ZeagleRanger LTD BC, Technical & Recreation Scuba Diving BCD

Amazing!

The Ranger BC is a legend, the LTD version adds pieces to the modular design that you might purchase otherwise (extra D rings, zipper attachment pre-added, etc.Having dived with a borrowed Ranger BC previously, I knew what I wanted and this was it. Unbelievable adjustability for a large framed diver, plus well thought out design was a no brainer decision. Have to be of the buy once / cry once mentality, as this is an expensive BC, but the quality to value is certainly there

Great BC, would recommend to anyone. That being said, I've never used any other BC's, with the exception of the cheap rentals, which can't hold a candle to the Ranger LTD. The weight release features are especially intuitive. I put them through a test run, and found that resetting it was painless. Another nice feature are the added D-rings, which only add to the flexibiliy of this rig. Good, clean, dependable performance from this quality-made device. For those that take good care of their gear, this will most certainly return the favor, which in and of itself makes it worth the pricetag.

Great BCD. Its just a bit too large or bulky for simple recreational diving. Would be excellent for technical diving. Very good quality.

This Ranger Ltd by Zeagle is one of the best BCs money can buy. (No, I dont work for Zeagle, etc. Just a diver who knows the value of reviews.) This is a long review, as befits such a crucial (and frankly expensive) piece of equipment. QUALIFICATION OF REVIEWERI am a certified Rescue Diver and Master Diver. Over many years, I've used a variety of buoyancy compensators (BCs). Several years ago, I bought a Ranger Ltd and have been diving with it all over the world, in all kinds of conditions. My observations here are based on extensive experience with this and competing products.DURABLEThis is a professional grade BC. It's materials and craftsmanship are as good as it gets. After years of regular use, with the occasional light scrub, hose-down, and some silicone sprayed on the zippers, mine still looks great and functions like new. This despite being dragged about from continent to continent, thrown around by careless baggage-handlers, tromped on in third-world dive boats, scraping through tight spots in underwater cave systems - you name it.No fraying; no tears; no stitching coming loose; no velcro closures losing their grip; no stretched-out straps; heavy-duty D-rings (though scratched in places) as solid as ever; tanks still lock down firm (with double, heavy-duty straps); cumberbund still fits and functions perfectly - even as my belly has, admittedly, grown some with the years.MODULAR DESIGNThis BC's modular design lets you change out sections/parts at will. So if you somehow do damage something (or perhaps experience significant weight gain or loss) only that part needs to be replaced - not the whole BC.The modular design also means this BC is fully customizable for your body type.  It comes with widely adjustable shoulder straps, chest straps, etc. But say for instance you are way short or long between waist and shoulders. Just swap out different sized shoulder-straps. You can order precisely what you need when you buy the BC from Zeagle. (Not sure if purchased through Amazon.) Also, in my experience, if your dive shop sells these BCs, they will usually swap out parts for free.Beyond getting the perfect fit, you can add an endless variety of additional equipment. This BC is ready to go for basic certification class, or easily customizable for more gear-intensive diving - from extended dive profiles to cave diving, etc. (easily accommodates twin tanks and pony bottles, for example).Just adding items as your recreational diving needs grow, or "must have" that new gadget? No problem. Want to become a dive instructor? A rescue diver with the police or fire department?  Even a dive specialist for the FBI, Homeland Security, Border Patrol or the Secret Service (yep, they all have them)? This harness-based BC will take you there in tactical style.WEIGHT-INTEGRATED DESIGNThis is a weight-integrated BC. No more clumsy and uncomfortable weight belts. Instead, your weights are stored in  pouches that slip into convenient zippered pockets in the BC designed for that purpose.  The pouches will hold the lead "bricks" used on standard weight belts, or the (highly recommended) soft type that very comfortably mold to your body.  (See "lead shot soft weight" on Amazon.)If you should ever lose a pouch, they are easily replaced (see "Zeagle Shot Weight Pouch" on Amazon).WEIGHT DUMP SYSTEMThis BC also has an intuitive, easy to use weight dump system should a diving  situation ever require that. Just pull the red (easily identifiable) handle and you're good. I've never needed it, but - like most safety gear - if you ever do need it, you're likely in a pinch and don't want to waste time trying to figure it out. BE AWARE: WING BOUYANCY SYSTEMThis BC uses a "wing" style buoyancy system. This is important to understand, especially if you're new to diving. Many BC's use what's best described as a "vest" bouyancy system. The BC fits like a vest, and the bladders (the internal parts of the BC that hold air) are at the front of the vest. If you rent dive equipment, you are familiar with these. The Ranger uses a "wing" system instead. The bladders are at the back of the BC, one on each side of the tank(s). As you fill them, they expand outward, encasing your tank behind you. The familiar upper-body squeeze of a BC as you inflate is absent here.These systems have pros and cons that you should be aware of for the sake of safety.The typical "vest" type BC makes you constantly work while diving. That's because the air bladder is at your chest/stomach - underneath your body as you swim along. That air wants to go up (hence, roll you over), so you have to work at keeping your body level. You may not even notice it, but the added exertion is there. It drains your strength/stamina, and your air supply, faster.By contrast, the "wing" system keeps your air bladders to the rear - that is, above your body - while you dive. You essentially swim along while hanging from the air bladders. This is a much more stable (and comfortable) bouyancy system, requiring no effort to keep you level. That results in less fatigue and reduced air usage - both good things.However, when you're on the water's  surface, the wing system has a drawback that the vest system does not have.Most dives involve time spent bobbing on the surface. Last minute pre-dive coordinating with your dive buddy and/or group. Double-checking equipment before submersing. Waiting for pick-ups from the dive boat. Maybe even having to surface because of some problem during the dive. Keeping your face out of the water while bobbing is obviously crucial, especially if you are unconscious. Otherwise you could drown. The "vest" bladder system, because the air is in your front while bobbing, tends to lean you backwards and keep your face out of the water (assuming relatively calm seas). The wing bladder system does not. In fact, the air bladder at your back actually tends to lean you forward, putting your face in the water. So, when using a wing bladder system like that on the Ranger, you must distribute some of your diving weights into the pockets at the back of the BC on each side of the tank(s) - pockets designed for just this purpose.If you do this, you lean neither forward nor backward. You just bob up and down in perfect comfort.Standard aluminum tanks typically require more weight in the back, steel tanks less (or none at all). Just customize weight distribution for your individual equipment and needs.If you dive much, you will come across dive buddies and boat crews unfamiliar with the "wing" system, so it is essential that you be familiar with how to use and adjust your own gear. (Isn't it always?)LTD VS REGULAR RANGER There are two basic versions of Zeagle's Ranger BC. The "Ltd" version costs about $200 more. In my opinion, it's worth the extra money.The key difference is the zipper system inside the Ltd version BC on each side (next to your body), which the standard Ranger does not have. This added feature allows you to keep important but otherwise clumsy gear tucked nicely out of your way (instead of dangling everywhere), yet instantly available when needed. You just have to use this system to appreciate how great it really is.I use this "hidden" zipper system for critical safety gear. On my rig, at a bare minimum I keep a Spare Air emergency air tank zippered on a quick deploy system on one side (see "spare air" on Amazon). My advice? Don't ever dive without some kind of personal backup air supply. No offense to anybody, but NEVER trust your dive buddy (or anybody else) to be there when needed. If you've dived much, you know what I mean.On the other side of my Ltd BC , I keep a zippered-in quick deploy surface marker (see "surface marker bouy" on Amazon) - just in case I get separated from others, so the boat won't leave me behind (rare, but it does happen when crews get careless with their count). My advice? Again, never dive without a personal marker/signal setup. It can save your life.Some related DIVING SAFETY TIPS taken from an actual experience off the Thai coast where I helped our crew search for a lost diver in high seas:The bright ORANGE (not yellow) surface bouys (or "sausages" they're sometimes called) offer the best real-world visibility. Get the longest one you can, make sure it has a weighted bottom, and practice using it - a lot.Get the type marker bouy/sausage that has an open bottom. Easy to fill from your regulator AND you can shine your dive light up into the inflated bouy (rather than just hang a little light at its top). You'd be shocked at how much easier it makes you to find, especially if you flash the light on and off (a bright dive light with a flashing option is a good thing to have with you on every dive). A six-foot high flashing orange tube stands out! Not sure we would have found that out-of-air diver otherwise. After 45 minutes of cruising around in growing fear, we finally spotted that flashing sausage about 200 yards off.Happy diving - and be safe out there!