ScubaLab: BCs - Zeagle Express/Deluxe
Specifications
| Style | Back Buoyancy |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
| Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) | One Size Fits All-24 |
| Integrated-Weight System | No |
| Dry Weight | 5 lbs., 2 oz. |
| Price | $279; Deluxe: $379 |
| www.zeagle.com |
Features:
- Heavy-duty Cordura-style construction
- Flexible Polymer reinforced backplate
- Includes two sets of center plate grommets for attaching twin tanks
- Zero inherent buoyancy
Performance:
The Express Tech is basically a flexible backpack with a pair of continuous 2-inch webbing shoulder/waist straps that join at the belt buckle. It’s available with a choice of three optional weight systems; however, our test BC came as a non-weight-integrated rig. Looking at it as a bare bones BC, the Express Tech is quite comfortable. The polymer backplate and tank band system, combined with the shoulder and waist straps, provided a very stable ride for test divers as they moved through the water, and they all loved the feel of total freedom that comes from diving with so little BC wrapped around the torso. The power inflator and valve system delivered first-rate performance. The Express Tech is also available in a Deluxe version with more-convenient quick-disconnect shoulder straps.
Bottom Line:
As tested, the Express Tech is a pretty nice minimalist BC perfectly suited for tropical diving. By switching to a larger-lift air cell and adding a weight system, you can also hook the Express Tech up to double tanks and do some serious tec diving.
| 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|Back Buoyancy| |Warranty| Limited Lifetime| |Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.)| One Size Fits All-24| |Integrated-Weight System| No| |Dry Weight| 5 lbs., 2 oz.| |Price| $279; Deluxe: $379| |www.zeagle.com|Features:
- Heavy-duty Cordura-style construction
- Flexible Polymer reinforced backplate
- Includes two sets of center plate grommets for attaching twin tanks
- Zero inherent buoyancy
Performance:
The Express Tech is basically a flexible backpack with a pair of continuous 2-inch webbing shoulder/waist straps that join at the belt buckle. It’s available with a choice of three optional weight systems; however, our test BC came as a non-weight-integrated rig. Looking at it as a bare bones BC, the Express Tech is quite comfortable. The polymer backplate and tank band system, combined with the shoulder and waist straps, provided a very stable ride for test divers as they moved through the water, and they all loved the feel of total freedom that comes from diving with so little BC wrapped around the torso. The power inflator and valve system delivered first-rate performance. The Express Tech is also available in a Deluxe version with more-convenient quick-disconnect shoulder straps.
Bottom Line:
As tested, the Express Tech is a pretty nice minimalist BC perfectly suited for tropical diving. By switching to a larger-lift air cell and adding a weight system, you can also hook the Express Tech up to double tanks and do some serious tec diving.
|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| |
