Genisis Recon???? Anybody have opinions

[mpd525]

Ok, here's the deal, i had my mind made up on the brigade, and now my LDS, is trying to swing me toward the Recon, it has a similar price as the Brigade i'm looking at. I looked at it today, and they're gonna let me use one tommorow to see what i think. That being said, i'm looking for opinions on the BC, and i'd really like to here from Larry or Joe, on the Genisis Brand. I'm in no way ruling out the Brigade, the one downside i seen to the recon is their's only 1 pocket on the thing, so the Brigade gets a leg up on that. Help me ST'ers. Thanks.

[NitroWill]

I dont have any experience with it..But one thing that stood out about it to me..

75lbs of lift.....

Practically noone needs that amount of life..
That BC does look a bit jumbled and cluttered..Id stick w/ the brigade personally - its a proven brand with many faithful followers..

[deepdiver47]

It sounds like they are trying to sell you something that they sell. Why do you feel you need that? You need to decide what type of diving you are going to do. Was it a price thing?

I have been diving with my Zeagle for years. You will search on this board and see an overwhelming amount plenty of people that love the Brigade. I am certain that Larry will back us all up on the Brigade since they created the thing. If I was you I would travel with the hurd on this one.

Deep

[mpd525]

Well i dove the recon today, and wore a medium, it fit decent, but i snugged all the straps, and it still rolled on me a bit today, i liked it, but i think i will like the brigade. like i said, i was just trying to find some experienced opinions on it, if anyone had used it. I'm sure i'll end up going with the brigade, but on the same hand, i really like the guy that owns the LDS, AND i loved the guys at ST. So I don't know, do i go with what i think i'm gonna like a bit better, or do you support the LDS, and get something that works good. The one Huge bonus for the Zeagle is the size adjustability on it. Decisions, decisions.

[reservecops]

Biggest question: Who's going to be there a few years from now to provide service? I know nothing about your LDS, but I'd be willing to bet that Larry and Joe will DEFINITELY be around ...

[NitroWill]

Honestly, I dont htink theres much of a decision..
That Recon looks like a mess to put it quite honestly..
The Brigade has many many faithful followers and is a good solid rig..
The Zeagle is a proven long lasting brand with excellent customer service!

But it is up to you..

[Zenagirl]

This whole "loyalty to the LDS" thing always confuses me. Why should someone buy something that's "almost" right "just to support their LDS" instead of buying something that's perfect from somewhere else??

It just doesn't make sense to spend my hard earned money on something at my LDS "just to support them." Heck, when I looked for my Zena, the LDS had it for over $700 and didn't even know that Zeagles were modular in design!! I called the guys at ScubaToys and got my BC for over $300 less, and I haven't lost one night's sleep over it.

[deepdiver47]

exactly Zenagirl, buy what is best for you. Conduct your research and educate yourself based on what OTHER people are using in teh dive community rather than what an LDS prefers to sell you. A BCD is probably the single most important piece of equipment from a comfort and userability standpoint.

If you do not believe us go to Scuba board (can't believe I wrote that)

[ScubaToys Larry]

We are a Genesis dealer... so we can get the recon... Might even have one kicking around, but if you side by side compare - not even close in my book. The recon is a bc that is a strictly recreational bc without much in pockets, and I don't like their weight system, but to make it is marketed toward the techie wannabe with a 75 lb bladder. You probably noticed it has a lot of stiffeners in the panels so that combined with the bladder size, it would not be a good choice for travel.

Again... we sell them, so I don't want to really bad mouth them... but it is not a BC I would really suggest to folks. You can do a search for Genesis on our pages and see we sell their stuff... but we don't list the recon on there. And that would be for the reasons I stated above.

I can appreciate wanting to support someone you like - but if that is the goal, I'd tell you to get the BC you want no matter where it is from. Them, me, or someone else... and if you want to support someone local... do some more classes, a trip or two, buy stuff that is a pain to ship like tanks... But I would not personally spend 360 on a BC I didn't like to "support" someone.

I realize the buy local thing has been turned into a moral dilemma for some - I never felt that way with any purchase... My next door neighbor to our shop is a large ford dealer, and he comes says hi all the time... I got my ford truck from a different dealer that gave me a better deal - from another state... but that's me and my decision. You have to make yours!

Best of luck!

[mpd525]

Larry, Thank you very much, and after some thinking about it, my LDS, has about 10 different classes i want to take, plus we'll probably do our first trip through him, and i'm sure i'll buy alot of accessories and stuff through him, and i sure appreciate the professional opinion on that BC, because i'm a newbie, obviously. I figure if he gets p.o.'ed about me buying gear somewhere else, then i guess i need a new LDS, but he's a real good guy, and doesn't seem to be the type to get mad. But thank you all again. Sorry for repetive BC threads.