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im looking to buy a new bi bc, and im kind of interested in the stiletto. can anyone through me out some feedback on this particular bc. do they like it, etc. i like it because it is light weight and i do alot of traveling and it can probably handle anything that a single tank dive can throw at it.
im looking to buy a new bi bc, and im kind of interested in the stiletto. can anyone through me out some feedback on this particular bc. do they like it, etc. i like it because it is light weight and i do alot of traveling and it can probably handle anything that a single tank dive can throw at it.
The stiletto is nice... It's basically an escape with a few metal d-rings. Other option would be a Brigade which is a ranger with a escape bladder. Just depends if you want the extra d rings and the heavier material and wider shoulders.
Your probably not going to get very many comment from users of the BC since it is fresh on the market. I pesonally can recommend the Brigade. I think some else posted that they can get their Brigade in a 12x12x6 tub for storage, that's pretty small. Bought it, dove it, love it.
Has anyone mentioned lately that ...SCUABTOYS IS GREAT (the shop Larry)
I sold one to one of my friends and I think he sleeps in it. It is a very well made BC.
I still like the Ranger (mine is one of the old ones)
I like the extra lift the big bladder has. I have held other divers up in big waves and if it inflated to the size of a zodiac that would have been great!
I can't think of anything in the Zeagle line that I don't like. They are a great company.
The bladder is a 35lb, single bag 1000 denier cordura - the Escape (and Brigade) have the lighterweight 35lb packcloth bladder.
The Stiletto has a built in lumbar pad like the Ranger LTD.
The Stiletto has extra stainless steel d-rings, similar to the Ranger LTD.
Interesting. So the bladder durability should be better on the stiletto. There was only one site that I found the stiletto and it didn't mention anything about the lumbar pad and only mentioned 5 d-rings (compared to the 6 listed for the brigade). Does that sound right?
I have been looking into getting a new bcd and am strongly considering the zeagle brigade. Can anyone expound on the benefits of the lumbar pad? I have a bad back and thought perhaps the pad might make things more comfortable when on the surface (pre/post dive).
Interesting. So the bladder durability should be better on the stiletto. There was only one site that I found the stiletto and it didn't mention anything about the lumbar pad and only mentioned 5 d-rings (compared to the 6 listed for the brigade). Does that sound right?
I have been looking into getting a new bcd and am strongly considering the zeagle brigade. Can anyone expound on the benefits of the lumbar pad? I have a bad back and thought perhaps the pad might make things more comfortable when on the surface (pre/post dive).
I don't bother use a lumbar pad... but you can easily add a lumbar pad to any ranger or brigade, or escape... They just velcro into place with some straps that go around the cummerbund. So, you can add one for about $30 if you wish. And the one you are adding for $30 is considerably larger than the one included with the escape / stiletto.
Scott's list has all the major differences for the Stiletto, but there are a few more that are more subtle. I'll elaborate a little.
Zeagle bladder winglets, which clip the bladder wings to the sides of the BC, securing and streamlining it further.
The five 1.5" SS D-rings are in non-technical configuration which fit the Stiletto's durable/recreational purpose. Only 2 are on the shoulders, 2 on the vest's bottom/front, and the 5th is at mid-waist on the right. (Brigades have the Rangers vest with six 2" D-rings in a tech configuration, 4 on the shoulders.)
Unlike the Brigade this BC can't be modified with a larger bladder to carry double tanks. The vest back has only two vertical webbing straps vs. 4 on Brigades, Rangers, LTDs and Techs. It's almost half the width.
The cordura vest and bladder are very light in weight, so it travels well.
The large lumbar pad is the same size as the optional Ranger/Brigade lumbar pad except like the LTD its sewn in and lacks the small side panels. (The Escape lumbar pad is very small.)
The big feature that distinguishes this BC is the 1000 denier cordura, 35 pound bladder.
The new Escape is now back where it started out, as a full featured economical BC. It lacks the Personal Fit System now and is completely made of nylon. True, it had been upgraded in quality since it's debut, by requests from dealers and divers, but Zeagle now believes a separate BC was a better way to fill that need.
A lot of thought and tremendous BC building experience went into the design of the Stiletto BC. (We had too many models already and didn't want lots of overlapping features.)
It's intended buyer is the serious single tank diver that wants the most streamlined, best made, full featured and lightest weight BC. (Spearfishermen, instructors, dive masters, cavern divers, lite wreck divers, photographers...the list goes on. These divers are likely to own another special purpose BC.)
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Originally Posted by scubbles
