Jump to Results

Head-to-Head Testing

How We Test

Ergo Test Testing was conducted in fresh water by test divers at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Williston, Florida. Divers recorded their observations about each BC’s performance 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 Both in and out of the water.

Adjustability Ease of adjusting and range of adjustment.

Attitude And Stability In swim and vertical positions; overall sense of control of attitude and trim.

Streamlining Is drag noticeable at depth?

Stowage Usefulness and accessibility of cargo pockets, D-rings, etc. for securing accessories.

Valve Operation Ability to control when inflating/deflating by power inflator; ergonomics of the controls.

Ascent Control Ability to maintain desired ascent rate and attitude.

Surface Floating Position Comfort, stability while inflated at the surface.

Ditching Weights Ability to drop weights quickly.

The scoring is: 1=poor 2=fair 3=good 4=very good 5=excellent

Objective Test

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

Flow-Rate Test

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

Inherent Buoyancy

BCs were submerged, with all air removed, and weights added in half-pound increments until the BC became negatively buoyant.

Buoyant Lift

BCs were fully inflated while mounted upright to a neutrally buoyant plastic bucket, which was then progressively weighted until the BC would not support another pound without sinking.

Related Reading: Buoyancy Calculator—How Much You Need in Dive Weights

JACKET-STYLE

Aqualung

Axiom I3+

With a plushy, form-fitting harness and a supportive wraparound air cell, this very comfy BC was described by one diver as “a nice hug.” Despite initial misgivings, testers were also impressed with the lever-style i3 inflator system. It needs a slightly longer hose, but the trade-off is one control point for the inflator and all three exhaust valves in a single location. It earned very good scores for valve operation and ascent control. “Very smooth and refined,” one tester noted.

The harness offers a good amount of adjustment, but some divers felt a bit squeezed by the cummerbund. The BC includes knife-mounting grommets, six D-rings and three pockets. The two zippered pockets are small and harder to access compared to the wide-mouthed drop-down pocket. SureLockII integrated weight pockets are very easy to load and ditch, but we should note that the distended pocket can interfere with the inflator lever if overstuffed.

The system is equipped with a handy quick-disconnect Grip-Lock tank buckle and scored very good for setup. The Axiom was overwhelmingly chosen as a favorite among test divers. It is our Testers Choice for jacket BCs.

MSRP $849

CONTACT aqualung.com

"Really solid BC all-around. Very impressed by the slick operation of the i3."

Cressi

Emperor

This BC’s wraparound air cell is somewhat segmented, making it more of a hybrid than a true jacket. It has a balanced, easy-to-maintain swim position, with most of the lift coming from the waist when underinflated. The low-profile inflator hose and three exhaust valves scored very good for operation and ascent control.

The Emperor packs in large panels of quick-draining air-net padding, which make it noticeably plump without adding inherent buoyancy. Combined with rotating shoulder buckles and an adjustable, pivoting cummerbund it wraps the diver snugly and securely. “Easy-chair comfort,” is how one tester described it.

The harness is adorned with plenty of D-rings for stowage, but the zippered cargo pockets are tight and difficult to access. Integrated weight pockets are easy to load thanks to D-rings that grant additional leverage during loading. Items in the cargo pockets can make it more difficult to load—but not ditch—the weight pockets.

MSRP $699.95

CONTACT cressiusa.com

"Very bodyhugging in a good way, without any shifting or sliding around."

ScubaPro

Glide

Though test divers were divided on their feelings toward the Air2 integrated octo/inflator combo, they all agreed that this jacket BC’s multiple easy-to-access dump valves and steady, stable floating position offered great buoyancy control. They rated the twopiece Super-Cinch tank buckle very good for setup, as it allows for easy tank attachment after the first adjustment.

The lightweight hard-back harness includes several ergonomic features, such as a rolled collar and shaped shoulder pads. It also includes a nice amount of adjustment. The supportive harness and the wraparound air cell combine for a comfortably snug fit that doesn’t squeeze. “Could barely feel it underwater or topside,” one test diver noted.

Secure pinch-release weight pockets are situated on the outermost portion of the BC, which further reduces squeeze and allows for full access to the large, roomy cargo pockets. If that wasn’t enough stowage, eight large D-rings are scattered throughout.

MSRP $759, $919 (with Air2)

CONTACT scubapro.com

"Very solid; steady in the water, with loads of comfort and stability."

BACK-INFLATE

Aqualung

Pro HD Compact

Weighing only 4¾ pounds in size S/M, this travel oriented BC uses lightweight materials and components such as miniaturized D-rings to cut excess weight and bulk. The harness uses thinner webbing with simple hemmed edges—no plastic pull tabs. Nor will you find a cummerbund or quick-disconnect buckles on the shoulder straps.

A soft back plate allows it to fold and even roll up for easy packing. Despite its stripped-down appearance, it includes a full complement of mini D-rings, SureLock II integrated weights, a wider-than-average drop-down pocket and plenty of padding. The inflator and low-profile exhausts operate smoothly, and the streamlined air cell provides a natural, stable swimming position.

The system offers hardly there comfort for most divers—but not all. Even with the heavily cushioned back pad, some divers could still feel their tank on their tailbone. Even so, this travel BC was a favorite of test divers. It is our Testers Choice for back-inflation BCs.

MSRP $549

CONTACT aqualung.com

Related Reading: Aqualung Pro HD Compact BC: ScubaLab Testers Choice

"Lightweight simplicity."

Tusa

BB React

This BC uses a tapered air cell and a redesigned harness that situates ballast higher up on the body with the aim of improving posture and stability. Test divers were impressed with the system’s trim and attitude control. When underinflated, the BC’s surface floating position was very good at keeping the diver upright with their face out of the water.

Ditching the higher-than-average weight pockets requires some practice, and even then, the narrow opening can make it difficult to load the otherwise secure and easy-to-operate pocket. Plush padding and a sliding lumbar support on the lightweight plastic frame proved comfortable. With a 38-pound bladder and many rigid components, this BC is anything but compact, yet it feels surprisingly streamlined in the water.

One feature divers absolutely loved was the BC’s two-piece tank buckle, which offers a seamless operation and instant latching and unlatching without the finger-pinch anxiety induced by other models.

MSRP $799

CONTACT tusa.com

"Could just stick it in a position, and it would hold with little effort."

Zeagle

Fury

This highly durable BC scored very good across the board, but one aspect where our testing fails to tell the full story is the Fury’s superior level of adjustability. Each harness is equipped with independently adjustable vest, shoulders and waist, allowing the diver to dial in a tailor-made fit and also adjust the BC for different exposure setups.

Divers have the option to use Zeagle’s Ripcord weight system or a more traditional Quick Lock system. The BC is somewhat floppy and formless on land but cradles the diver very comfortably at depth. Scored very good for setup, the dual tank straps feature handy grips for adjustment and removal. Four exhausts, including one with an adjustable pull-dump length, provide very good ascent control.

The BC maintains a natural swim position with little effort, although some divers did notice some tank shifting with exaggerated movement. Stowage includes two large, easy-to-access zipper pockets and four D-rings.

MSRP $749.95

CONTACT zeagle.com

"Lots of adjustment, with comfort in and out of the water."

BACK PLATE/WING

Cressi

Aquawing Max

A compact, donut-shaped bladder; lightweight aluminum plate; and a minimal yet well-padded harness combined with some thoughtful convenience features made this well-rounded wing a favorite of test divers. The Aquawing’s Modular Adjustment System makes it easier than ever to pull the slack where you need it for effortless fine-tuning, even underwater.

Test divers also really liked the quick-adjust, quick-disconnect crotch strap for the ease and convenience of donning and doffing. The lack of a tank leash less so. Some divers could feel the plate at the bottom of their back, but overall, the lightweight rig and thick air-net padding provided very good comfort in and out of the water.

The tiny system cuts through the water with ease and provides a well-balanced, stable swim position. Test divers felt the inflator hose could have been longer but loved that it incorporated a shoulder pull dump. The Aquawing Max is our Testers Choice for back plate/wing BCs.

MSRP $749.95

CONTACT cressiusa.com

"Super easy to adjust. Secure and comfortable, with minimal bulk."

Nex

Leatherback

Like many of Nex’s products, this back plate/wing combo can be highly customized. Users have myriad options, including different bladder material and sizes, harness styles, hardware color and more. The core of this BC is the tapered bladder, which prevents a face-down float at the surface and keeps lift centered near the diver’s ballast.

Testers were very impressed with its effortless, streamlined swim position. “Held place perfectly, no tipping or rolling” and “so trim and stable in the water” were ways divers described it. The inflator and rear pull dump scored very good for operation and ascent control. However, multiple test divers noted they would have liked the inflator even better with an integrated pull dump.

They would also add a valve leash. Small integrated weight pockets along the waistband feature a zipper top and a bucklesecured flap. Their dual-purpose design allows the pocket to be placed upside-down and used for cargo.

MSRP Starts at $855

CONTACT nexdive.com

"Loved the way it puts the buoyancy right on the lower back at body center."

ScubaPro

S-TEK Pro Donut Wing 30 With Single Tank Adapter

This system is full of clever details, such as a seamlessly integrated carry handle and back pad, oversize ergonomic book screws and stainless-steel shoulder buckles. It also has a Super-Cinch tank buckle, which earned a very good score for setup. The system has a ton of adjustability, although the rubbery shoulder pads and old-school crotch strap can be time-consuming to adjust.

There are no integrated weights, but the heavy stainless-steel plate ensures any additional ballast will be minimal. The streamlined wing allows for simple positioning and trim. Testers scored the large-diameter inflator very good for ascent control, but would have liked an integrated shoulder dump. There are multiple D-rings for accessories, but no pockets.

The BC’s modular components can be combined with other S-Tek components and accessories to provide dual-tank capacity, larger air cells and even a more traditional harness.

MSRP $1,265

CONTACT scubapro.com

"Beautiful construction. Hardware and detail on this are fabulous, like a work of art."

Checkout Dive

While not fully tested, we did have a chance to dive with these women’s BCs

ScubaPro

Bella

The new striking white color scheme on this updated version of Scubapro’s full-featured, front-adjustable women’s jacket BC is sure to make an impression. Test divers appreciated the BC’s gigantic, easy-to-access cargo pockets for stowing accessories. It also includes mounting grommets and eight stainless D-rings. The lightweight rigid backpack is padded for comfort.

The stainless-steel triangular ring at the shoulders balances the weight and pressure of the harness for comfort and security. The wraparound jacket-style bladder offers stable comfort and control underwater and a great surface floating position. Integrated weights use pinch-buckle releases for security and reduced bulk. Valves operate smoothly, and divers have the option of either a traditional power inflator or Scubapro’s Air2, which combines the inflator with the backup second stage regulator.

The BC is available in XS, S, M, L and XL, and buoyant lift ranges from 22.5 to 33.7 pounds.

MSRP $759, $919 (with Air2)

CONTACT scubapro.com

Sherwood

Luna

Available in Magenta, Tiffany (Turquoise) or Phantom (Black), the Luna has updates to further enhance comfort for female divers. Included redesigns are the CQR-4 integrated weight pockets and increased lift capacity on all sizes. The top tank strap has been lowered to allow the cylinder to be mounted lower to prevent the diver from bumping against the valve.

Outfitted with a soft and stable cushioned backpack, the BC impressed with its lightweight comfort and stability. It has rolled neoprene at the collar, a plush interior and a two-position sternum strap. Stowage includes multiple D-rings and attachment points and two lower-cut zippered pockets.

The 3D air cell provides a natural swimming position and a stable surface float. It doesn’t squeeze when inflated, and it has multiple low-profile exhaust valves for easy buoyancy control. It is available in size XS, S, M and L.

MSRP $633

CONTACT sherwoodscuba.com

Related Reading: Best New Dive Gear July 2024

Ask Robby

Q: Should I purchase my BC online or at a dive shop?

A: In the Internet Age there’s no arguing the ease and convenience of online shopping. However, BCs are very personal pieces of gear, in both their fit and functionality. Visiting your local dive shop will allow you to physically try on BCs to ensure they fit properly and that you can comfortably reach exhaust valves, weight releases and cargo pockets. Knowledgeable dive shop staff can assist you with finding a comfortable, well-fitting BC, but they can also demonstrate the BC’s unique features—many of which are less than intuitive when described via static text in an online listing.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Seeing the disassembled two-piece tank buckle on the BB React for the first time left most test divers scratching their heads. But after a bit of trial and error, most of our test divers really liked this feature. Once adjusted and in place, the whole thing closes easily and securely like a typical cam buckle, but easily disengages when opened fully.

While many divers initially viewed the lever-style i3 inflator on the Axiom as a solution in need of a problem, their opinions changed in the water once the feature could speak for itself. They loved that it automatically vents gas through the top-most exhaust valve regardless of the diver’s position. It also has a stationary position. Once the diver develops the muscle memory for the inflator’s new location, they can find it instinctively every time.

A Weighty Matter

The BCs in our test offer divers various weight integration systems.

Slide-Out

Removable weight pockets are secured in a special sleeve. The pocket must be pulled out and away to ditch. They can use an internal lock, like the Emperor, which seamlessly disengages the lock when the pocket is pulled out, or a pinch buckle, like the Glide, which requires a twostep process to ditch but is more secure.

Drop-Down

Downward opening pockets allow gravity to do the work. They can use mechanical clips like slide-out pockets, but can also be outfitted with a ripcord, like the Fury, for instant ditching of all ballast. Some models, like the Fury and Leatherback, have a top as well. This allows for easier loading and less wear on the bottom mechanism.