Facebook
Twitter
Specifications
| Style | Jacket |
| Warranty | One Year |
| Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) | XXS-24, XS-24, S-28, M-35, L/XL-44 |
| Integrated-Weight System | Yes |
| Dry Weight | 9 lbs., 13 oz. (Size M) |
| Price | $500 |
| www.istsports.com | |
Features:
- 840-denier nylon construction
- Air-cell-independent Personal Harness System
- Double-locking integrated-weight system
- Seven stainless-steel and two delrin D-rings
- Padded backpack
- Two large cargo pockets with additional cummerbund mesh pocket
Performance:
The Alpha is a full-featured, all-purpose BC that garnered some admiring nods from test divers for its very compact yet very responsive power inflator in particular, and its overall valve system in general. Both provided test divers with solid buoyancy and ascent control. The Alpha’s harness system, separate from the air cell, can be cinched up snug against a rigid backpack fitted with molded rails that flank the tank for a no-wobble strap-down. The integrated-weight system uses double-lock weight pouches that test divers found a bit hard to load when wearing the BC, due primarily to the set-back position of the pouch sleeves. This also made the pouch handles harder to reach at depth. However once divers got hold of them, the weights ditched easily. The BC’s cargo pockets are also set back from centerline, making them harder to access, but they offer lots of cargo-carrying capacity. Test divers particularly liked the number and placement of the D-rings on the BC as well as the extra clips for attaching accessories.
Bottom Line:
It’s the heaviest rig in this year’s roundup, but the Alpha offers decent comfort and good control underwater.
| June 2010 Issue Scuba Lab Review Quick Links | |
|---|---|
| General-Purpose BCs | |
| While they can be used for any type of diving, general purpose BCs are designed primarily for temperate- and/or cold-water diving with 7mm wetsuits or drysuits. General Purpose BCs tend to offer lots of buoyant lift across their size ranges along with heavy-load integrated weight systems. They often have large cargo pockets and larger D-rings for attaching additional gear. | |
| Aeris EX100 | Aeris EX200 |
| Aqua Lung Pro QD | Aqua Lung Pro LT |
| IST J-1000 Alpha | IST J-1200 Hydro D |
| ScubaMax Versa 3000 | SCUBAPRO Seahawk |
| SeaSoft Sealion | Sherwood Tortuga |
| Zeagle Tech 10 | |
| Travel BCs | |
| Travel BCs are lighter and more compact than General Purpose BCs. Many are designed to fold or stow in handy storage pouches for easy globe-trotting. Travel BCs tend to offer less buoyant-lift capacity and smaller weight pouches to suit warm-water diving scenarios. | |
| Aqua Lung Zuma | Cressi Aquapro 5 |
| SCUBAPRO Geo | SCUBAPRO Litehawk |
| SeaSoft Travlite | Zeagle Express/Deluxe |
| Women's BCs | |
| Women are shaped differently than men, so it makes sense that a women’s BC would be shaped differently too. Women’s BCs are often cut higher along the waist and are more expansive in the chest area. Straps and adjustments accommodate shorter, narrower torsos, and power inflators are ultracompact to fit comfortably into smaller hands. | |
| BARE Curve | Sherwood Luna |
| Tusa Selene II | |
