
Review Summary
2019-08-23T20:41:51
I absolutely love my scubapro knighthawk BCD. It is by far the most comfortable BCD I've ever used for scuba diving it has multiple pockets to place items and multiple D rings for different configurations. It is also weight integrated so a weight belt is not needed. The trim pockets against the tank on the back of the BCD or super convenient for adding weight if you are a little lite when scuba diving. The buckles fasten easy and it is extremely well-balanced when changing levels. I would highly recommend this BCD for anybody whether it's technical or recreational diving.
BRIAN K.
2019-07-23T10:28:08
I have close to 2,000 dives on my Knighthawk. I have had to make a few minor repairs to it but with as many dives this BCD that is to be exoected. It has worked in cold water, tropical water, caves, wrecks, confined spaces. I have used other BCD's, including other Scubapro ones, and find the Knighthawk is the best BCD, I have ever used. My prior BCD was a used Nighthawk (600 dives on it, it was a large, I wear an XL). I am buying a new BCD, it will also be a Nighthawk. Dive Master
THEONE B.
2016-10-24T13:05:09
Pockets are a bit small but I don't carry anything with me for that. As long as you weight this right you'll be fine. Better to split your weights up from the front side pockets and the trim side pockets. Get these right and you shouldn't have tip problems. I have never experienced dump valve issues. I don't waste air. If I need to release air I suck it out (that's a breath.. I have it figured that one normal breath is 5 lbs. of lead so figure it out. Not the best for travel but hey, I love and stand by this . It goes where I go.
THOMAS W.
2016-01-15T17:27:29
After 50 dives with the Knighthawk I'm looking to change. The BCD is well built and will last forever and has some great features but there are a few things that don't suit me to the point of wanting to change. First is the fit, I am 6ft and 250lbs i.e. a big guy but the XL is too big for me on the waist (I'm 46" so not sure which giants it's made for) meaning I run out of adjustment and it's never tight enough despite being fitted by my local dive store. I find that the shoulder straps are poorly located at the bottom attaching to the waist band instead of going back to the back plate so the bcd sags backwards instead of lying lush with your back. The dive shop said I'm wearing it wrong and that the weight needs to sit on my waist and the shoulder straps should just take up the slack but I can't get it sitting comfortably for me. Second is the dump valve locations, sorry they are just poorly located, as at least one other reviewer stated you have to tilt your whole body up and raise your shoulder to get air to the shoulder dump valve sometimes because the valve is too far forward towards the straps and the lower one is on the wrong side of the bladder meaning you have to be very far inverted. so both dump valves are compromised in your normal dive position but at least you get the benefit of the extra exercise underwater breakdancing to dump air. The pockets are pretty useless too small when folded up and flap about when unrolled, almost any design would be an improvement on this. No knife gromets. On a personal note I listened to the dive shop guy extol the virtues of rear inflate bcds over jacket bcds (which I've always found comfortable and unrestrictive) and was persuaded to get the Knighthawk. However I've found this rear inflate BCD restricts my movements by always preferring the one attitude in the water. For me I don't like having my movements restricted in the water and rear inflate always pushes you in to the one position. At the surface in my view is it's just plain inferior and more dangerous compared to a jacket style bcd. It pushes you face first if you add too much air (in choppy seas you have the choice of being too low in the water or face forward in the water either one is undesirable) swimming on the surface is just plain uncomfortable either again being pushed face down or trying to lean back far enough to have the buoyancy underneath you. I'm off back to a jacket style along with all it's perceived "disadvantages" that I had never noticed such as not being streamlined or looking cool. I still like Scubapro gear but will be a lot more discerning over my choice.
Howard B.
2016-01-09T19:40:26
first thing I noticed is that it does tend to put you face down on the surface. After using it a few times and getting the tank set right and the straps adjusted properly the bc works just fine. At depth it is extremely comfortable and with a little practice it works just fine on the surface too. I would definitely recommend this bc to anyone who is experienced and knows what their doing.
NorCal D.
2015-12-25T06:32:06
http://rc.leisurepro.com/p-zgleqp/zeagle-expandable-quick-pockethttp://rc.leisurepro.com/p-zgleqp/zeagle-expandable-quick-pockethttp://rc.leisurepro.com/p-zgleqp/zeagle-expandable-quick-pockethttp://rc.leisurepro.com/p-zgleqp/zeagle-expandable-quick-pocket
j j.
2015-05-17T20:00:00
Product is good, but it is hefty. I like the mesh bag (I keep spare goggles there) I don't know how other back infated BC's are, but the Nighthawk has a tendency to push your face forward in the water if you put use too much air at the surface. Also had some issues getting air out at depth. The shoulder straps could be a bit snugger, even with a wetsuit. Otherwise, it's been great.
markswim
2015-05-03T20:00:00
Delivered sooner than expected.
RICHARD B.
2014-05-27T20:00:00
Yes it's well made, adjustable, with anough quantity of metal d-rings, has plastic handle which is supercomfortable to carry with when you move it with a heavy tank, up to 18 L or 2x12 L tank support, and even has soft back for some reason. But for me is's pretty bulky and nomatter how tight I tried to adjust straps, my 7+7mm wetsuit under water made them loosen. Just not my BC
Yozblg
2013-09-29T20:00:00
As noted by many other divers, it will keep you busy at the surface. After a tiring swim and dive, the last thing you want to do is keep kicking, or leaning way back all the time. If you have a lot of weight in the pockets, you are going over face down , period. The back inflation works great at depth and throughout the dive, until you surface. Now, I have to buy another BCD.
regular g.
2013-05-08T20:00:00
After reading most of the comments I am surprised that more DiveMasters have not chimed in. I have 3,000 dives on my NightHawk and it has performed flawlessly without a single incident. I have used it in caves, wreck diving, cold water, and for the last six years close to everyday in the Caymans. I have had several ScubaPro BCD's of various types for my students and they too are flawless. All my regs are also ScupaPro the 600/MK25 and 700/MK17. I have close to 4,000 dives on the 600/MK25. As long as you take care of your gear and get it serviced it will last a lifetime.
LDB
2013-05-03T20:00:00
Back inflate, flawless performance, super comfortable.
Esteban
2012-10-06T20:00:00
love this bc, soo comfortable and well balanced. very druable
Dan M.
2012-07-24T20:00:00
This BCD is rugged yet streamlined. For those who pitch forward too much when using a back inflate I can offer two solutions. Either use less inflation or dive with a steel. Aluminums are too buoyant and therefore can cause you to pitch forward when using any back inflate. This is my fourth Scubapro BCD and by far my favorite. I have dived with several other manufactures but Scubapro is the best around.
Diver D.
2012-06-11T20:00:00
This product has proven to be superior, amazing lift and balance. Phenomenal control.
Robert
2012-05-30T20:00:00
Great BCD! I spend a lot of time in the water and have owned several over the years. By far the best for me!
scubaguy
2012-02-28T19:00:00
I researched a lot before buying this BCD. I read all the reviews on Leisurepro and this is my 2 cents. This BCD is very confortable fits well. I'm 5'9" 180 and a medium works for me. The design is funtional and has everything I wanted, however. Under the water it preforms like a champ and I was very happy, but I have to agree with the other posters that said it is very hard to backfloat on surface. I tried adding air, decreasing air, leaning further back ect... To no avail. Granted it was fairly rough water with large swells. While waiting on the dive boat it took considerable energy to stay on my back. . Over all, if I could go back I would pick a different one for this reason.
Jeff F.
2012-01-20T19:00:00
Fits well and is easily adjustable. Product appears well made and anticipate years of use. Scuba Pro has an excellent reputation for quality products and after sale service. Very pleased with this purchase.
Phelanite
2011-12-29T19:00:00
Great BC. Fit is great and is very durable. My only complaint is it can be a little uncomfortable at the shoulders.
SWCCBEE
2011-12-28T19:00:00
This is the best bad I have owned.
kenny
2011-11-06T19:00:00
This is a Great BCD! It works well in all types of diving and with various equipment configurations. I have added the alternate air source to the power inflator and have been quite pleased!
Bob F.
2011-09-27T20:00:00
Outstanding service and delivery. They attached my Air2 regulator to my BC without any charge.
Ebes64
2011-09-11T20:00:00
A tough, well-made BCD... Fits great, very low profile, all extraneous, unnecessary items are not provided or hidden away. For example, I rarely use my BCD pockets but if I need them, there are two pockets that can be unraveled from underneath the integrated weight pockets... Some people have complained about pitching forward while at the surface, the key is to not over inflate... deflate a bit and I bet you won't pitch forward!
jungho
2011-06-01T20:00:00
Increased my bottom time, decreased air usage. For a big guy like me. It is truly the best BC. Made diving just easy, relaxing, and fun. Took out the stress of constant adjustment.
B.J B.
2011-01-17T19:00:00
i have had this bc for about 2 months now and have dont about 22 dives on it it performs excellent everytime its real low profile and makes moving around very easy i highly recomend this product i will always be divin this product
tank h.
2010-12-26T19:00:00
i have always used jacked inflated style bc's this was my first back inflate and i will never go back to jacket style, the bc has a very low profile and very light its a must for spear fishermen alot less clutter to slow you down and allow you to be more manuverable. i love the fact you dont need a spare octo hose it just hooks into your inflater and one less hose off of the first stage, this is the best suit on the market in my opinion i will dive it from now on.
tank h.
2010-07-12T20:00:00
The Knighthawk is the second BCD that I bought in the past 2 years. I first bought another jacket style BCD with weight integrated from another online retailer at their recommendation. My first few dives, it worked fine though it was bulky and cumbersome. To make a long story short, that BCD stopped working. I put some time in and did some research as well as asked a lot of questions and read up on what people like and don't like about their BCD. I finally settled on Scubapro Knighthawk. In term of purchase, it was the smartest thing I could have done. The Knighthawk is simply awesome. It's not bulky in the front area so I have lots of freedom of mobility with my arms. I don't think I can ever run out of space for me to hang pretty much any gears I want or need on the BCD. It's also very comfortable to wear on a warm dive or cold water dive. It's extremely easy to slip on and off. The way it's designed, it makes it so that anyone can easily master their buoyancy. I read that some people don't like the tank's strap design. I personally love it. It is so much easier to keep my air tank hanging snugly and tight to the Knighthawk than to my old BCD. You can find more expensive and cheaper BCD than the Knighthawk, but you won't be able to find one that gives you the most bang for your dollar.
JAMES N.
2010-07-07T20:00:00
At the advice of another online dive shop, I purchased an Oceanic Pro BCD with integrated pocket last year. First couple days of diving, no problem. The next time I dove a few months later, I had a heck of a time getting the BCD to deflate all the way in order for me to descend. I had to add an additional 10 lbs of lead weight, and even then I had a hard time descending from the surface. It was a frustrating experience. I then spent a bit of time research and read up on customers review, and narrowed down to the Scubapro Knighthawk as a possible choice. I was a bit hesitant of having a back inflated BCD because of what some people said about it causing divers to lean face forward when on the surface. I talked to my dive master as well as the sales rep from LeisurePro to get their thought on it. Both of them said that they prefer back inflated BCD so much more than a jacket style BCD for a number of reasons. I traded in the Oceanic BCD and bought the Knighthawk, and hit a local lake where divers in our area go to do local diving. I used smaller weight amount than I did last time with the Oceanic BCD, and I found that even then, it was too much weight when I did a buoyancy test so I had to remove even more weight. Once under water, I had full mobility with my arms, and the BCD was simply comfortable to wear despite it being made to last. I see what people mean when they said that this BCD makes them the Yoda of buoyancy control. This BCD is absolutely incredible. Maintaining buoyancy with this BCD is easy and painless. After 40 minutes of diving, I came back to the surface, inflate the BCD and able to float comfortably on the surface. I did not have any problem of having the BCD pushing my face forward into the water. I was able to lean back and rested comfortably until I was ready to swim back to shore. This BCD truly rocks, and the price from LeisurePro, you can't do it better anywhere else. If you must have one BCD, this is the one to get and LeisurePro is the place to get it.
JAMES N.
2010-06-07T20:00:00
I love this BC! It is the most comforable BC I've ever owned. It really is like not having a BC on at all. With Air2 and an air-integrated, hoseless computer, I only have two hoses coming off the first stage. On the surface, it is stable. I can remain upright effortlessly with shoulders out of the water if I choose, or just lean back on a super soft cushion of air. With 1/3 of my weight in the trim pockets, I have little or no tendency to pitch face forward, even when over-inflated. Underwater, it is stable, with no tendency to roll or pitch. Dumping air to achieve neutral buoyancy is easy in any position. The air bubble sits naturally between your shoulder blades and makes it easy to stay horizontal even in heavy surge. Did I mention that I love this BC? The only thing I'd change would be to add some more attachment points.
RICHARD K.
2010-05-18T20:00:00
really good BCD works really well in all conditions had one for three yrs and thousands of dives later it works just as good as the day i got it.
Bahama g.
Back Inflator
33.7lbs to 44.9lbs (15.3kg to 20.4kg) Size Dependent
2-Overpressure Relief/Pull Dump, Inflator Cable Activated Shoulder Pull Dump
2-Roll-Up Zippered
Torso Adjustable with "Squeeze-Style" Side-Release Buckles
Yes, Four Pre-Bent
Yes, with "Squeeze-Style" Side-Release Buckle and Cummerbund
Yes, Adjustable Sternum Strap with "Squeeze-Style" Side-Release Buckle
Yes, Scubapro's Balanced Power Inflator Mechanism
Outer Bladder: 1000-Denier Nylon, Inner Bladder: 420-Denier Nylon with Urethane Laminated Interior
Yes
Releasable: 20lb to 24lb (9.1kg to 11kg) Size Dependent, Non-Releasable: 10lbs (4.5kg)
8.4lbs to 9.24lbs (3.81kg to 4.19kg) Size Dependent
4048336327107
SM | MD | LG | XL | XXL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Height (ft/in) | 5'-5'5" | 5'7"-5'11" | 5'10"-6'1" | 6'1"-6'3" | 6'2"-6'5" |
Weight (lbs) | 120-155 | 150-170 | 170-210 | 195-240 | 230-270 |
Cummerbund Circumference (in) | 30-38 | 32-40 | 38-46 | 44-52 | 50-60 |
Lift (lbs/ltrs) | 34/21 | 46/21 | 46/21 | 46/21 | 46/21 |
Primary Weight Capacity (lbs/kgs) | 20/9 | 20/9 | 24/11 | 24/11 | 24/11 |
Trim weight Capacity (lbs/kgs) | 10/4.5 | 10/4.5 | 10/4.5 | 10/4.5 | 10/4.5 |
Product Weight w/ BPI (lbs/kgs) | 8.4/3.81 | 8.65/3.92 | 8.88/4.02 | 9.02/4.09 | 9.24/4.19 |
Product Weight w/ Air 2 (lbs/kgs) | 8.85/4.01 | 9.06/4.10 | 9.25/4.19 | 9.40/4.26 | 9.65/4.37 |
EXCELENT BC
By jason
I am a Padi Instructor and we have used the knighthawk as our student BC's for the past 3 years most show little to no wear and tear after 100's of dives. My personal BC is also the Knighthawk and I have over 500 dives on it with the only noticable wear being the color is fading a little. As a down side there could be more D rings on it however there are plenty of areas you can add them. I added 1 on each side of the back plate and 2 on the tank strap, and even using a 8" diameter tank the ...
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A Dive Masters Opinion.
By THOMAS W.
Pockets are a bit small but I don't carry anything with me for that. As long as you weight this right you'll be fine. Better to split your weights up from the front side pockets and the trim side pockets. Get these right and you shouldn't have tip problems. I have never experienced dump valve issues. I don't waste air. If I need to release air I suck it out (that's a breath.. I have it figured that one normal breath is 5 lbs. of lead so figure it out. Not the best for travel but hey, I love a...
View full Review
Designed for male divers, the Knighthawk BCD boasts of having a low profile, backpack-style harness system, integrated weight system, and back-mounted buoyancy. A robust and comfortable back flotation jacket that integrates numerous performance features to deliver outstanding comfort and easy handling. The Knighthawk's retractable air bladder offers ultimate streamlining and significantly reduces drag. The Knighthawk is equipped with Scubapro's Balanced Power Inflator, has two rollup zippered pockets, Four Stainless Steel D-rings for attachment of accessories, a sturdy Stainless Steel Tank Attachment System, and a comfortable neck roll of soft neoprene with a special foam back pad, making it the BCD of choice.
Back flotation technology positions air bladder in the back, providing exceptional freedom of movement around chest and shoulders. Streamlined air cell technology and automatic volume control of air cell through compression straps provide a low profile throughout the dive. Rotating Quick Release shoulder buckles and adjustable shoulder straps, adjustable sternum strap and waist strap with cummerbund all improve fit. All these straps are equipped with squeeze-style" quick release buckles for easy donning and doffing.
Soft neoprene neck roll and padded back pad provide skin-friendly padding. Firmly padded, flexible cummerbund compensates for changes in the suit resulting from varying depths. Ergonomic harness incorporates anatomically-shaped components to allow for even load distribution. Quick-release integrated weight system offers more comfort and convenience. Pouches accommodate from 10lb to 12lb (4.5kg to 5.5kg) each (depending on size) and are secured in specially-designed pockets with oversized buckles. Two rear trim pockets counterbalance front weights and provide a well-balanced swimming position with 10lbs (4.5kg) capacity. Built-to-last from 1000-denier nylon outer bladder and 420-denier nylon inner, with urethane laminate interior and radio frequency (RF) welded seams for maximum resistance to punctures and abrasion.
For proper buoyancy control the Knighthawk BCD comes standard with Scubapro's Balanced Power Inflator and has a 3-dump deflation system that enables divers to dump air from a variety of underwater positions. In the up-right position you can use either the left-or-right shoulder pull-dumps with the right shoulder pull cord or the left shoulder integrated cable activated power inflator shoulder dump. When inverted in the water the lower left rear pull dump can facilitate buoyancy trim. Scubapro's Balanced Power Inflator provides a high inflation speed, especially at depth. Inflator has different shaped inflation and purge buttons for easy use even in extremely low light or murky water conditions. The BCD provides 33.7lbs to 44.9lbs (15.3kg to 20.4kg) of lift depending on the sizes, The Knighthawk weighs from 8.4lbs to 9.24lbs (3.81kg to 4.19kg) which is also size dependent. BCD comes with a 3/8" threaded low pressure quick-disconnect hose, owner's manual and is black in color.