Has anyone seen or used the new Scubapro Hydros Pro BCD

[stuartv]

If ever there was an advertisement for why a backplate + wing is better, it’s this photo.

Ridiculous over engineering breaks and can’t be repaired. Shame on ScubaPro

What do you mean? Of course it can be repaired. Just the shoulder strap can be replaced. Which is what the poster said.

 

[BoltSnap]

If ever there was an advertisement for why a backplate + wing is better, it’s this photo.

Yeah, nothing could happen to BP/W and nothing breaks or is cut or falls apart.

I'd be very nervous the next time I dive with a BP/W after saying these words.

I

Ridiculous over engineering breaks and can’t be repaired. Shame on ScubaPro

One of the benefits of this BC is that it can easily be repaired and parts exchange without too much trouble. But shame on SP for pushing the boundaries and thinking outside the box. We should just stay in the safety of our caves and not dare to go out and make things better.

 

[cburgert]

I had my hydros since it was released and only had 1 shoulder strap problem. Got it fixed for free. No issues since, but I still wish I bought a backplate set up instead. Can't dive doubles with the hydros.

 

[stuartv]

Yeah, nothing could happen to BP/W and nothing breaks or is cut or falls apart.

It's not that. It is that the BPW is a LOT less likely to break, get cut, or fall apart. A LOT.

I have a Hydros Pro, bought soon after they came out. I've never had any problems with it, but I also have not dived it all that much, so I'm not a good example.

I also have (currently) 4 back plates and 6 wings.

I think the Hydros Pro is more stable, more comfortable, and more convenient (for single tank diving) than any standard BP. But, it is clearly not AS robust as a BP with a Hogarthian style harness.

 

[Wibble]

Yeah, nothing could happen to BP/W and nothing breaks or is cut or falls apart.

I'd be very nervous the next time I dive with a BP/W after saying these words.

One of the benefits of this BC is that it can easily be repaired and parts exchange without too much trouble. But shame on SP for pushing the boundaries and thinking outside the box. We should just stay in the safety of our caves and not dare to go out and make things better.

I think you're taking the piss...

The point is a BP + harness is about as simple as anything can get. Minimalist as it were.

A *lot* of those BCD things are ridiculously complex and have goodness knows what in the cliptastic mess they've become. The picture he posted shows that there's some crazy joint in the harness that's, surprise surprise, broken. They want his firstborn for payment to repair it.

A simple backplate harness -- with some decent stiff webbing -- is literally bulletproof. Similarly with wings; one elephant's trunk and a dump.

Next discussion; the simplicity of the i3 BCD to an inexperienced diver in a dive shop...

 

[MaxTorque]

If you want a BP/W then buy one! The Hydros isn't one, and isn't really trying to be imo!

What it is, is a really comfy, decent quality, easy to trim recreational bcd for people who want good gear but doing do a million dives a year. It's got good and bad points, like all gear of course, but really the only significant negative is the high cost of the thing new. But lets face it, plenty of people have money........

 

[Wibble]

If you want a BP/W then buy one! The Hydros isn't one, and isn't really trying to be imo!

What it is, is a really comfy, decent quality, easy to trim recreational bcd for people who want good gear but doing do a million dives a year. It's got good and bad points, like all gear of course, but really the only significant negative is the high cost of the thing new. But lets face it, plenty of people have money........

Try a BP/W, they knock a (jacket) BCD into a cocked hat for every one of the reasons you’ve listed.


Edit: (jacket) BCD

 

[Glenndini]

Wibble, why do you care so much what other people choose to buy and dive? We get it, you use a BP/W. Get over yourself.

 

[Pressurehead]

Try a BP/W, they knock a BCD into a cocked hat for every one of the reasons you’ve listed.

When you say BCD, they are all BCDs, I think you mean jacket style BCD, and you are correct, a wing is better.
I have 2 BP/W set up, only 2 wings [now] but 4 plates and 4 harness to mix and match plus a Hydros Pro BCD , it's also a back inflate wing [plus a SP jacket BCD, no wing there].
For double single cylinder boat dives in my area the Hydros Pro is my 'go to' rig, easy on/off , no trouble climbing the boat ladder [no lifts here], as an older diver [70+] I just want things to be easy on some dives, and it does the job well.
I still like the BP/Ws for some dives, but they are not the be all, end all for all dives and divers.
Never had a problem with SP gear, they have even replaced gear I did not like in the past , worked well but not for me, that's for another post.

 

[Wibble]

Wibble, why do you care so much what other people choose to buy and dive? We get it, you use a BP/W. Get over yourself.

You're right. I shouldn't care that new divers are being lead by the nose to buy expensive, overcomplex, unreliable, over-engineered, bulky, ill-fitting kit that doesn't help them dive and frequently works against them for their trim and buoyancy.

Pity more people don't feel like that.