Armadillo vs nomad

[azulneptuno]

Hello people , I am new member in this forum.

I have a question, Which sidemount do you prefer, armadillo or nomad? Why?

thanks

[chimie007]

Search button is your friend.. many threads discussing this already... Here are a few

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8445&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4991&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7951&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8850&highlight=armadillo+nomad

[phillip1]

I have had both and currently have an Armadillo, The Nomad is way more user friendly and easier to setup, the Armadillo is a real hassle to setup at takes allot more tweaking but is a bit more streamlined.
They both work very well although with the Nomad it is easier to keep the head down trim without moving. On the Armadillo you kind of have too pull your tank valves forward a bit to get head down when hovering (which is not a problem).
Having dived extensively with both I must say that they both work just as well, I have heard the argument that the Armadillo is better in very tight stuff but I have been in very tight spots fighting the rock to get through and both performed the same, I like the bungee system of the Armadillo with just a loop better than the Nomad but you can also use this system on a Nomad with a little modification.
No matter what system you choose you can't go wrong, just make sure that the bungees are long enough to easily be able to breath of the tank valves if need be (god forbid). Test this extensively in a pool until you get the right bungee length you should be able to do this comfortably without changing your swimming pace and with one hand the other is for holding the line, then practice this more until it becomes second nature.
The Armadillo manual says you should have the tanks tight in the armpits, although it is more streamlined that way you loose the ease of access to your valves, I feel better if I can see my valves easily and know that I can breath of them easily with minimal discomfort, yes my tanks hang a little bit lower (and I do mean a little) but I will take that over not having easy access to my valves.
If you choose the Armadillo, I found out that if you swap the bungees it came with for thin reg necklace bungee it is way better, there is very little chance that this will break as there very little weight on it but it is way stretchier that the super thick ones the rig came with and makes the whole setup much more comfortable, and you can significantly shorten the bungee to make the whole setup more streamlined while at the same time have better access to the valves as with thick bungee.

In my opinion it is a full on tie they are both great rigs that work equally well, you can't go wrong with either.

Nomad
PROS; very easy to set up, kind of works right out of the box.
good in all caves, very easy to maintain proper trim.
CONS; Not as tough material as the Armadillo, kind of expensive, feels a bit bulkier that the Armadillo (I mean a tiny bit), air sometimes gets trapped on one side of wing and is a real hassle to shake out during a dive feels like you are heavier on one side, the screws rust very quickly (does not really matter but still)

Armadillo
PROS; streamlined, very tough construction, better tank attachment system.
CONS; a real hassle to set up, not user friendly at all (but is kind of fun to get right and setup), sometimes need to pull tank valves forward to keep head down trim when hovering, not as easy to keep proper trim than the Nomad (once you get it right is just as good, just more difficult to get it right).

[NorthWoodsDiver]

These are not the only 2 systems available...

[Arnold Mesiser]

Indeed- I have used this and loved it for our super tight stuff



Explorer 1 Harness



http://www.farrworld.co.uk/acatalog/equipment.html at the bottom of the page

[Squirrel Girl]

Indeed- I have used this and loved it for our super tight stuff

Explorer 1 Harness

http://www.farrworld.co.uk/acatalog/equipment.html at the bottom of the page

Doug, I've been looking at this in recent times. Do you use it with a wing? I think it's a good idea for sumps, but I'm not convinced. Also, I think I could make one for a quarter of the cost.

[Arnold Mesiser]

I sold mine to bamacavediver so if you run into him-you could see one first hand.

it is really nice for tight stuff in my experience with drysuit only or wetsuit (for our caves -read really long bedding planes aka chest compressors)You could also do the Brit thing of adding a bubble of neoprene to the back of a suit to make a integral BC-to me this harness is freedom of movement!! It also holds tanks like a rock

I only tried it one sump(the rest were resurgences) so I can't really recommend it but that is essentially all Martyn Farr does and many of the purchasers.

The sewing is superb as well as the extra padding in the belt area.I copied a harness that David Sawatsky came up with for Canada for cheap -like you are thinking but I still did not mind spending the cash for this item as it is really well made...a big departure from standard for many though.

This can be used with a wing underneath the webbing and I believe a backplate.

One thing I was told to do and it helped...change the bungee for stiffer stock and wrap the bungee loop AROUND the valve and then hook it back to the harness shoulder D-ring....keeps the tanks in a lot better.


Duncan Price was nice enough to give me the lowdown before I bought one IE pros and cons.If I can find the text I can PM it-it was private so I am not sure he would want it in the forum.

Steve Boegarts Razor harness looks interesting and along the same lines(with a lot of refinement) of no BC or minimal BC which is an old time standard in Britain (as you well know seeing as you have been in Wookey a few times LOL) I wish Steve had a website up to see the harness clearly.

[aainslie]

These are not the only 2 systems available...

Do you have a Razor yet?


Search button is your friend.. many threads discussing this already... Here are a few

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8445&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4991&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7951&highlight=armadillo+nomad
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8850&highlight=armadillo+nomad

Yay ! The REAL raphael is back!

[phillip1]

Hello people , I am new member in this forum.

I have a question, Which sidemount do you prefer, armadillo or nomad? Why?

thanks

I know there are other systems available, but the question was Armadillo or Nomad

[diverjmd]

These are not the only 2 systems available...

That's great! Could you maybe put a link toward them or show us some other ways to find them?

[azulneptuno]

I ask for armadillo and nomad for that are only one q I know with BC, in the most cave of spain the water is very cold. I dive there with drysuit and big steel tank because I want a sytem with BC. It is necessary for my.

[Rustykfd]

I dive an Armadillo (old version 35lbs lift I think) and find it very comfortable, streamlined, with adequate lift for my diving. I dive FL caves and have dove 80 and 85 cf tanks with DS. I plan to do some cold water stuff with 95cf tanks and it should be adequate with the difference in insulation.

I did not find it complicated to find the setup for good trim.

FWIW I have done a double stage with the Armadillo and it was adequate, a steel45 for O2 added on sunk me, but was dropped very quickly.

I have looked at the Nomad and think it is clunky and gimmicky. Too many bells and whistles, like the Transpac it is a good idea, but over done for my tastes.

Rusty

[phillip1]

I ended up with an Armadillo and sold my Nomad to a friend as a favor. For some reason it was hard to get it trimmed right for me, but I really like it now and have it set up perfect.
I did find that if you use regular 1/8 bungee for the valve attachment it works way better, although thin I really I doubt it will break but it is way more stretchy and comfortable and due to the small diameter grabs on to tank valves way better than the thicker bungee and never slips off.
I also axed the bungee retrieval snap and I always manage to find the bungee even when they go behind my back I can always reach behind my back and get them on either side, but I also practice yoga and can put both hands in prayer position behind my back easily so if you can't do this then the retrieval snaps are a must.
Also in the unlikely event it does break I have both tanks reg hoses wrapped around my neck so no matter what the tank will stay in place anyway.

[jpdiver]

I dove an Armadillo for 2 years then switched to a Nomad. I prefer the Nomad. I sidemount heavier tanks ( 108's) and the Nomad trims much better for me. Also- if you add a couple of stages, the Armadillo does not have enough lift. I also found the Armadillo a bit more cumbersome getting on since you have to thread the waist strap through multiple loops.

It's all personal preference though.

[phillip1]

I really think that both are just as good, in my opinion one is not better than the other and it is exactly like you say a matter of personal preference.