The TUSA Liberator was a ScubaLab Best Buy during the 2018 BC test. Learn what testers liked about this jacket-style BC in this video review. See the full ScubaLab BC review here.

I’m Roger Roy, the ScubaLab director. We tested the TUSA Liberator BC. With performance and comfort well beyond what you might expect for a budget-friendly BC, it was our Best Buy for jacket-style BCs.

We tested the Liberator at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Central Florida. We conducted objective tests in the pool to measure its buoyant lift and 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.

There’s nothing fancy about the Liberator, but divers found much more than meets the eye. It took the top score for ease of assembly thanks to its simple, effective tank strap and two-position tank-buckle cam. After putting it on, divers were wowed by its comfortable and supportive fit. Despite the fair amount of cushioning, the BC is dead neutral in the water.

One diver noted that it was “so light, it doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing a BC.”

Testers found the BC stable and flexible, and able to easily switch between vertical and horizontal orientations.

The low-pressure inflator is ergonomic, except for the oddly shaped mouthpiece, and provides precise flow control for maintaining proper buoyancy. Divers appreciated the large zippered cargo pockets and rated them well for ease of access.

For providing comfort and stability at an affordable price, the Liberator is our Best Buy for jacket-style BCs.

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