Welcome to Spring in Missouri. Do you have whiplash yet? I think I might just…. I’ve been awake since somewhere around 5-5:30 this morning. I think I took a short, short nap in there because I had a dream about leaving our windows open and having plants hanging off those windows. When I realized it was pouring (which I think it was at that time) I rolled in the windows and the overflowing water from one plant watered the next. See, I’m not totally sure I was asleep.
Being awake this long already today gives plenty of time to think, scheme, plan, debate, and read among other things such as walking around the house trying to decide what the lightning took out. I think it wiped our internet…. Sigh. I tried to hook my phone, my laptop, and my iPad up to it with no such luck.
Mark called me on his way to work and said that there was more flooding. That means that there is lots of water in the area. What is something handy that could be used when you have lots of water? A BC of course. Which BC might I be referring to, because we’ve already learned about the Hydros Pro and the X-TEK, well now let’s learn about the Knighthawk/Ladyhawk.
Knighthawk/Ladyhawk BC
Remember, your BC is the Buoyancy Compensator Device. Now, you may or may not know this, but I’m here to help inform… Men and women are built differently. Go figure, right? So, the Knighthawk is built more for a man while the Ladyhawk is built more for a woman. With that said, lets do the breakdown individually, even though they are comparable to each other.
The Knighthawk
“Built for serious back-flotation divers looking for a rugged yet bulk-free BC.”
Hmmm, that is directly off their website and the first thing they have to say about the Knighthawk. Upon further investigation, this BC puts the air pocket behind you opening up the front chest area to keep down the bulkiness to help reduce hydrodrag. Now I know what hydro refers to… water and drag, well we all know what drag is. I went on to google though for a potentially better definition and just searched hydrodrag. It is funny to me that every thing brought up is the exact description from the SCUBAPRO website about the Knighthawk/Ladyhawk.
This BC is designed for both recreational diving as well as technical diving. It has padding placed in just the right places as well as the adjustable cummerbund for ease of fit to each diver. The shoulders are also equipped with quick release rotating buckles that make this BC both comfortable and give that snug fit.
This BC is known for it’s weight integrated system. So you learned in Open-Water classes that you can use a weight belt or you can use a weight integrated system. That means that your weights fit in pouches that snap/buckle in to your cummerbund. The buckles are large enough that you have an easy squeeze-and-pull system for quick release to dump the weights should you need to.
Additional features are the Steel D-rings for adding additional gear such as a whistle, flashlight, scissors, or things of the like as well as a cargo pocket, great for holding hotdogs (or other stuff).
The Knighthawk offers color choices of Black or Brown Camo.
Technical Information
- Constructed of 1000 denier nylon and 420 denier nylon for maximum durability.
- Contoured hard pack and single-band Super Cinch buckle securely lock down the tank.
- Back flotation positions the air cell in back, providing exceptional freedom of movement while decreasing hydro-drag by reducing bulk.
- Three-dump deflation system allows you to dump air from a variety of underwater positions
- Compression straps rein in the air cell when it is deflated and contribute to optimum volume control.
- Rotating quick-release shoulder buckles allow you to optimize the routing of your shoulder straps to maximize fit.
- A redesigned cargo pocket minimizes bulk while maximizing cargo-carrying capability.
- Soft neoprene neck roll and padded back pad enhance comfort during long dives.
- Padded cummerbund compensates for suit compression, maintaining a snug fit at varying depths.
- Ergonomic harness incorporates anatomically-shaped components to allow for an even load distribution.
- Quick-release integrated weight system pouches accommodate 10 to 12 pounds each (depending on size) and secure with oversized buckles.
- Two rear trim pouches counterbalance the front ballast weight to create a well-balanced swimming position.
- Four pre-bent stainless steel D-rings provide convenient clip-on points for additional gear.
- BC comes equipped with a Balanced Power Inflator or an AIR2.
- Available in five sizes with 33.7lbs/15.4kg to 44.9lbs/20.3kg of lift capacity, depending on size. Click on BC size chart for more details.
- Colors: Black, Brown Camo.
The Ladyhawk
I told you the Knighthawk and Ladyhawk are comparable. This BC has many of the same great features that the Knighthawk is equipped with but designed with women in mind. The Ladyhawk is the back-flotation BC to give you a sense of freedom while diving.
The Ladyhawk is equipped with newly styled shoulder pads (oh wait this isn’t the 80’s haha) padded shoulders, a narrow neck yoke, an adjustable cummerbund and the quick-release rotating shoulder buckles working together to guarantee a comfortable yet snug fit. It is also equipped with a hard back and single-band super cinch tank buckle.
I do like how they point that it helps to eliminate bulkiness positioning the air cell pocket behind the diver and helps to reduce hydrodrag to leave you free-flying underwater. The wording of the Ladyhawk is a little more flowery than the wording of the Knighthawk. Do you think they considered that when coming up with the descriptions for each BC?
This BC is also a weight integrated BC allowing the pockets to hold the weight. The pockets clip into the cummerbund but the large clips allow for easy removal should the need arise. It is also equipped standard with the cargo pocket and 4 stainless steel D-rings for carrying that additional gear.
Now one thing the description for the women’s BC didn’t include were the optional colors. The Ladyhawk is available in Gray, Blue, and Pink. Isn’t it funny that the Knighthawk offers the color options but the Ladyhawk didn’t? Just a thought.
This BC is designed with the female figure in mind to help with ease of use, comfort, and freedom while diving the great “unknown.”
Technical Information
- Back flotation technology positions air bladder in the back, providing exceptional freedom of movement around chest and shoulders.
- Constructed of 1000 denier nylon and 420 denier nylon for maximum durability.
- Contoured hard pack and single-band Super Cinch buckle securely lock down the tank.
- 3-dump deflation system enables divers to dump air from a variety of underwater positions.
- Ergonomic harness incorporates anatomically shaped components to even out the load.
- Narrow neck yoke allows for a better fit and improved overall comfort.
- Soft neoprene neck roll and padded back pad enhance comfort during long dives.
- Rotating Quick Release shoulder buckles and adjustable shoulder straps improve fit.
- Adjustable cummerbund compensates for suit compression, ensuring a snug fit at varying depths.
- Quick-release integrated weight pouches secure with oversized buckles.
- Two rear trim pouches help to create a well-balanced swimming position.
- A redesigned cargo pocket provides lots of cargo-carrying capability.
- Four pre-bent stainless steel D-rings provide clip-on points for additional gear.
- Available with Balanced Power Inflator or optional AIR2alternate air source.
- Available in five sizes, each offering 33.7lbs/15.4kg of lift. Click on BC size chart for more details.
I sometimes feel like a broken record because I point out that you want to try many different pieces of equipment so that you can find what works best for you. The more comfortable you in your gear, the more comfortable you are diving, the better diver you are. This is why I tell you multiple times to try many different pieces of gear out so that you find what is the best fit for your needs. If you need help, that’s what we’re here for, come see us…. NOW!
Now I’m off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Hey did you read the story about the family whose trailer was picked up by a Tornado outside of Tulsa and dumped off in the middle of a pasture 4 hours away in Kansas? See, this why you keep me around. Here’s the article in case you’re interested!