The Aqua Lung Outlaw was chosen as our Testers Choice BC in the back-inflation category by scuba divers during the ScubaLab 2017 BC review. See what made this BC the favorite of our test divers in the video review below.

I'm Roger Roy, the ScubaLab Director. We tested the Aqua Lung Outlaw BC. With a minimalist design and exceptional comfort it was our Testers Choice for back-inflation BCs.

We tested the Outlaw at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Central Florida. We conducted objective testing in the pool to measure its buoyant lift and its inherent buoyancy and to gauge its ability to cope with a runaway power inflator. We also conducted a series of test dives where testers scored the BC in ten categories including comfort, stability and ascent control.

Taking minimalism to the max, the Outlaw has only the barest essentials — enough air to float and a harness to keep it on your back. The fully modular design lets you swap air cells (12 or 25 pounds available) as well as straps and soft backplates for 27 different size configurations. Parts attach with rugged plastic connectors that release by inserting a tool (in our case a car key) and defied all of our efforts to make them pop off when they shouldn't.

The harness (which took top score for comfort) hugs your body but the BC is so minimal that you almost feel as if you aren't wearing one. "Love the freedom," is a typical tester comment. We tested with optional SureLock integrated-weights which divers rated great for ditching but so-so for loading, due to the upside-down vertical mount.

The Outlaw has zero inherent buoyancy and also zero D-rings, but there are web-loops galore (we counted 20 on a size medium) and a big plastic carabiner. The Outlaw might not be for the novice nor those who insist on cargo pockets or a right shoulder exhaust. It does only the things you really need from a BC, but it does them exceptionally well. The Outlaw is our Testers Choice.

Dive Deeper Learn more about the story behind making the Aqua Lung Outlaw

Price: $389 ($459 as tested) | Contact: aqualung.com