold water diving I would have picked the Zeagle (more lift, modular, etc.). In my mind the Reef Rider is a maginally better specific purpose (warm water) BC. Also, the Zeagle was substantially more expensive.

 

[diver 85]

The Reef rider is similar. There are two dumpable pouches (one above each hip) and two more non-dumpable on the tank band. Thus, in total there are four pouches, each cabable of holding 5 lbs. each (although I can't imagine why anyone would need that much weight on a warm water dive). I usually have 4lbs. on each hip (independently dumpable) and one lb in each tank band pouch=10lbs. Less if I am not going to wear a wet suit. Using the clips I theoretically can dump 40% or 80% of my total ballast. I can't do that with the Zeagle ripcord system. This isn't a hypothetical difference. Once on a boat dive (small rollover the edge of the boat dive) where they set up all your geat for you and it really isn't possible to do a buddy check they left one of the zippered puches open. Appearently on the roll in I lost one of my weights, didn't cause an insurmoutable problem until near the end of the dive. Had they scerwed up the Zeagle rip cord I could have lost all my weights, although I might have noticed that right away. Lesson leared, after that I never let anyone else set up my gear.

Don't get me wrong- I almost bought the Scout and wouldn't have considered it a mistake if I had. I liked the Reef rider better because of the rolled neck collar, plush lining, (sometimes I dive with just a bathing suit and a rash guard) zero inherent boyancy. If I was going to do a mix of warm and cold water diving I would have picked the Zeagle (more lift, modular, etc.). In my mind the Reef Rider is a maginally better specific purpose (warm water) BC. Also, the Zeagle was substantially more expensive.

Yep---I'm thinking with all those dives under your belt you've got it down perfectly------Me?, I'm a little over 1300 & learn something new everytime out----guess I'm a slow learner................

 

[ScottZeagle]

The Reef rider is similar. There are two dumpable pouches (one above each hip) and two more non-dumpable on the tank band. Thus, in total there are four pouches, each cabable of holding 5 lbs. each (although I can't imagine why anyone would need that much weight on a warm water dive). I usually have 4lbs. on each hip (independently dumpable) and one lb in each tank band pouch=10lbs. Less if I am not going to wear a wet suit. Using the clips I theoretically can dump 40% or 80% of my total ballast. I can't do that with the Zeagle ripcord system. This isn't a hypothetical difference. Once on a boat dive (small rollover the edge of the boat dive) where they set up all your geat for you and it really isn't possible to do a buddy check they left one of the zippered puches open. Appearently on the roll in I lost one of my weights, didn't cause an insurmoutable problem until near the end of the dive. Had they scerwed up the Zeagle rip cord I could have lost all my weights, although I might have noticed that right away. Lesson leared, after that I never let anyone else set up my gear.

Don't get me wrong- I almost bought the Scout and wouldn't have considered it a mistake if I had. I liked the Reef rider better because of the rolled neck collar, plush lining, (sometimes I dive with just a bathing suit and a rash guard) zero inherent boyancy. If I was going to do a mix of warm and cold water diving I would have picked the Zeagle (more lift, modular, etc.). In my mind the Reef Rider is a maginally better specific purpose (warm water) BC. Also, the Zeagle was substantially more expensive.

Again, let me state that the BC you are talking about (the Scout) does not HAVE the ripcord weight system.

However, for sake of your argument let's say it did....You do not remove your weights in a normal situation by pulling the ripcord - it is ONLY for emergencies. For normal diving, you simply open a zipper and put your weights in. After your dive, you open the zipper and remove your weights. I don't see how ANYONE could screw that up....or at least not notice that the zipper was open!!!

As for pricing, I will use the Scuba Toys website as an example:

Reef Rider BC - $199.95 sale price on CLOSEOUT.

Scout BC - $215 is the normal, everyday price.

Substantially more?? Really???




Personally, I am fine with you choosing the Reef Rider BC, but if you are going to try to compare it to another BC, you should at least try to have your facts straight.

Thanks,

Scott