No2rdame:
Yep, here comes another newbie thread on BC advice
And, that is fine! The way people learn on SB is to ask questions! Good for you.
No2rdame:
1. Which brands are simplest to maintain and cheapest to service?
A reasonable question, for which a simple answer may be somewhat elusive. In general, I would say that there is NOT one, or even two, brands that are conspicuously easier to service, so I don’t think you will be able to use that criteria as a basis for selection. Many BCDs are very similar, servicing is very straightforward, and ease of service is impaired only by availability of parts. Most major manufacturers supply parts quickly, the only issue is whether a particular shop you might wish to use is an authorized dealer for the particular brand. Now, that may not be true in some more remote (e.g. Caribbean) dive destinations. But, on the continent, getting service is relatively easy.
No2rdame:
2. Are there any brands that I should avoid from a customer-service perspective? Are some better than others?
Again, a reasonable question but not a simple answer. Most major manufacturers fully stand behind their gear. Yes, you can probably find at least one SB member who has had issues with any particular manufacturer that you might consider. But, the question is probably better framed as, ‘Are there any brands that I should more actively consider from a customer-service perspective?” And, there are several that come to mind: Deep Sea Supply, represented here on the SB by the owner, Tobin (cool_hardware52), has a reputation for excellent service. I have had nothing but outstanding customer service experiences with Halcyon (although their gear is a little pricier to begin with). And, before Zeagle was acquired by Huish Outdoors, I had terrific customer service support from Zeagle (which has, unfortunately, changed a bit since the acquisition). ScubaPro and Aqualung / Apeks have well-established dealer networks around the world, and offer very good product lines. And, certain smaller manufacturers seem to attract a very devoted following (HOG, Deep Six, etc.). IOW, there are any number of good manufacturers, all of whom stand behind their gear! What you will also find is that the dealer / retail vendor makes a lot of difference in customer service, probably more than the manufacturer. Dive Gear Express, Dive Right In Scuba, Northeast Scuba Supply have already been mentioned, and I have had particularly good experiences with all three, and none of them are local to me.
No2rdame:
3. Apart from some of the gimmicky features, are there any specific things I should take note of when narrowing my selection?
Basically, you should look for a) simplicity (i.e. NO gimmicks), b) lift, and c) consider YOUR individual buoyancy characteristics and those of the BCD, and see how well they match. Far too many divers start out with an oversized (i.e. far more lift capacity than needed), very ‘floaty’ fabric BCD with unnecessary padding, that is difficult to optimslly trim at depth, and which requires the diver to add weight just to offset the positive buoyancy of the BCD. They try a BCD on in a local shop, and it feels great. But, how it ‘feels’ on the retail floor generally has little to do with how it functions in the water. For single cylinder diving in moderate temperatures (e.g. 1 – 3mm wetsuit), you generally won’t need more than 30 lb of lift, if that much. Personally, I really like having a crotch strap, which adds stability to the rig. I also like two cam straps to keep the cylinder stable. But, those are, again, MY preferences.
No2rdame:
4. I'm open to a bp/w, but I'm overwhelmed with the information out there. A ton of options and pricing seems to 5. be high. I'm sure there are inexpensive ways to do this, but where to start?
It is interesting, and unfortunate, that the absolutely simplest approach to buoyancy compensation (BP/W) seems to create such confusion, but you are not alone. Part of the problem is that too many local shops know next to nothing about BP/W rigs (and next to nothing about BCDs, for that matter) and simply direct customers to whatever BCD brand, and high margin model, they happen to sell ('We sell a lot of these.', or 'This is our most popular model.'). Yes, that is a criticism, and I say it as someone who a) truly believes in supporting local shops, but b) is not infrequently disappointed by the level of knowledge (abysmal) of shop staff. For a backplate, your primary considerations boil down to the a) material (steel, vs aluminum, vs fabric), the b) harness (a simple continuous of webbing, vs more complex ‘deluxe’ harnesses, and c) wing size. I happen to dive a steel BP, with a single piece harness, and a 30lb wing. But, I am also positively buoyant (I have worked on adding a bit of bioprene over my adult life.
). And, I always wear a full wetsuit – 1 mm in warmer Caribbean waters, 3mm in FL Keys water, 5mm off the Carolina coast. If I was 20, very lean, diving only in 82 degree water, etc. I might routinely use an AL, or even a fabric plate like the TransPac.
No2rdame:
Is there a decent source online to compare and contrast multiple bcs side by side? I haven't had much luck finding this sort of comparison method.
Realistically, no.
Finally, you mention several options you are considering, and I will give you my $0.02, which isn’t particularly positive about ANY of them (nothing particularly awful about them, just nothing that would commend them to me as a possible BCD for single cylinder, recreational diving). But, the caveat: these are MY opinions, based on what works for ME. The observations may or may not be applicable to YOUR diving. And, I know from previous threads that there are some vigorous enthusiasts on SB for several of these models, even though my assessments may not be altogether positive.
Hollis HD-200: nice BCD; more lift (35-45 lbs) than you need for single cylinder diving; unnecessary padding.
Zeagle Ranger: very durable, and quite popular, BCD; far more lift (44 lbs) than you need for single cylinder diving (although you can opt for a smaller wing, but for more money); unnecessary padding. My first BCD was a Ranger. It fit SO WELL in the shop. Frankly, it fit well in the water. But, I carried an extra 8 lbs of lead just to offset the positive buoyancy of the rig itself. I still have it ~ 2 decades later - sitting in a closet, as an example of what not to buy. One thing I do like – you can add a crotch strap, ans it comes with two cam bands!
Zeagle Stiletto: similar in many ways to the Hollis HD-200: nice BCD; more lift (35 lbs) than you need for single cylinder diving; unnecessary padding (e.g. sewn-in lumbar pad).
Knighthawk: very nice BCD; WAY more lift than you need (45 lbs, unless you can wear a size Small). The integrated weight put the weight in front of the divers vertical midline (viewed from the side), which is exactly where you don’t want them with a back-inflate BCD when on the surface.
Seahawk: a streamlined version of the Knighthawk, with even more lift than the ‘more than enough’ you get in the Knighthawk.
TUSA Imprex Power Pro: from my perspective, the last thing you need – it is apparently designed for diving twin cylinders, with 67lbs of lift! I am curious – how did you come up with this option?
My suggestion at this point: hold off spending money for the moment. Continue to explore options. Send a PM (aka 'Start A Conversation') here on SB with Tobin, the owner of Deep Sea Supply. Or, just do a search for threads in which he has participated. You will learn a lot.
