A BCD—also called a BC or buoyancy compensator—is the core of your scuba gear setup. Divers are very particular about their preferred BCD style, as one slight tweak can throw everything out of whack underwater. ScubaLab's test divers kept this in mind while evaluating 15 new BCDs for their 2020 review. This review, which had a big focus on jacket-style, hybrid, back-inflation, and backplate/wing BCDs, was conducted with real-world testing, resulting in the best head-to-head scuba gear review out there. Check out our review for the best scuba BCDs of 2020 below, and visit our gear page for more on the latest ScubaLab reviews.

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2020 Scuba BCs Reviewed:

Jacket and Hybrid BCs

• Scubapro X-Black
• Aqua Lung Omni
• Genesis Origin
• Hog Hybrid Pro
• Seac EQ-Pro

Back-Inflation BCs

• Atomic Aquatics BC2
• Cressi Commander Evolution
• Cressi Lightwing
• Cressi Scorpion
• Dive Rite Hydro Lite
• XS Scuba Phantom SL

Back-Plate/Wing BCs

• OMS Deep Ocean 2.0
• OMS Mono Wing 27
• Seac Modular Max
• TUSA BC0502B t-wing

How We Test

Ergo Test

Testing was conducted at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Williston, Florida, by ­divers equipped with slates and waterproof test sheets. Divers recorded their observations and assigned scores from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor) in each of the following categories:

Setup Ease and security of tank and hose ­attachments
Loading Weights Ease of loading and security of integrated-weight system
Comfort ­Overall comfort, both in and out of the water
Adjustability Ease of adjusting and range of adjustment
Attitude and Stability In swim and ­vertical (head-up and head-down) ­positions; overall sense control of attitude and trim
Streamlining Is drag noticeable at depth?
Stowage ­Usefulness and ­accessibility of cargo pockets, D-rings, loops, etc., for securing accessories
Valve Operation Ability to control when inflating/deflating by power inflator and manually; ergonomics of the controls
Ascent Control Ability to maintain desired ascent rate and attitude
Surface Floating Position Comfort and stability while inflated at the surface
Ditching Weight System Ability to drop weights quickly; security from accidental ditching

Objective Test

We ­conducted three tests in a swimming pool to measure criteria important to performance and safety.

Flow Rate We tested the ability of each BC’s exhaust ­system to prevent uncontrolled ascent in the event of a stuck power ­inflator. At 10 feet of depth, each BC while loaded with 20 percent of the claimed buoyant lift was held upright while the power inflator and upper exhaust were simultaneously activated for 20 seconds. Industry standards require that at the conclusion a BC has not become positively buoyant.

Buoyant Lift Each BC was fully ­inflated with the ­power inflator while mounted upright to a neutrally buoyant bucket. The bucket was then progressively weighted until the BC would not support ­another pound without sinking.  

Inherent Buoyancy To determine how a BC’s built-in buoyancy would affect ­weighting requirements, each BC was submerged, with care ­taken to remove all air from air cell, pockets, padding, etc. Weights were then added in half-pound increments until the BC would support no further weight without sinking.

Jacket and Hybrid BCs

Scubapro X-Black

The X-Black's black-on-black palette and heavy-duty materials wouldn’t look out of place on a military tactical vest. But it turned out to be satisfyingly cozy, as well as rock-solid stable, tying top scores in its category for stability and comfort. On the husky side, it weighs more than 10 pounds, the side panels (with three zippered cargo pockets) are more than 12 inches top to bottom, and it has more than 50 pounds of lift. But the harness molds nicely to the body, and a corsetlike network of bungees keeps the air cell well in check, earning the XBlack a very good score for streamlining. “Travels smoothly and easily through the water,” one tester noted. Tested with the included Air2 octo/inflator, it was rated excellent for valve operation and ascent control. Comfortable, stable and built to last, it was a favorite of most test divers. The X-Black is our Testers Choice for jacket and hybrid BCs.

Aqua Lung Omni

The Omni brings to a jacket style the modular design of Aqua Lung’s groundbreaking Outlaw and Rogue back inflation BCs, with a selection of waist, shoulder and back components available in different sizes and colors. The Omni uses the same clip-on fittings as the other modular models, which can easily be released with a simple tool. (We’ve used a screwdriver, car key and hex key.) The design allows for 27 different size configurations and lets you fine-tune the fit. That’s good because the waist straps, in particular, have a relatively narrow adjustment range, and our testers found the best sizing sometimes required different size components. The design also lets you swap colors (from a choice of six) and accessories, such as octo and gauge holders. For a full-feature jacket with roomy cargo pockets, the Omni has a very trim, body-hugging shape. Testers rated it very good for comfort, and excellent for stability and its surface floating position.

Genesis Origin

The Origin is targeted at entry-level divers looking for an affordable integrated-weight jacket, which means don’t look for anything fancy. But testers found it offered solid performance all around, rating it very good for comfort, stability, streamlining and ascent control. In fact, it was rated very good in every category except ease of adjustment, where stiff straps and new adjusters earned a good rating. The integrated weight pockets hold 10 pounds each and are simple to load. The tank band has a latch that stays in place in half-lock position, a feature new divers will appreciate. The tall side panels (14 inches in size medium) cover a lot of ground from armpit to hip—a bit too much for shorter test divers, though most found the fit very good. The zippered cargo pockets are big—deep enough you have to root for small items—and relatively easy to access. While it’s not flashy, the Origin proved to be, as one tester noted, “Good simple, no-nonsense BC.”

Hog Hybrid Pro

Like most hybrids we’ve used, the Hybrid Pro both looks and dives much more like a jacket than a back-inflation, partly because the integrated weight pockets require big side panels. Two exceptions were the back-inflation-like surface floating position, with a distinct forward bias, and the paucity of storage space (optional slip-on cargo pockets are available). The side panels and weight pockets slide on the elasticized cummerbund and pull up snugly and securely with the waist belt. Testers rated the design very good for comfort and stability, though some didn’t like that the cummerbund can slip out of the restraining loops before it’s cinched up. The integrated weight pockets topload through a long zipper and ditch with a pull of the red web loops on the side flaps, which are secured by Velcro and by fabric tabs overlapping the corners. We were able to fit 8 pounds of soft lead in each, and testers found they loaded easily, stayed in place and ditched readily.

Seac EQ-Pro

Despite its hefty appearance, the EQ-Pro proved to be both lighter and more streamlined than we expected. Keeping its profile tidy is a modestly sized air cell that tapers above the waist and has a horizontal bungee behind the back plate. Steadying things are side panels that slide along the waistband, keeping the harness snug while reducing squeeze, and giving the EQ-Pro a well-balanced feel. As one tester noted, “It stays where you put it.” It earned a very good score for comfort, and an excellent score for stability. It also took top scores for surface floating position. The integrated weights were rated very good for loading and good for ditching, with some testers finding the release buckles a bit stiff. One gripe was a bit of extra inherent buoyancy, and some testers noted they would have preferred an adjustable tank valve strap to aid positioning. With impressive performance making it one of the favorites of multiple testers, the EQ-Pro is our Best Buy.

Back-Inflation BCs

Atomic Aquatics

The BC2 brings to back-inflations the same no-holds barred design that marked the BC1 jacket. It also shares elements including laminated and coated fabrics that shed water and resist wear and abrasion, as well as details that are a gear geek’s dream: ratcheting tank band, titanium-coated D-rings, low-friction pull dumps with nonfloating knobs, and integrated weights that click in and out like the door of a luxury car. What’s different is the pear-shaped rear air cell and a harness that, while trimmer than the BC1, is still substantial. The goodies helped the BC2 take top scores for integrated weights and ease of setup, and it won praise from testers for slick operation of inflation and ascent controls. Some testers noted that at more than 10 pounds (size medium) it wasn’t as light or trim as some of the other back-inflation models. But it was still rated good overall for streamlining, and won praise for, as one tester described it, “Gucci-quality construction.”

Cressi Commander Evolution

A widely adjustable harness with a full back-plate, integrated weights with 20 pounds of capacity, and more than 50 pounds of lift make the Commander able to handle a range of chores. “Worked as well with my wetsuit and drysuit,” one tester noted. The large bladder has a web of bungees to keep it trim, and attaches to the harness with sliding loops that prevent binding on the shoulder straps when inflated. A pair of zippered cargo pockets are relatively easy to access and add a decent amount of storage, if at the expense of a bit of extra bulk. Testers rated it very good for a streamlined profile, as well as for valve operation and ascent control, although some found the left shoulder exhaust a little slow to empty. A pair of trim pockets mounted on the single tank band are handy, although some testers wished for a higher placement to better shift weight. Though a bit bigger and heavier than the average here, the Commander Evo won praise for its comfort and versatility.

Cressi Lightwing

Aimed at the traveling diver, the Lightwing lives up to its name, weighing less than 5 pounds, making it the lightest in our test. A soft back-plate, minimal harness with air-net padding in the shoulder straps and a modest-size bladder also let it squeeze down and fold up for packing. But the stripped-down harness didn’t keep it from taking very good scores for comfort and stability, helped by the body-hugging fit of the curved shoulder straps and supports built into the lower back to keep tank roll to a minimum. The compact air cell has a close-fitting profile that reduces drag, earning among the better scores in the test for streamlining. A smattering of D-rings and web loops, and a drop-down cargo pocket that’s big enough but tricky to access under the weight pocket, left testers wishing for a few more places for their essentials. A featherweight traveler with admirable performance, the Lightwing was among the favorites of multiple test divers.

Cressi Scorpion

The Scorpion has a flexible back-plate, lightweight harness and trim, streamlined air cell, but it also has more than 40 pounds of lift, cargo pockets, and integrated weights that hold 20 pounds. In the water, those two sides of the Scorpion’s nature got along fine, earning it top scores for comfort and streamlining, with testers impressed by its solid stability and lack of drag. The vertically mounted weight pockets are placed near the body’s centerline, boosting stability below and at the surface, where the Scorpion took top score among back-inflations. Scored very good for ditching, the weights were rated just fair for loading, although the procedure was helped by web loops on the holders. The Scorpion’s cargo pockets have a boxy shape that makes the space useful. That earned a very good score for stowage, although D-rings are sparse. With a comfortable, stable, streamlined design that was a favorite of test divers, the Scorpion is our Testers Choice for back-inflation BCs.

Dive Rite Hydro Lite

With a mountaineering-style harness and compact air cell the Hydro Lite looks almost like an Alpine backpack with an inflator hose. Although hardware is mostly stainless steel, it is indeed “lite,” tipping our scale at under 6 pounds. A flexible back-plate lets it fold up, but the double tank straps work well with the doughnut-shaped bladder—which had more than 30 pounds of lift—to keep things steady when rigged. The harness has decent padding on back pad and shoulder straps, and a 1½-inch-wide crotch strap with a quick-release buckle. Testers rated it good for comfort and very good for stability and streamlining. “Slides through water with zero drag,” noted one test diver. The small, vertically mounted integrated weights can squeeze in 6 pounds each of hard lead (though soft 5s are a tight fit) and are a bit of a pain to load, but ditch easily and cleanly. Light in weight despite its heavy-duty materials, the Hydro Lite is travel-ready for rec or tec warm-water diving.

XS Scuba Phantom SL

The SL stands for “spread your lead,” a design that allows shifting weight fore and aft for streamlining and efficiency. It comes with a pair of 1-pound ankle weights and shoulder trim pockets. The pockets are on the inside of the harness just above the shoulder blades, and hold up to 8 pounds. Test divers, mostly in 5 mm suits, found they could alter trim using much less than the max, since the placement adds a lot of leverage. It takes some experimentation to get the trim right, but it proved effective; the Phantom SL took high score in its category for attitude control and stability. “Perfectly horizontal and level trim,” wrote one tester. “Very well balanced in water,” noted another. Some testers thought the top weights made it a bit top-heavy at the surface, but it was still rated good overall for surface floating position. Among the favorites of multiple test divers, the travel-friendly Phantom SL has a soft back-plate and weighs just a bit over 5 pounds.

Back-Plate/Wing BCs

OMS Deep Ocean 2.0

Setting up a back-plate/wing BC is a bit like ordering sushi or tapas—you can pick exactly the items you want from the menu. Similarly, you’ll pay for your appetite, hence the weight (15 pounds and change) and tally for the fully loaded rig we tested: Deep Ocean 2.0 wing, Comfort Harness III with crotch strap, stainless back-plate, back pad with weight pockets, integrated weight pockets and utility pocket. The wing itself ($423) is squarish, ruggedly made and big—we measured 54 pounds of lift and felt a bit of drag. There’s no pull dump, but a pair of lower exhausts and a perfectly positioned dump atop the right shoulder moved air in a hurry. The harness is softly padded on the back and especially the shoulders, where aviation-style stainless quick-release buckles eliminate the need to chicken-wing your way into the harness, even in a drysuit. Each tester noted a thing or two they’d change about the setup, which is kind of the point.

OMS Mono Wing 27

This rig also says OMS on the side, but is a different animal from the Deep Ocean, with a travel-friendly 27-pound Performance Mono Wing, SmartStream harness with stainless back-plate and integrated weights. It was rated just good for comfort but excellent for stability, tying the top scores in the test. “Nice solid control,” said one tester. “Very stable,” noted another. The narrow wing and minimal overall profile kept drag to a minimum, earning an excellent score for streamlining. “Very trim and tidy,” as one test diver said. The wing has only two exhausts, but one is a pull dump and they did the job, earning a very good score for ascent control. The inverted integrated weight pockets dump cleanly, stay out of the way, and are among the most secure we’ve used; we also found them impossible to load without lubricating them with liberal amounts of profanity. Its admirable stability and easy movement through the water made the Mono Wing a top contender in our test.

Seac Modular Max

A bit more BC-like than the other wings, the Modular Max actually has a soft back-plate stiffened by a removable, Ushaped steel frame, but at depth it felt no different from a full back-plate. All components are interchangeable, allowing you to mix and match for a customized rig. Standard equipment includes the harness, back-plate, 44-pound donut bladder and trim-weight pockets. The air cell, with no bungees to rein it in, is sizable. Testers noticed some drag, but still rated it good overall for streamlining. Its surface floating position was rated good for its type. It has a right shoulder dump, but doesn’t have a pull dump integrated into the power inflator, which testers missed. The harness, with a 1-inch-wide, three-point crotch strap, has a lot of adjustability, but also a fair of amount of strap dangling after cinching up. Our test sample included optional integrated weight pockets ($85 each) with the same latch used on Seac’s premium BCs; testers rated it among the best in the test for loading and ditching.

TUSA BC0502B t-wing

The T-Wing was nearly the lightest BC in our test—no surprise, given its narrow aluminum back-plate, simple harness and snug-fitting wing. It was also the only wing we tested without integrated weights. The result was a little grousing about weight belts, and a lot of praise about the T-Wing’s you-hardly-know-it’s-there feel and profile in the water. “Compact and light,” noted one tester. “Streamlined as a fighter jet,” another added. It was rated excellent both for streamlined profile and comfort, with relatively thin but effective padding on shoulder straps and back-plate. It was rated very good for stability and attitude control, though some testers found it took a bit of dialing in to get trim just how they wanted it. Easily customizable and suitable for a wide range of diving—including air travel—the TWing shows the flexibility and versatility offered by a backplate/ wing design. Selected as a favorite of test divers, the T-Wing is our Testers Choice for back-plate/wing BCs.

Ask Roger

Q: What made the winners stand out?
A: As always in our BC test, the two most important factors were comfort and stability, and being a contender in this year's very competitive test required the top scores in those categories. But test divers also put a high priority on a streamlined, low-drag profile, smooth and predictable ascent control, and a comfortable, steady floating position.

 
Q: How are the components chosen for the back-plate/wing configurations you test?
A: We request configured gear from manufacturers. In other words, divable systems. That leaves it up to the gear providers — who know more than anyone about the design of their gear and its performance — to choose the most appropriate setup for our test conditions.

Trimming Up

Achieving an efficient, neutral position at depth isn’t just about how much weight you need, but where you need it. Generally, concentrating weight near the center of buoyancy will make your position more stable, since there’s less leverage between the forces of weight and buoyancy. For example, trim pockets on Aqua Lung’s Omni mount near the back plate, close to the body’s centerline. Likewise, weight shifted to where leverage is greater—shoulders, tank valve or ankles—can help lever an upright position into a more horizontal attitude. XS Scuba’s Phantom SL has four small trim pockets mounted high on the shoulders, where a small amount of lead can make a big difference.

Multitasking

Some of the BCs in our test showed an impressive range of versatility. Testers Choice picks like the Cressi Scorpion and the Tusa TWing are good examples. But other notables included Dive Rite’s Hydro Lite, which provides tec-inspired performance in a design that travels easily, and Cressi’s Commander Evolution, which can handle a wide range of diving duties.

Easter Eggs

One of the treats of a BC test is finding and trying out how the design elements and features perform in the water. Here are a few standouts:

• The ratcheting tank band on Atomic Aquatics’ BC2 is just like that used on the BC1—and just as simple and effective to use.

• Weight pockets that load from the bottom can be a chore. But those on the Cressi Scorpion have a small web loop that provides leverage to reduce the difficulty.

• Modular connectors used on Aqua Lung’s Omni are identical to those on the Outlaw and Rogue. They perform seamlessly, to the point that there’s no sense the BC is made of components that can be so easily disassembled.

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