Mares BCD Dragonfly Mens Medium with integrated weight

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Quality:
The Dragonfly BC buoyancy bag is made of 1000 Cordura denier material and is very tough and durable. The BC body consists of 1500 Cordura denier Spinnaker fabric. The material quality is excellent and this is the sort of BC that should last you many years of solid diving. And I found that the Dragonfly isn't all that heavy, it weighs about 3.5 kg's which is light enough to lug around.

The integrated weight system is excellent, two pockets on either side of the BC allow for easy quick release. And the velcro system to enclose the integrated weights is very reliable and holds very well, I think it would be rather difficult for your integrated weights to drop out of this BC (as I have seen on some other BC's!). This BC is rated to hold up to 32 pounds of weight so unless you use a really large weight belt then you won't have problems with this system.

I am also a very big fan of BC's that have large zippered pockets (to store marker buoy's, torches, dive buddies etc.). I am happy to say that the Dragonfly has two excellent large BC pockets which are easy to access and the zipper system is very easy to get to. I was easily able to store all my goodies in the pockets, and also anything else that I found worthy on my dives. Both roomy pockets are self-draining with high-strength YKK zip and reflective zipper-pulls.

One thing I thought was pretty cool, was the way the integrated carry handle works. As you can see from the images to the left, there is a handle built into your backpack. To carry a rig with tank attached etc, just unclip the chest and waist buckles, reverse the jacket back around the tank and then clip the waist buckle again. So now, you have the BCD reversed back around your tank, now flip the handle out and it's quite nicely balanced for carrying.

Putting the scuba kit together (ease of use):
Setting up with this BC doesn't get much easier. The backpack contains a moulded traction tank pad that helps keep the tank in place. The moulding on the back plate allows the user to set the BC at the perfect height of the tank with minimal effort. The Dragonfly consists of a single tank adjustment strap, which is very easy to pull over to tighten the BC and hold the tank in place. A 2nd strap is located higher up on the back plate that is used to clip around the tank valve. Not sure how necessary the 2nd thin strap is for the tank valve but it seemed to work well.

The BC has decent size shoulder straps that are well padded and contoured to prevent twisting. It is very easy to put this BC on by your self by sticking your arm through and swinging it around on your back. Both Shoulder straps have quick release buckles and large buckle adjustment straps that are very easy to locate and pull to tighten the BC. There is one quick release chest buckle (25 mm buckle) that has one side adjustment. I found this buckle was useful as it keeps the shoulder straps in the correct natural position and prevents them from slipping. The waist strap is very easy to adjust, with two-side adjustment, consisting of a 50 mm buckle. The buckle adjustment straps are finished with pull-rings that are easy to grip, even when wearing dive gloves and an entire camera set up in your hand! And the Velcro waist strap is also easy to adjust and comfortable.

For those those divers that like to hang gear (such as torches and reels) off their BC (I'm not one of them), there are 4 very good size stainless steel D-rings. On the shoulder straps there are two 50 mm rings and another two 40 mm D-rings can be found on the BC structure near the pockets. These D-rings are conveniently located to hang your spare torches, camera, reels, dive computer and shark shield device.

Another feature of the Dragon Fly BC is the two permanent weight pockets that are found on either side of the back of the BC. These pockets have a small buckle system that allows you to stash your weights in the pouch and lock them in place. I found that the pockets were the perfect size to put a 3 pound weight in each pocket - therefore giving 6 pounds on the back of the BC.

Performance:
This BC is very comfortable. The actual comfort whilst wearing this BC is one of the highlights of wearing the Dragonfly system. The Dragonfly BC features a rear distribution buoyancy bag that helps distribute the air masses which I found assisted in streamlining and improving performance whilst swimming underwater. Using the Airtrim system to maintain or change buoyancy is very simple and effortless.

The BC has good back cushioning and it is very comfortable and supportive of the back. I've got a bit of lower back pain and I found that this BC actually reduced the stress on the back as the Dragonfly is well padded and balanced so that the tank does not role in the back plate.

My partner also tried out this BC as well on a couple of dives and she loved the Air Trim system. She found that the BC was comfortable in the water and commented that it felt like there was less drag than other BC's. She's now keen to try and get her hands on the Ladies Dragonfly BC to test it out!

Mares Air Trim System:
The first thing you notice with the Mares Dragonfly BC is that the conventional BCD inflator hose is missing. In its place is the Mares patented Airtrim system . The Mares Airtrim is a new, revolutionary system developed for effortless control of buoyancy in the water. And I found that it works very well, buoyancy in this BCD is not a problem! The air trim system is located next to the left zippered pocket and is in easy hand reach (by either hand). The ergonomic inflator unit contains two buttons that control air intake and release. The inflation button operates a mechanism that permits precise adjustment of the air intake. The deflation button opens two pneumatic valves simultaneously. One on the upper part of the BC, and the other on the lower part.

Dumping air from this BCD is very simple and effortless. The Airtrim system ensures easy air release in any under water position through the opening of two pneumatic valves. There are also two manual dump valves that are easily located to dump air manually. The quick-release low-pressure inflator hose runs inside the Airtrim System BC, for convenience protection and assists in streamlining equipment. The Airtrim system is one of the best features of this BC - it is easily the simplest system around and makes buoyancy control that much easier. The absence of the normal corrugated inflator hose makes the Airtrim System BC more hydrodynamic, enhancing its safety and comfort under water.

One very cool thing (in my view) is that you don't have to bother with the holding of the inflator hose above your head when you want to descend from the surface. A simple press of the Airtrim button, the pneumatic valves dump the air and your descending in a flash!!!

One hitch I found with the Airtrim system is that the system does allow water into the BC. I'm not talking large quantities of water but I found it was useful after every 2nd or so dive to drain any water out through the dump valves. Apparently small amounts of water can enter the BC when the pneumatic valves are first opened to release air. I didn't find this as a major concern as I'm used to draining small amounts of water from other BC's I have used.

If for some reason that the Airtrim system fails to work or the low pressure inflator hose blows, and oral inflator is conveniently located in the right zippered pocket. Very easy to use if the occasion arises where it is needed.

Value for money?
The only real concern I have with the Mares Dragonfly BC is the actual cost. The BC is recommended to retail for $1790 ­ I find this is pricey. This BC could be considered out of the price range of many divers because of the cost, especially those that have just taken up diving or are poor university students! However, I'd like to point out, if I had a spare $1700 I would buy this BC in a flash -- no hesitation and no questions asked!

BCD in excellent condition, always throughly washed inside/out and stored inside