Armadillo

[cassadaga]

I am looking into getting some sidemount gear. I was wondering how many of you have used the armadillo system or the nomad. Or how you you guys created your own rig. I would appreciate some pros and cons about each system or any advice thanks in advance.

[curtschu]

Used my Nomad for the first time Monday. With LP85s it was rock solid perfect trim. in fact My buddy had to convince me since I usually swim a little crooked and the Nomad puts you flat. Can't make a comparison since I never have dove anything else but if you want to dive sidemount and not DIY and fiddle with a rig try to Nomad. See when the next DEMO day is and check it out.

[FW]

I built my own rig, because I also use it for sumpdiving. I have dived with several divers using Nomads, and they all have great trim.

We had a diver from Turkey in FL last weekend, and someone loaned her a Nomad. She did fine in it, and swam from Peacock to Olsen. Her "guide" asked her afterwards when she dove last. The answer, 1998! If she can dive a Nomad the first dive in 8 years, it must be easy to dive :-)

[DeWayne]

I built my own rig, because I also use it for sumpdiving. I have dived with several divers using Nomads, and they all have great trim.

We had a diver from Turky in FL last weekend, and someone loaned her a Nomad. She did fine in it, and swam from Peacock to Olsen. Her "guide" asked her afterwards when she dove last. The answer, 1998! If she can dive a Nomad the first dive in 8 years, it must be easy to dive :-)

Not to mention it was her first time ever in any sm rig; she was used to diving doubles and stages, but said no one in Turkey has ever dove sm before. After a 90 minute dive (where she breathed practically no gas at all) she had impressed her guide to the point that his first comment coming out of the water was that the girl must have been born cave diving, she was dead on perfect! The Nomad is a pretty sweet setup.

[cassadaga]

the nomad system does look like its a good system..if i already owned a transpac harness i would get one for sure...

it would be nice if you could use the nomad with just a regular old backplate and harness....

[FW]

There is a little more to a Nomad than the "butt plate". The wing is also designed for sidemount.

People have tried sidemounting in a backplate, but it gets in the way in tight passage, and doesn't hold the tanks in a very good position.

[DeepSea]

I use the Armadillo with numerous modifications. Lately, I have been using the Nomad bottle restraints.

[skip]

I use the armadillo and like it fine. never tried the nomad. The armadillo seems like a lot of stuff (unnecessary buld), but not as much as the nomad. Once you put it on, it hugs you across your back like it's one with your spine. the crouch strap is too thick (2 inch, but heavy weight like shoulder straps); I'd prefer the softer one like halcyon uses. I like the bottom-feed deflation and the way the bottles hang, low and back, steady and solid, but also easy to pull in or push away and readjust on the fly.

they have plenty of room for cave light cannister, stages, deco, and scooter, rigged just like backmount doubles and wing.

they are 35 or 40 lb lift (I don't remember), a bit light, but in a dry suit with a lift bag in one pocket....it's not that bad. Not good for sump diving due to big C rings on butt pad where tanks are attached.

But I like mine, especially when scootering.

-skip