Posted by Maciek on August 24, 2001 at 11:47:01:
In Reply to: What to look for in a BC posted by BadFish on August 24, 2001 at 11:24:01:
My list in order of importance:
1) Comfort in a water. Never, ever rely on how it feels out of the water. Rent it first or persuade shop owner to let you try it in a pool. That includes things like if it holds tank in place when spinning around? Does it trap air? Does it restrain you? Is it easy to get out/in underwater?
2) Reliability and design from safety point of view. Possible weak points are usually plastic ones. For example in Mares HUB type BCDs there's no quick disconnect (in other words, you're in deco chamber once inflator starts blowing on itself) and you can't inflate it orally and it has non-ditchable weights. Not good.
3) Easy maintenance: availability and price of replacement parts, user servicability
4) sexy colors :). So others can see you and identify you in murky underwater