Kayak Manufacture in China

Posted on March 14, 2011 by admin

Share some ideas from confluence water sports CEO Sue- about kayak manufacture in china?

Given it is a touchy and often misunderstood issue, I wanted to share some perspective on our composite boat product offering that is manufactured in China (affecting Wilderness Systems Tempest PRO, Zephyr PRO, and Tsunami PRO). Just back from a visit to our production facility in China last week and was very pleased with the overall commitment to quality.

Fact: Confluence Water sports manufactures 99.6% of its total boat production in Easley, South Carolina.

Fact: Confluence eliminated NO jobs as a result of moving composite production to China.

Fact: Confluence employees develop and oversee the entire production and quality process.

Fact: Confluence was one of the last, if not the last, to execute a composite production program in China.

Fact: This new product is now lighter, less expensive and higher quality than we would have previously been able to offer—something that benefits our consumers as well as our retailers.

Fact: If we did not pursue manufacturing these particular composite sea kayaks at lower labor rates, we would have had no choice but to discontinue the product offering. This would have a negative impact on the organization (lost business), employees (potential lost jobs) our retailers (smaller product offering) and our brand loyal consumers (no product offered in this category).

While I do not support moving manufacturing to other countries as a matter of course, it’s important to realize that in our case it was done out of necessity. We take great pride in offering high quality, high performance products. We did not want to discontinue our composite program as it is an important part of our overall Wilderness Systems product offering.

In order to ensure that our product met expectations, we also sent our team to China to set up the production process, materials sourcing and quality standards. In addition to having a direct employee located in China to overseeing the facility, we continue to have our US based team intimately involved to ensure our process and standards are maintained.

Most things aren’t ever quite what they seem. While I can not speak for the many organizations that have made decisions to move jobs to other countries, I can say that we did it for the overall benefit of all of our stakeholders—consumers, employees, retail partners and shareholders. Our composite sales are on a dramatic rise, our business has benefited from a more fiscally appropriate program, and we now have the ability to further invest in our brands and our organization as a result of this success.

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Kayak fishing equipment tips

Posted on March 14, 2011 by admin

Fishing kayaks equipment tips


Kayak fishing is all about the gear. Following are tips for what to bring.

Clothing

Reflection off the water is really powerful and getting a bad sunburn can happen easily. Protect your whole body with lightweight clothing and long sleeves. Make sure it’s lightweight so it stays cool but fully covers your body. Also wear big hats, sunglasses and use lots of sunscreen.

You need good teva footwear to protect your feet when wading. The ocean bottom is often littered with sharp objects. Plus there are oysters and reef, both of which can cut your feet.

First Aid

Cuts are a huge problem with all the lures and fast moving lines that can shred your skin. A good first aid kit is key.

Technique—We emphasize good paddling technique. Wind is your number one enemy on the water. Learning to paddle properly saves wear and tear on your body, especially when you’re crossing a big, open, flat section with a headwind. I hate to see people slouched in their seat when they’re paddling. The ACA offers Quick Start and Smart Start classes to give you a good paddling base. I highly recommend taking one. Those classes will apply to any type of boating you want to do.

 

 

The Boat

Kayaks used for fishing are always sit-on-tops. Usually in the 14-foot range. This seems to be the right length for tracking and stability. Anything smaller gets beat around out there and anything longer can be pretty bulky. Fishermen tend to be gear freaks. I like to scale down gear to necessity only. I keep the deck as streamlined as possible, only carrying what I need.

Fishing kayak Gear

The type of fishing gear matters only to the people using it. Kayaking lends itself well to fly fishing because you’re always sight casting and kayaks allow you to work yourself into position in silence. But I use lures all the time too. It’s a personal preference.

Anatomy of a Fish Kayak

Slowride has customized his ride. Here’s his spiel on the most affective way to outfit a kayak for a day on the water. Bow“There’s usually a front dry hatch where you keep everything you probably won’t need during the day like a first aid kit, raingear and a breakdown paddle (hopefully you don’t need that stuff).”

 

Cockpit

“I keep my camera in a Pelican Case right under my knees for easy access. You never know when a good photo opportunity might come up. Most kayaks come with a standard seat but I add a high back seat because I’m usually on the water so long and it’s more comfortable.”

 

Behind the Chair

“Right behind me are four, flush-mounted rod holders (sunk into hull of the boat). I keep two fly rods and two conventional rods on the boat at all times so I’m ready for any kind of fishing.”

 

Milk Crate

“I have a milk crate right behind the rods for easy access. I keep a tackle box and fly box in it, along with pliers, line, measuring tape and an anchor. I can remove all this at the end of the day, take it in and repack it again for the next trip.”

Stern

“Beyond the milk crate, on the stern of the boat, I bungee an extra tackle box with emergency fishing gear in it. I never plan on getting into it. Everything I keep in the bow or stern is stuff I don’t need to get to very often.”

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Traveling in Hangzhou, part 1 -Impression West Lake

Posted on January 30, 2011 by admin

  Impression West Lake – a unique metropolitan outdoor performance in a natural stage setting. Located at the scenic Yue Lake of the West Lake area in Hangzhou, and in harmony with its world famous landscape, Impression West Lake is the most beautiful metropolitan theater with natural mountains and water as its backdrop. Thanks to the magical colors from each of the four seasons in Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River), every show offers a uniquely wonderful feeling.

More information about traveling in Hangzhou, please visit www.gotohz.com

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About Hangzhou

Posted on January 30, 2011 by admin
Hangzhou was settled as early as 4,700 years ago, by the aurora Liangzhu Civilization. One of the seven ancient capitals and the scenic tourism and historical culture cities in China, Hangzhou once was applauded as" the most splendid and luxurious city in the world" by Marco Polo, the Italian traveler in the 13th century.
    Under the jurisdiction of Hangzhou are 8 districts, 3 county-level cities and 2 counties, with a total area of 16,596 square kilometers and a total population of 6.4278 million. As a central city on the Southern wing of Yangtze Delta, Hangzhou's city proper covers an area of 3,068 square kilometers with a population of 3.932 million.
Under the sound leadership of the Central Government, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Party committee and Provincial Government, Hangzhou has witnessed great development in economy and all social causes with the hard work and devotion of its citizens since the drive of Reform and Opening-up. The GDP of Hangzhou in 2003 was RMB 209.977 billion, an increase of 15.2% over the previous year. It has maintained an annual growth rate of more than 10% for successive 13 years. Its total economic strength ranked No. 8 among all the big and medium-sized cities in China, No. 2 among all provincial capitals and No. 3 among all sub-provincial cities. Its GDP per capita reached RMB 32,700, or USD 3,950 as converted by the same year's foreign exchange rate. Its total financial revenues reached RMB 32.871 billion, an increase of 28.2% over the previous year. The fixed assets investments in all social sectors were RMB 100.618 billion, an increase of 30.7% over the previous year. The proportions among the three industries were 6.1 : 51.6 : 42.3. The non state-owned economy accounted for 50.5% of the GDP. The total financial revenues from the first 8 months this year have reached RMB 26.799 billion, an increase of 19.6% over the same period last year.
With the agricultural structure adjustment deepened and agricultural industrialization accelerated, the efficiency agriculture of Hangzhou is witnessing rapid development. Hangzhou attaches much importance to the construction of "Silicon Valley in Paradise"and the development of high and new technology industries, among which the"the Information Port and New Pharmacy Port", Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hangzhou High-New Technological Industries Development Zone, and High Education Park are the backbones. The four major pillar industries of food processing, machinery, electronic communications, and textile with considerable scale and advantages have formed. In 2003, above-scale industrial enterprises in Hangzhou accomplished the total output value of RMB 319.851 billion and taxes RMB 34.776 billion. The export-oriented economy has been developing quickly with more opened areas and increased opening extent. By the end of 2003, Hangzhou had successively approved 6,120 foreign funded projects from 60 industries throughout the world. The investors were from 76 countries and regions all over the world. 42 out of the Top 500 world enterprises had settled down in Hangzhou. In 2003, the total foreign trade export value reached USD 10.95 billion (an increase of 29.2% over the previous year), USD 6.47 billion of which were from municipal-level foreign trade exports. Its products were exported to 180 countries and regions all over the globe. The total import value of Hangzhou was USD 7.28 billion, an increase of 57.5%. Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport has been developing new international lines, accelerating its contact with overseas airports, and promoting its reputation.
Sciences and educations in Hangzhou are advanced, and there are 35 colleges, numerous polytechnic schools, and more than 80 natural science research institutes here. The total number of college students is 269,800. In addition, Hangzhou also boasts its rapidly developing culture and sanitation causes, increasingly improved housing situation and community environment. It has altogether 12 national honors including National Hygienic City and National Environment Protection Model City, etc. In October 2001, Hangzhou won UN Human Habitat Award in October 2002, and the honor of International Garden City. Since 2000, Hangzhou has successfully held the annual West Lake Expo four times, and made known its city brand name by launching four gold name cards (traveling, living, learning, and careering in Hangzhou), a channel for the world to know Hangzhou and for Hangzhou to head for the world.
What is more, the city has also done a lot to strengthen its international ties with cities from all over the world. By far it has the following friendship cities: Matsue.Shimane, Japan; Gifu, Japan; Boston, USA; Baguio, Philippine; Leeds, England; Fukui, Japan; Jeonnam, Korean; Nice, France; Paramaribo, Suriname; Budapest, Hungry; Shemesh, Israel; Agadir, Marocco; Canberra, Australia; Capetown, South Africa; Muko.Kyoto; Montego Bay , Jamaica; Kazan, Russia; Lalitpur, Nepal.
As a key national tourist city, historical and cultural city and sub-provincial level city as confirmed by the State Council, Hangzhou, renowned as "Paradise on Earth", "Cultural State", "Home to Silk", "Home of Tea" and "Land of Fish and Rice", is going to have a more promising tomorrow.
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How to Choose the Right Fishing Gear

Posted on January 11, 2011 by admin

Basic fishing outfits consist of a fishing rod and fishing reel, fishing line, fishing tackle and lures or live bait. A good rule of thumb when buying new gear is to not get the cheapest or most expensive. The one exception is fishing line.

Quality line doesn't cost much more but it'll keep your catch from getting away. Match your line's test strength to the weight of your fish and go heavier for fishing in weeds and lighter for clear water. The user friendliness and versatility of spinning reels make them ideal for beginners and the more ball bearings a reel has the smoother its action is likely to be. When it comes to rods, good ones have ceramic guides, a cork handle and medium action. Your choice of bait is also important and soft plastic lures are a good place to start since they're cheaper and more effective than most other options.
The biggest mistake you can make when shopping for fishing gear is not matching the size and strength of the gear to the size and strength of the fish you're targeting. The result can be a snapped line, worn out reel, broken rod and lost catches. You'll also have poor results if you choose the wrong gear for your style of fishing. Reel and rod designs, line types, tackle rigs and baits and lures are all engineered for specific fishing environments. Choose gear that matches the waters you fish, the fish you catch and the way you catch them.

Walmart has long been the low price leader but they lack the experienced staff and wide product selection of reputable sporting goods retailers. If you're looking for top brands under one roof with expert advice and excellent after sale support, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's are the way to go. They're a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts and their popularity and size gives them good buying power. You can even open a free account to get updates on sales and promotions.

The advice in this article will point you in the right direction but here are some ideas to get you started. Shakespeare's graphite and fiberglass Ugly Stik rod is almost unbreakable and comes with a seven year warranty. You can find it for $30 to $60. Pflueger's President spinning reel has 10 ball bearings and a silky smooth action. It's available for $60 to $80. Berkley Trilene XL line delivers solid performance at a low price of $3.68 to $10. If money's no object, Stren Microfuse line is over twice as strong as other lines of the same diameter, see http://www.bestcovery.com/best-fishing-line-overall, and it gives off a glow that attracts fish and is easier to see. You can find it for $28 to $38. Curly Tail Grubs are the best freshwater lures of all time according to "Field & Stream" magazine and you can get them for $2.59 to $3.79. Natural colored Senko worms are also a favorite of fishing enthusiasts and they retail for $5.29 to $7.29.

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how to load your kayak and canoe on vehicle

Posted on January 10, 2011 by admin

Transporting Your Kayak

Loading Tips

Basic 2-Person Procedure

  • Lay out the straps on your vehicle beforehand if applicable.
  • Place the kayak next to your vehicle.
  • Grab the kayak at each end and use a standard 2-person overhead lift (as shown in our video).
  • Once you've lifted it over your head, place the boat so it's directly above the rack, then set it down gently in whatever rack attachment you've mounted.
  • Reverse the procedure to unload it.

Solo Loading

  • Some kayak saddles feature rolling wheels, so the solo paddler can simply set the bow of the boat into the rear cradle, pick up the stern end and roll the kayak forward into the front cradle.
  • Integrated lift systems, which do the heavy lifting for you, are the ultimate option for those paddling solo.

Tie-Down Strategies

Tie-Down Straps

Most mounting attachments come with the nylon straps necessary to secure your kayak. These straps feature self-locking cam buckles that are easy to use and quick to cinch down, providing excellent overall grip. Most of these straps will have some sort of padding directly underneath the buckle (where it contacts the kayak hull) to minimize hull damage during transport. Tie off the extra length of strap directly above the buckle once it's been cinched tight for added security in case the buckle releases while you're driving.

Ropes

Unless you're super-confident in your knot-tying ability, use nylon tie-down straps with cam-buckles for their ease of use and reliability. If rope is all you have, make sure it's non-stretch and water-resistant. It should be "seasoned" (brand new ropes tend to stretch), non-slick (slippery ropes tend to come untied), and non-elastic (even when pulled tight, elastic lines and bungee cords can expand under pressure and let go of a boat).

Basic Securing Procedures

No matter what type of tie-downs you use, follow these basic procedures whenever you secure your kayak to a roof rack.

  • Once your boat is on the rack, be sure to center it fore and aft.
  • Use at least 2 lines or straps to hold the body of your kayak in place. These lines should run across your car width-wise.
  • It's also a good idea to secure both ends of the kayak to your vehicle's bumpers. There are bow/stern tie-down sets that feature easy-to-use ratcheting systems, or you can simply use a standard nylon tie-down strap.
  • If you're vehicle and boat will be out-of-sight for a while, lock it to your rack. The ideal solution is to use a long cable lock designed for boaters.

NOTE: Avoid over-tightening any of the straps holding your kayak in place. Too much tension can deform plastic hulls and crack fiberglass.

Driving Tips

Pre-Driving Check

Always make sure your boat is securely fastened to your rack before heading out. Check it occasionally throughout your drive. Road vibrations can cause straps to loosen slightly and some boats soften up when exposed to the heat of the sun.

To check your kayak, grab hold of either end of the boat and shake it from side to side. If the kayak is truly secure, the entire car should shift instead of just the boat. Inspect both bumper lines each time you check your boat.

On the Road

Drive cautiously when transporting your kayak. Kayaks can affect the handling of some cars in high winds or at high speeds, so keep your speed down.

Make sure your boat is centered on your vehicle properly so that it doesn't impair your view of the road. And always be mindful of your spacing between other cars if the ends of your kayak extend beyond the ends of your vehicle.

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Paddle Sports Magazine

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

 

SUP World Mag
+ 2010 SUP Buyers Guide

Stand Up Paddle World Magazine (aka SUP World Mag) was launched this year in 2010.

This new magazine is dedicated to newcomers and beginners, with a two-fold content: First, an introductory series of articles, and second, a Buyers Guide – to make sure readers know what is available on the market and to help them choose the right gear for what they do and where they live.
In the Future, SUP World Mag wants to be THE magazine of recreational, racing, and fitness Stand UP Paddling. We have chosen to focus more on these aspects than on surfing for two reasons: We see less coverage of these growing aspects in Stand UP media, and as a publishing house, we always try to bring to the table what is not already there. We also realize that coming from a paddling background, we know these disciplines better than we do surfing and want to stick with what we know and understand.

- Released annually
- Sold Worldwide (30 000 Copies)
www.supworldmag.com
Paddle World

Paddle World is an annual special of issue of Kayak Session that highlights the visual aspects of all paddlesports – sea kayaking, stand up, touring, canoeing, recreational, outrigger, and any other form of paddling.

Paddle World allows readers the opportunity to again combine their passion for water and their love for beautiful pictures. Paddle World ultimately wishes to appeal to and inspire the enthusiasts, as well as invite newcomers into the world of paddling through its "coffee table style" magazine.

- Released annually
- Sold Worldwide (30 000 copies)
www.paddleworld.com
Kayak Session

“If a photo speaks a thousand words, then Kayak Session is an encyclopedia.”

This quarterly magazine is the world’s premier whitewater sports
magazine. Dubbed as the National Geographic of kayaking, Kayak Session covers every
aspect of whitewater paddling.
Combining passionate writing, incredible
photography, thick, glossy paper, and refined and creative layout, it is the
essential reading and photo journal for the whitewater sports enthusiast.

- Released quarterly
- Sold worldwide
www.kayaksession.com
Kayak Session / Paddle World
Annual BUYERS GUIDE

Started in 2010, the annual KS + PW buyers guides presents over 500 products on the market from boats, to paddles, apparels, accessories, etc…

It is mostly based on what was seen at Kanu Messe the same year – it not only presents new products coming up, but also highlights the best sellers of every brand on the market!
The annual Buyers Guide is a free printed publication, also made available online for free viewing and download.

- Released annually
- Distributed worldwide
www.kayaksession.com/buyers-guide
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Guide for Stand Up Paddle Board, SUP, Stand Up Paddle

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

Waveriding: If riding waves is going to be your priority, consider a higher performance board, thats around 10ft and under. The more ability you have the smaller you can go. If you consider a 10ft surfboard, could, in surfing terms be used by a beginer you have some idea as to the size of SUP you require. Stability is achieved once moving on a wave, forward motion equates to stability. The compromise in length/width and displacement is a trade between paddling out through the surf and actualy riding waves. One trick enabling you to achieve stability getting through surf (especialy on smaller boards) is to lower your centre of gravity (making the whole process more stable) by kneeling instead of standing while paddling.

Flat Water paddling: Higher volume and a low rocker are the go. Calm water equates to mid-sized boards while rough water conditions will demand larger boards (that's 12ft x 30" x 5") making balancing significantly easier.

What do you choose: How big a SUP board do I need? The answer; there is no right sized board. Everyone will have a take on this based on skill (having surfed before) and choice of use. The larger the SUP board the more stable, but in surf conditions the harder it will be to turn. Paddlers with past surfing experience will choose smaller, lower volume SUP boards while beginners and paddlers using boards in flat-water conditions prefer longer, wider and higher volume boards. Three points worth remembering; 1) Displacement plays a large part in the design of a SUP for an indervidual customer and should not be confused with volume. The shapers skill should equate the piece of foam before him into a board, extracting as much performance matched to the customers ability. 2) The paddlers weight and height will also play a considerable part in the building of a custom SUP board. 3) The paddlers ability is parramont.

Common Terminology used in board design.

Deck: The bit you stand on. Generally flat but can be domed (generally shaped into surf SUP's) allowing volume to be reduced in the rails for ease in rail to rail transitions while surfing.

Bottom: Flat bottoms are the norm, giving greater stability. A convexed hull will be faster and more manoeuvrable but less forgiving. Vee will often be shapped into the tail giving greater maneuverability.

Rails: Edges of the board. Higher volume rails will aid stability. The opposite for a thinner rail. This design feature allows for ease of turning which leads to higher performance in the surf.

Rocker: Curve from nose (front) to tail (back) in section along the boards length. This in turn can be broken down into nose rocker/lift and tail rocker/lift. Of more importance in surf conditions though a design factor in all boards.

Tail: The back end of the board. Many tails shapes are available. Mostly a preference thing but certain shapes do aid performance, especially speed, holding ability (while surfing steeper waves) and manoeuvrability.

Fins: Placed on the underside at the back of the board to stop the tail from drifting while surfing. Both in surf and flat water SUP's the fin will give the board directional stability.

Handle or Soap dish: SUP's are wide making them difficult  to carry. Shaping a groove into the deck for your hand allows for carrying under the arm.  

 

Remember, with one board used in all conditions there has to be a compromise in design. One board cannot achieve 100% in all SUP disciplines, though using a single SUP board in differing conditions will depend mainly on skill level. Everything works, its just a question of performance and how well. And of course, how much fun you want to have.

A word on paddles. Correct paddle technique is important to riding SUP's. Stand Up Paddle size correct for your height is important to insure when paddling you are standing tall and straight. Total paddle length can be determined by allowing 4"- 6" longer than you are tall. A longer tapered blade will be conducive to consistant long distant paddling while a short wide blade will aid wave riding. 

Finally, beware of being sold what the outlet has in stock as opposed to what you need. Stand Up Paddle Board design is not a mystery.

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Scuba BCD Parts, regulator, inflator, backplate, lift bag, signal tube

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

 

  • Air Bladder: This is exactly what is sounds like – a bladder that holds air and pretty much the reason modern scuba bc's exist. You can inflate or deflate the bladder to help you stay neutrally buoyant. bc scuba - buoyancy compensator
  • Inflators There are two types of inflators – a power inflatorand a manual inflator. Both accomplish the same thing – putting air into your scuba diving BC.

     

    The power inflatoris connected to your tank via a low pressure hose from the first stage of your scuba diving regulator. All you have to do is push the inflator button and air is put into your BC scuba.

    With the manual inflator (or oral inflator), you put air into the BC air bladder by blowing into a mouthpiece on the inflator hose. All you have to do is press a button to open up the hose connected to your BC and then blow. It is generally located right next to the power inflator button.

     

  • Deflators and Dump Valves As you probably guessed by the name, these do the opposite of the power inflators – namely, let air out of your dive BC.

     

    For the manual deflator, all you have to do is push a button on the inflator hose to let the air out of your BC. The easiest way to let air out is to go upright, lift the hose above your head and press the deflator button.scuba bc - buoyancy compensatorA BC scuba will typically have one or more dump valves. These are operated by pulling on a string which, in turn, lets air out of the bladder. One dump valve is usually located on the left shoulder near where the hose is connected. A common spot for a second dump valve is on the lower bottom of the BCD. This lets you dump air if you are inverted in the water (since air is released from the highest point.)

    My BC has two dump valves, one on the shoulder and one on the back in the lower right corner.

     

  • Pressure Release Valve: Scuba BC's typically also contain one more valve – a pressure release valve. This valve will automatically release air from the bladder if the BC is overinflated.

     

     

  • Backplate: This is usually a hard piece of plastic on the back of a dive BC where the tank is placed. bc scuba - buoyancy compensator The tank is then attached to the BC with a nylon belt that has a locking buckle.

     

     

     

  • Waistband/Assorted Straps: Your scuba diving BC has a cummerbund like strap that goes around your abdomen and secures the BC in place. It is fairly thick and has velcro that holds the strap together. A BC also has a strap with interlocking buckles on the upper chest and on top of the cummerbund style waistband. These buckles are similar to what you see on travel backpacks.

     

    Many BC's also have velcro tabs that will hold your hoses in place so they don't get in the way and you can always reach them if need be.

     

  • Pockets/Rings Most BC's will have pockets so you can store your accessories, or whatever, during your dive. You will also find rings attached to the front of the BC so you can hook your gear on or attach other accessories (such as a dive light).

     

     

  • Weight Pockets Some dive BC's use an integrated weight system. That means that you put the weights in specially designed pockets in the BC so you don't have to wear a weight belt. They are designed so you can quickly get rid of the weights (or most of the weights) in case of an emergency.

So there you have it, all the parts of your BC scuba you never wanted to know about. Only kidding – it is always good to be familiar with your equipment. The scuba BC is a pretty low tech piece of scuba gear so it's easy to become comfortable with it.

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Best BCD, different levels buoyancy compensator for choice

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

 

Choosing the best bcd isn't easy. There are lots of scuba BC's out there and what works for depends alot on personal preferences.

Do you want a weight integrated buoyancy compensator? Do you want a jacket style or wing style BC? What price can you afford? best scuba diving bcd - buoyancy compensator Of course, we all know there is no "one fits all". Nevertheless, I have chosen what I consider to be the best scuba diving BCD's at various price points – entry level or budget, mid range and high end – as well as ones specifically for women and the more technical divers.

To this end, I have read many ratings and reviews of various scuba diving BC's. I have only chosen those models which have received many top reviews from lots of different users. If it has universal good marks, chances are you will be happy with it too.

Personally, as I have discussed on previous pages, the buoyancy compensator I use is VERY basic and was purchased many, many years ago. Just like my old dive computer, suffice it to say it won't be winning any award for best scuba BCD. However, it still does the job but after reading about all these BC's, I think I just might buy a new one.

Here are my picks of the best scuba BCD's – from entry level to midrange to top of the line to female specific.

 

Best BCD: High End/Top End

If money is no object, why not go for it? There are two options here and one of these should make you very happy (and I'm jealous!).

 

Our first pick gets lots of great reviews from users. It is an Oceanic model. It is a jacket-style, weight-integrated BCD that has rear trim pockets (this is one feature that I will be having on my next BC). Features include quick-release weight-integrated system, stainless steel D-rings and padded lumbar support.best scuba bcds - buoyancy compensatorThis Oceanic model get high marks for comfort, durability, lots of features and ease of adjustment. As we all know, the ability to quickly adjust your buoyancy is a critical feature in a BC. Some of the reviews from LP users include:

"I researched hundreds of BC's for days on tens of websites looking for the best one. This piece of equipment has it all. Sweeping reviews, durability, storage capacity, lots of velcro back ups on all the weight pockets. Has room to stuff the kitchen sink in one pocket. I can dive for shark teeth without all my accessories ( screens, trough, camera, etc ) hanging all over the place. Material is bulletproof. Dries fast. Very comfortable for a big BC. Sizing is a little large though but not a problem. No tank slips yet with many many beach dives in tough surf. Very smooth adjusting on buoyancy control and holds you perfectly upright on the surface and flat as a pancake over a reef or wreck. I expect to be able to enjoy this Rolls Royce for at least 20 yrs. Pop the extra money for the backup reg/ inflator from Oceanic. Well worth the money. I guarantee you will enjoy this "high end" BC."

"An excellent BC. Very durable and has D-Rings galore to grow with. I love the various pockets on the BC and for a Jacket Style it is very clean in the water. This is my third BC in eleven years and will be with me for a long time!"

Our second pick for best bcd in the top end category is this Seaquest Model. This BC features an expandable three-dimensional buoyancy bag design with very low profile and low drag characteristics.

 

Best BCD: Mid-Range

I had my work cut out for me since there were so many models in this category. However, I did finally narrow it down to 2 models which I think most people would be happy with.

 

The first recommendation in the mid-range category for best bcd is a Zeagle model.

This also gets the nod as the best travel BC. This is one of Zeagle's more lightweight models that is great for travel. However, based on all the great reviews, it still lives up to Zeagle's reputation for high-quality BC's. Reviews include:diving BC - buoyancy compensator "I wanted a streamlined BC and the Zeagle Stiletto was exactly what I was looking for. It is sturdy and well made, adjustable to fit most any shape and easy to pack. Based on a review I bought the additional utility pocket and that was wise. I went by the sizing chart and the first BC sent fit until I inserted the lumbar support, which I do recommend, but allow about 3-4 inches if you do. [...]"

"This is a streamlined version of Ranger BCD . I love it for travel and the 35 lbs of lift is not really a compromise for how much smaller and lighter it is than my tech . After using Zeagle BCD you probably would never go back to another."

 

Best BCD: Beginner or Entry Level

Even if you don't want to shell out alot of money on a buoyancy compensator you can still find some nice BC's that do a perfectly fine job.

 

The model that I have chosen as the best bcd in the entry level category is this Tusa model.

It gets very high marks for comfort, ease of adjustment, durability and features. You get alot for your money including great performance.

Some of the reviews of this BC include:

"Perfect BC. Comfortable, fits like a glove, definitely made to last. The weight integrated pockets are the best I've ever used, your weights aren't going anywhere. I've used bcs' where the pockets continuously fall out only to hang by a strap by the time you find out. All my expectations of this bc were blown out the water. This bc is great from beginners to advanced divers. I just recently got back from a very cold dive where i bottomed out at 85ft, and it worked without a flaw."

"Not much to say… after 600+ immersions with it, I'm buying a new one."

"So happy with it, comfortable and easy to adjust and just a great allround BC. Workmanship is great and easy to use!!"

 

 

Best BCD: Females

Women have special "considerations" that can make purchasing a BC a bit more complicated. There are BC's now made especially for females that are designed for a more comfortable fit. If you have tried more "male oriented" BC's and weren't happy with them, you might want to give these highly rated BC's a try.

 

The first bet for best bcd for women is a bit more inexpensive while the second recommendation is definitely high end. Depending on your needs and or preferences, I think you should be happy with one of them.

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