Lightweight BC

[ianwheeldon]

I'm looking to get a new BC very soon, possibly at the diveshow. I'm looking for somthing that is good for travel, so lightweight, not too bulky. So far top of the list is a tec or travel wing.
I was just wondering what the options are for jacket style BC's. It will be for single tank use. Any other suggestions?

[recurve]

My Mares Morphos packs up nice and small, into it's own built in 'cocoon'. Will weigh it if you are interested.

The air-trim inflator/dump takes a little getting used to, and no doubt some would consider it a potential failure point, but I find it VERY easy to use, and think it's a part of the reason I have even half decent buoyancy control.

Comfortable and very supporting on the surface, fully inflated lifts you up well in an upright position, with no hint of pitching forward. Somehow manages to not squeeze your body too badly when full of air too.

Secure and dependable integrated weight pockets if you want them, in my 3mm in fresh water I don't need any extra weight though. Trim weight pockets on the back of the BC if want them.

The back plate has bolt holes and according to the instructions, the XL will cope fine with twin 10's if you want to. Hopefully I'm picking up a set of those today, so may be in a position to let you know soon.

HTH

[Ken]

Originally Posted by ianwheeldon

I'm looking to get a new BC very soon, possibly at the diveshow. I'm looking for somthing that is good for travel, so lightweight, not too bulky. So far top of the list is a tec or travel wing.
I was just wondering what the options are for jacket style BC's. It will be for single tank use. Any other suggestions?

Travel wings are certainly light. If you are looking at a plate you might consider aluminum or plastic back plates and adaptors. Deep Sea supply has a lightweight KYDEX plate http://www.deepseasupply.com/page9.html ...there's always the trans-pac way of rigging things too.

[Jimmy Blake]

Originally Posted by Ken

Travel wings are certainly light. If you are looking at a plate you might consider aluminum or plastic back plates and adaptors. Deep Sea supply has a lightweight KYDEX plate http://www.deepseasupply.com/page9.html ...there's always the trans-pac way of rigging things too.

Just to further comment on this, I use a plastic backplate, a Halcyon Pioneer single-tank 36 wing and a single-tank adapter. You can use them with just cam straps running through the slits and backplate, eliminating the need for a single tank adapter, but I use one because Halcyon sell weights that fit inside the single tank adapter and then I get the weight off my belt.

The Pioneers metal inflator mechanism is pretty sturdy (no comments on their recent recall please!) and the total set-up packs down more compactly than a 'normal' BCD and weighs pretty much nothing.

Sturdy Inflator:


Pioneer Wing:


Cam straps through Pioneer slits:


Single tank adapter showing integrated weight:


All-in-all it is a pretty slick set-up, I brought mine from Underwater Explorers in Portland. Just my tuppence worth.

Regards



James