Mares Aliikai Vs Mares Kaila

[Luke_T]

Hi,

My girlfriend is looking to get a Ladies BCD, and the choices have been narrowed down to the Mares Aliikai & Mares Kaila. I've searched the forum and heard good things about the Kaila but not heard anything about the Aliikai.

The Allikai is a BCD/Wing hybrid which is also designed for travel as it doesn't have a solid backplate and is lighter than the Kaila. Does it feel different when you dive with a BCD without a solid back?

More importantly has anyone use either or both?

Cheers

[turbanator]

Hi,

My girlfriend is looking to get a Ladies BCD, and the choices have been narrowed down to the Mares Aliikai & Mares Kaila. I've searched the forum and heard good things about the Kaila but not heard anything about the Aliikai.

The Allikai is a BCD/Wing hybrid which is also designed for travel as it doesn't have a solid backplate and is lighter than the Kaila. Does it feel different when you dive with a BCD without a solid back?

More importantly has anyone use either or both?

Cheers

Not had experience with Oceanic, but S/Pro make a Bella, which fits by having swivelling buckles to put the straps tight under the arms, away from the chest area.

If she likes the idea of a wing-style, why not go the whole 'hog' (sorry ) and get her to try a bp/wing. If travelling is an issue then try an ally BP.

Like many ladies' BCDs apart from the Spiro which had a 'cross your heart arrangement', a wing is configured so that the straps do not impinge on the cheast area.

r
P

[Ratfink]

I have a Kaila and love it. I used to use an old oceanic pro 5 k which had no hard backplate. Very comfortable but not as much lift as I would like and not too sturdy. Was great for tropical dives but not so good in the UK.

The Kaila is very comfortable also, has more lift and is more robust for single / pony set up. Mine has the integral weight system which I find easy to use - I can remove and replace the pockets quite easily when kitted up. Another plus is metal d rings - so many BCDs have plastic ones. Main problem is that it is quite bulky for packing.

I worked abroad for a while and a few other female instructors tried it out and gave it the thumbs up too!

Haven't tried the Aliikai so can't comment on that.

Nic

[dct]

My wife has this (and I have the 'male' version).

I love mine, and do not notice the lack of backplate. We use them for drysuit diving in the UK, and also for holiday diving - from drysuits in Galapogos to T-Shirts in the red sea.

No issues, good build quality. Lasting well so far.

I'll get the wife to post her view, as I know it's nice to get the opinion of someone who actually has used it!

Dan

[Luke_T]

My wife has this (and I have the 'male' version).

I love mine, and do not notice the lack of backplate. We use them for drysuit diving in the UK, and also for holiday diving - from drysuits in Galapogos to T-Shirts in the red sea.

No issues, good build quality. Lasting well so far.

I'll get the wife to post her view, as I know it's nice to get the opinion of someone who actually has used it!

Dan

Is the male version of the Aliikai the icon... I have to say that we're leaning towards the Allikai, especially from a weight perspective. Is it true that the Mares sizes are a little generous... ie a medium is more like a large?

[dct]

Mmm, ICON, yes I think that is it... Should know, I wear it...

I have a large, and it fits fine in my drysuit (probably mid-adjustment) and with all the straps pulled right down fits with no suit at all.

Is it 'bigger' than other sizes? I'd say probably not... But I didn't go by the size, I went to the shop and tried them on. I'd have to recommend that. One thing I will re-iterate is that I really do not think you notice the lack of back plate, but others may disagree (though I am not sure I have ever met anyone else with one...). They roll up very neatly, and all clip together.

Dan

[Pach]

Any more reviews on the Aliikia? I'm thinking of degrading from my halcyon eclipse to the mares aliikia for a few reasons;

1. eclipse is heavy and aliikia is light (main reason)
2. aliikia can be packed into a small space (second main reason considering the amount of junk I take diving. Don't even mention taking my eclipse abroad)
3. eclipse has no shoulder buckles... it was interesting on a RIB...
4. aliikia has more lift power?
5. aliikia is more girly
6. aliikia is cheaper so I might not 'make a loss' if i sold my eclipse (except for depreciation)

Are these good enough reasons to downgrade cos I'm still quite attached to my eclipse, but am willing to let go... I do like simplicity but maybe the eclipse is too simple for my liking...

Even if I customised my eclipse (new harness with buckles, ali backplate, etc), it's still gonna cost a few bob...

Oh, what to do!

[Luke_T]

Well my girlfriend ended up buying the Aliikai - she loves it, she tried the Kaila before the Aliikai and found it too bulky.

The Aliikai is really light - no excess bulk and comfortable. She ended up getting an XS because the sizes are quite generous. However she only dives in a wetsuit - so might be worth bearing in mind.

[Pach]

Didn't take me long but I ended buying the aliikai as well... couldn't wait... found it cheap(er) on the net so i quickly bought it before they decide to withdraw the offer!

So far I'm impressed. Have yet to try it in the water, so I'll keep my halcyon till then. Another reason why I bought the aliikai was cos I do alot of training. It'll be easier to demonstrate the buddy checks to trainees (similar set-up to them, pull dump here, here and here, and releases here, here and here, etc) and to de-kit as well (post-dive, on a boat, in case of emergency, etc).

[thumper]

Bit late now.... But I've got both !

The Kiali is fab and i've done well over 150 dives in it with no problems. As with all intergrated weight BCDs the pockets are a bit crap, but a not really an issue.
My lovely other half bought me the Akalli (spelling !) a couple of weeks ago.
2 reasons.

Its a bit lighter for traveling.... always a bonus, but the main reason was because I use a video camera on most dives. Only used the new one for a couple of dives so far, but it is fab. I can hang the camera off the front of it, and it feels much less cluttered. It has a few less D rings, but enough for what I need.
For me it's a bit hard to feel the full benifit cos of the bulk of the drysuit, but it will really come into it's own in the Red Sea in September.

Hope you like yours !

Jude.