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ScubaLab: BCs - Sherwood Luna

By Scuba Diving Partner | Published On June 4, 2010
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ScubaLab: BCs - Sherwood Luna


sherwood luna bc

Specifications

Style Jacket
Warranty Two-Year Limited
Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) XS-18, S-20, M-22, L-25
Integrated-Weight System Yes
Dry Weight 7 lbs., 6 oz. (Size M)
Price $550
www.sherwoodscuba.com

Features:

  • 420-denier and 600-denier nylon construction
  • CQR-2 integrated-weight system
  • 3-D designed air cell with wraparound buoyancy
  • “Halfpac” backpack
  • Depth-compensating cummerbund
  • Plush nylon interior with back/lumbar padding
  • Less than 1 pound of inherent buoyancy

Performance:


Clearly designed for women, the Luna’s air cell, shoulders and depth-compensating cummerbund are cut to conform to female curves, plus the pink accents add a hint of color that our female test divers appreciated. The wrap-around air cell created a very snug and secure feel for test divers, both underwater and while floating on the surface. Sherwood’s unique Halfpac tank backpack — which combines the versatility of a softpack with the stability of a hardpack — held the tank solidly, contributing to its excellent stability at depth. The power inflator proved to be compact and fit perfectly into a female hand. The BC doesn’t come with a right shoulder exhaust valve; in spite of that, test divers were able to maintain efficient buoyancy control using the existing valve system. The CQR-2 weight pouches are set back from centerline, but not so much to create problems for divers when loading or ditching weights.

Bottom Line:

The Luna was our female test divers’ favorite women’s BC. The only drawback we could find might be its inability to carry more than 16 pounds of ditchable weight for some women when diving temperate or cold waters.


June 2010 Issue Scuba Lab Review Quick Links
General-Purpose BCs
---
While they can be used for any type of diving, general purpose BCs are designed primarily for temperate- and/or cold-water diving with 7mm wetsuits or drysuits. General Purpose BCs tend to offer lots of buoyant lift across their size ranges along with heavy-load integrated weight systems. They often have large cargo pockets and larger D-rings for attaching additional gear.
Aeris EX100| Aeris EX200
Aqua Lung Pro QD| Aqua Lung Pro LT
IST J-1000 Alpha| IST J-1200 Hydro D
ScubaMax Versa 3000| SCUBAPRO Seahawk
SeaSoft Sealion| Sherwood Tortuga
Zeagle Tech 10|
Travel BCs
---
Travel BCs are lighter and more compact than General Purpose BCs. Many are designed to fold or stow in handy storage pouches for easy globe-trotting. Travel BCs tend to offer less buoyant-lift capacity and smaller weight pouches to suit warm-water diving scenarios.
Aqua Lung Zuma| Cressi Aquapro 5
SCUBAPRO Geo| SCUBAPRO Litehawk
SeaSoft Travlite| Zeagle Express/Deluxe
Women's BCs
---
Women are shaped differently than men, so it makes sense that a women’s BC would be shaped differently too. Women’s BCs are often cut higher along the waist and are more expansive in the chest area. Straps and adjustments accommodate shorter, narrower torsos, and power inflators are ultracompact to fit comfortably into smaller hands.
BARE Curve| Sherwood Luna
Tusa Selene II|

Specifications

Style Jacket
Warranty Two-Year Limited
Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) XS-18, S-20, M-22, L-25
Integrated-Weight System Yes
Dry Weight 7 lbs., 6 oz. (Size M)
Price $550
www.sherwoodscuba.com

Features:

  • 420-denier and 600-denier nylon construction
  • CQR-2 integrated-weight system
  • 3-D designed air cell with wraparound buoyancy
  • “Halfpac” backpack
  • Depth-compensating cummerbund
  • Plush nylon interior with back/lumbar padding
  • Less than 1 pound of inherent buoyancy

Performance:

Clearly designed for women, the Luna’s air cell, shoulders and depth-compensating cummerbund are cut to conform to female curves, plus the pink accents add a hint of color that our female test divers appreciated. The wrap-around air cell created a very snug and secure feel for test divers, both underwater and while floating on the surface. Sherwood’s unique Halfpac tank backpack — which combines the versatility of a softpack with the stability of a hardpack — held the tank solidly, contributing to its excellent stability at depth. The power inflator proved to be compact and fit perfectly into a female hand. The BC doesn’t come with a right shoulder exhaust valve; in spite of that, test divers were able to maintain efficient buoyancy control using the existing valve system. The CQR-2 weight pouches are set back from centerline, but not so much to create problems for divers when loading or ditching weights.

Bottom Line:

The Luna was our female test divers’ favorite women’s BC. The only drawback we could find might be its inability to carry more than 16 pounds of ditchable weight for some women when diving temperate or cold waters.


June 2010 Issue Scuba Lab Review Quick Links
General-Purpose BCs
---
While they can be used for any type of diving, general purpose BCs are designed primarily for temperate- and/or cold-water diving with 7mm wetsuits or drysuits. General Purpose BCs tend to offer lots of buoyant lift across their size ranges along with heavy-load integrated weight systems. They often have large cargo pockets and larger D-rings for attaching additional gear.
Aeris EX100| Aeris EX200
Aqua Lung Pro QD| Aqua Lung Pro LT
IST J-1000 Alpha| IST J-1200 Hydro D
ScubaMax Versa 3000| SCUBAPRO Seahawk
SeaSoft Sealion| Sherwood Tortuga
Zeagle Tech 10|
Travel BCs
---
Travel BCs are lighter and more compact than General Purpose BCs. Many are designed to fold or stow in handy storage pouches for easy globe-trotting. Travel BCs tend to offer less buoyant-lift capacity and smaller weight pouches to suit warm-water diving scenarios.
Aqua Lung Zuma| Cressi Aquapro 5
SCUBAPRO Geo| SCUBAPRO Litehawk
SeaSoft Travlite| Zeagle Express/Deluxe
Women's BCs
---
Women are shaped differently than men, so it makes sense that a women’s BC would be shaped differently too. Women’s BCs are often cut higher along the waist and are more expansive in the chest area. Straps and adjustments accommodate shorter, narrower torsos, and power inflators are ultracompact to fit comfortably into smaller hands.
BARE Curve| Sherwood Luna
Tusa Selene II|