Best Hybrid BCD’s?
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Chavodel8en
Contributor
IMO, there's nothing wrong with getting a back inflate BCD, as opposed to making up your BP/W.
Esp if you are diving in Fla waters and similar, where you may not really need the ballast of a BP.
Maybe you want to get a BCD just for ease, and because its all in one. Setting up a BP/W and making it appropriate for you is a chore, but hopefully you have to do it only once.
Just note one of the benefits of a BP/W is if something breaks, you dont need to replace the whole thing.
That being said, I use a BP/W for my local diving.
Edit: Some added context, before my BP/W, I had a cheap back-inflate BCD (bought it for $220 on clearance at Leisurepro). It gave me 15 years of perfectly fine service, and then it started breaking apart. Take that for whatever its worth.
I will also add that Im not someone who demands perfection or has very specific needs (although I prefer having 2 tanks straps, as I've seen too many tanks slipping). Through the years, I've used jacket style BCDs, back-inflate BCDs, BP/Ws, and they've all been fine - no complaints. If I had to dive any of them again, it would be fine.
Esp if you are diving in Fla waters and similar, where you may not really need the ballast of a BP.
Maybe you want to get a BCD just for ease, and because its all in one. Setting up a BP/W and making it appropriate for you is a chore, but hopefully you have to do it only once.
Just note one of the benefits of a BP/W is if something breaks, you dont need to replace the whole thing.
That being said, I use a BP/W for my local diving.
Edit: Some added context, before my BP/W, I had a cheap back-inflate BCD (bought it for $220 on clearance at Leisurepro). It gave me 15 years of perfectly fine service, and then it started breaking apart. Take that for whatever its worth.
I will also add that Im not someone who demands perfection or has very specific needs (although I prefer having 2 tanks straps, as I've seen too many tanks slipping). Through the years, I've used jacket style BCDs, back-inflate BCDs, BP/Ws, and they've all been fine - no complaints. If I had to dive any of them again, it would be fine.
agmason
Registered
As a newer diver, I would suggest renting or borrowing a bit prior to purchasing gear. That said if you are set on purchasing a jacket style BCD or BP/W will serve you well. It's probably going to take you a bunch of diving before you begin to figure out what you like (I'm still figuring it out). It's kind of like buying a motorcycle more than likely your first bike is not going to be your forever machine.
If you are not super equipment/tech savvy I would consider purchasing from a place that will support your purchase (i.e. your local dive shop). I personally bought a used BCD after about 25 dives and it did not end up being a great purchase for me and had to replace so be careful with used gear.
If you are not super equipment/tech savvy I would consider purchasing from a place that will support your purchase (i.e. your local dive shop). I personally bought a used BCD after about 25 dives and it did not end up being a great purchase for me and had to replace so be careful with used gear.
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