Sidemount: Nomad vs Armadillo

[LINKINmark]

I have yet to see the Armadillo, but plan on checking out the Nomad at the upcoming Dive Rite Demo Day. Was curious if there is anybody out there that has tried diving with them both yet. Can you offer some pros and cons of each, and which you prefer and why.

[curtschu]

Are you planning to sidemount fullsize tank? Are you going to use a repelling rig? Do you ever single tank dive? These are some of the qustions that you need to answer.

The Armidillo seems better suited if you are going to be exploring off the trail repelling. The nomad has more lift and can be used as a Single BC.

I have a Nomad

[Brian Kakuk]

I've been diving the Armadillo for 3 or 4 years now and the Nomad for the last 5 months. Here's what I've found:

Armadillo
Pros:
-Most streamilined, low profile rig available.
-In-water cylinder removal/replacement easier than Nomad.
-Old style inflator hose from the right hand side created unique "snag free" alignment of the inflator.
- Very abrasion resistant.
- Ability for side mount, no mount, back mount (OC and CC).
- Allows for use while rapalling/climbing
- Rig is small, collapsable and travels well.

Cons
Limitted lift (35 lbs.).
Back mount (OC and CC) not that comfortable.
One size does not fit all.

Nomad
Pros
-Much more lift than Armadillo for staging and larger cylinders.
-Sizing can accomdate smaller divers including women (still has some sizing limitations).
- More streamlined than the older Transpac conversion.
- Very abrasion resistant.
- Modular design allows for every type of diving.
- Allows for use while rapalling or climbing.
- Still allows for dumping air while inverted (rear dump)
- - Rig is small, collapsable and travels well.

Cons
- Not quite as streamlined as the Armadillo (has a larger shoulder bubble).
- Cylinder attachment points require more effort for cylinder removal/replacement in the water (brackets on butt plate are closer to the center than the Armadillo,but also makes the cylinder ride a little higher than the Armadillo because of this).

These are the items that I have found in the few months that I have been diving the Nomad. If I have to push something very small, I use the Armadillo. If I need to carry lots of stages, I use the Nomad. Both are exceptional tools for cave diving. The Armadillo was originally designed to be used with a drysuit. It is incredibly stable in this mode. I generally dive in a wetsuit due to warmer water temps here in the Bahamas, so have dealt with the lift issue by using alum 80's when staging and small, Genesis 100's or Steel 85's when side mounting. Diving in salt water caves has helped offset some of the buoyancy issues.

Because of my history with the Armadillo, I am more comfortable in that rig. However given more time with the Nomad, I am sure that I will enjoy each one equally and will use each one based on my diving needs.

Safe diving,
Brian Kakuk
Bahamas Underground

[Tegg]

Brian pretty much said everything needed.

[Arnold Mesiser]

I've been diving the Armadillo for 3 or 4 years now and the Nomad for the last 5 months. Here's what I've found:

Armadillo
Pros:
-Most streamilined, low profile rig available.
-In-water cylinder removal/replacement easier than Nomad.
-Old style inflator hose from the right hand side created unique "snag free" alignment of the inflator.
- Very abrasion resistant.
- Ability for side mount, no mount, back mount (OC and CC).
- Allows for use while rapalling/climbing
- Rig is small, collapsable and travels well.

Cons
Limitted lift (35 lbs.).
Back mount (OC and CC) not that comfortable.
One size does not fit all.

Nomad
Pros
-Much more lift than Armadillo for staging and larger cylinders.
-Sizing can accomdate smaller divers including women (still has some sizing limitations).
- More streamlined than the older Transpac conversion.
- Very abrasion resistant.
- Modular design allows for every type of diving.
- Allows for use while rapalling or climbing.
- Still allows for dumping air while inverted (rear dump)
- - Rig is small, collapsable and travels well.

Cons
- Not quite as streamlined as the Armadillo (has a larger shoulder bubble).
- Cylinder attachment points require more effort for cylinder removal/replacement in the water (brackets on butt plate are closer to the center than the Armadillo,but also makes the cylinder ride a little higher than the Armadillo because of this).

These are the items that I have found in the few months that I have been diving the Nomad. If I have to push something very small, I use the Armadillo. If I need to carry lots of stages, I use the Nomad. Both are exceptional tools for cave diving. The Armadillo was originally designed to be used with a drysuit. It is incredibly stable in this mode. I generally dive in a wetsuit due to warmer water temps here in the Bahamas, so have dealt with the lift issue by using alum 80's when staging and small, Genesis 100's or Steel 85's when side mounting. Diving in salt water caves has helped offset some of the buoyancy issues.

Because of my history with the Armadillo, I am more comfortable in that rig. However given more time with the Nomad, I am sure that I will enjoy each one equally and will use each one based on my diving needs.

Safe diving,
Brian Kakuk
Bahamas Underground

Great post!! Thank you.

[Jerry]

Brian,

You are the first to report this. The only time I created large shoulder bubbles was when I was playing with the position of the cylinder bungie attachment. Images by Jill Heinerth very graphically illustrated this which I corrected. If you don't have the bungie attached to the highest d-ring on the back of the TransPac your wing will bubble. If you are getting this you are attaching the cylinder bungies in the wrong position. Tank height can be adjusted by positioning of the front attachment.

Jerry

[Kelly Jessop]

As a shameless plug,come to this event that is having a sidemount clinic with Jerry Murphy,and an opportunity to see the Nomad up close with advice from the expert

Join us for the spring CDS social featuring a sidemount workshop with Jerry Murphy, door prizes from Dive Rite and Deep Sea Supply, and, of course, FOOD!

WHERE: Peacock Springs State Park- Orange Grove Pavilion

WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:00 AM until

The Sidemount workshop starts at 11:00 AM- don’t be late!!

Enjoy a day of diving at Peacock and stop by for some socializing, prizes, and lunch- we’ll have burgers, hotdogs, chips and soft drinks.

[jpdiver]

Dive Rite advertises that its wings are longer with air being forced to the bottom allowing better lift at the hips. This is an issue when sidemounting bigger tanks. At least until you get used to it.

Is this true?

[Jerry]

Yes, the Nomad uses a wing similar to the Rec, same in length. The gusset cord is only used around the top of the wing the lower lobes are unrestricted.

Jerry