|May 09 Scuba Lab Quick Links| |---| |General Purpose BCs| |---| | BARE Blackjack| BARE Blackwing| | BARE Voodoo| Mares Prestige MRS Plus| | SCUBAPRO Glide Pro| Tusa Conquest| | Zeagle Ranger LTD| | |Dual Purpose BCs| |---| | Aeris 5 Oceans| Cressi Aquaride| | Oceanic Cruz| SCUBAPRO Equator| | Cressi Travelight| Cressi Light Jac| |True Travel BCs| |---| | Zeagle Zeus| |

General Purpose BCs

General Purpose BCs offer lots of buoyant lift and integrated weight systems that can accommodate the ballast needed when using thick wetsuits or drysuits. They are usually appointed with generous pockets, D-rings, and grommets for attaching a variety of accessories. Features and comfort commonly rate higher in priority than dry weight, so as a group they tend to be the heaviest BCs on the market.

Zeagle Ranger LTD

Features

The new Ranger LTD comes with all the cool stuff that made the original Ranger a hit-like a high-lift rear air cell, modular sizing and adjustable elastic waist panels to fine-tune fit, plus adds a few new surprises-like adjustable webbing in the shoulders that gives the rig more of a Tec look, two pairs of D-rings to hang bottles and a nifty zippered attachment system that lets you add a variety of accessories, carriers and pockets. A lumbar pad has also been added for comfort, along with a removable rear trim-weight system and a pair of mesh weight pouches for use in the BC's unique RipCord integrated weight system. Add a pair of cargo pockets and six additional stainless-steel D-rings and you're ready to rumble, Ranger-style.

Performance

|Specifications| |---| | Average Subjective Test Score| 4.3| | Dry Weight| 10 lbs.| | Buoyant Lift| 44 lbs.| | Inherent Buoyancy| 1.8 lbs.| | Weight Capacity| 30/20 lbs.| | Price| $857| | www.zeagle.com|

We really liked the new webbing overlay on the Ranger LTD's shoulders because it expands the range for personal adjustments and D-ring positioning. This is a comfortable BC. Solid too, so much so it's easy to forget it's a soft-pack BC. Although it looks kind of bulky on the surface, get it in the water and that sense of bulkiness disappears. It provides a snug fit with little up-front clutter, it's stable and very manageable in all swimming positions. The power inflator is a more traditional design, which means it's a little bigger and sports a more efficient deflate valve. When held overhead it can easily stay ahead of a stuck inflator valve. In fact, all three of the Ranger LTD's heads-up exhaust valves were able to stay ahead of a stuck inflator valve. The Ripcord weight ditch system is super efficient; it's the only system featuring a one-handed ballast release. However, weight pouches are located well back from center-waist so are best loaded before donning or with a buddy's help. The Ranger LTD is also the only BC whose rear trim weights are ditchable. Side cargo pockets don't offer a lot of volume but they are positioned well.

Bottom Line

You pay a lot for the Ranger LTD, but you get a lot. And judging from the looks of its construction, and the reputation of the original Ranger, it just may last a lifetime.

|Quick Links| |---| |General Purpose BCs| |---| | BARE Blackjack| BARE Blackwing| | BARE Voodoo| Mares Prestige MRS Plus| | SCUBAPRO Glide Pro| Tusa Conquest| | Zeagle Ranger LTD| | |Dual Purpose BCs| |---| | Aeris 5 Oceans| Cressi Aquaride| | Oceanic Cruz| SCUBAPRO Equator| | Cressi Travelight| Cressi Light Jac| |True Travel BCs| |---| | Zeagle Zeus| |