Mares Journey 3.0 Review: Back Inflation With Locked Weights
A back-inflation BCD with the Mares Slide Locking System, an external indicator that turns green when the weight pouch is locked, five aluminium D-rings and a roll-up pocket. Buy it if you want the horizontal trim of back inflation without moving to a backplate and wing. Remember that a BCD is buoyancy control equipment: the inflator, the dump valves and the bladder need inspecting and servicing on the manufacturer's schedule, exactly like a regulator.
A green indicator that tells you the weight pouch is locked, and the annual service a BCD also needs.
Mares Journey 3.0 Back-Inflation Scuba BCD with Integrated Weight Pockets
~$400
A back-inflation BCD with the Slide Locking System weight pouches, a lock indicator, five D-rings, a roll-up pocket and bungeed bladder.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Type | Back inflation |
|---|---|
| Weight system | Mares Slide Locking System, SLS, integrated pouches |
| Lock indicator | External indicator turns green when the pouch is locked in |
| D-rings | 5 aluminium, plus a dedicated tool attachment |
| Pockets | 1 roll-up pocket |
| Chest strap | Quick release, height adjustable |
| Comfort | Neck padding, quick-release hook and loop adjustment |
| Bladder | Bungeed to keep the rear air cell streamlined |
| Transport | Carrying handle |
Specifications above come from Mares' published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The lock indicator is the standout feature and it is a safety one. A weight pouch that has not latched can drop mid-dive, and a green marker you can see on the surface removes the doubt.
- Back inflation puts the air cell behind you, which makes horizontal trim natural instead of something you fight for, and that is the single biggest thing that improves gas consumption.
- Bungees keeping the bladder streamlined stop the wing ballooning when partially inflated, which is what causes the roll-onto-your-back feeling divers complain about with cheap back-inflate BCDs.
- Five D-rings and a dedicated tool attachment means a light, a spool and a cutter all have a home rather than dangling.
- The quick-release height-adjustable chest strap makes a real difference to fit across different exposure suits, since a 3mm and a 7mm suit are different body sizes.
Where it falls short
- Back inflation pushes you face down on the surface unless you lean back and use the wing properly. It is a technique difference rather than a defect, and divers used to a jacket BCD notice it immediately.
- A BCD is serviceable equipment. The inflator mechanism, the dump valves and the bladder need inspection and service on the manufacturer's schedule. A sticking inflator is a genuine hazard and it is not something to defer.
- Integrated weights concentrate the mass on your hips. That is comfortable in the water and awkward on a boat, and a fully loaded BCD is heavy to lift by the shoulder straps.
- Ditchable weight only works if you can find and release it under stress. Practise the pull, in gear, in the water, before you need it.
- Back-inflate BCDs give less inherent surface flotation in the head-up position than a jacket, so surface time in poor conditions needs more attention to positioning.
What owners report
Owner reports on the Journey line are consistently positive on the weight system and on comfort, with the recurring note being the surface behaviour that all back-inflation BCDs share. Divers who came from jacket BCDs describe an adjustment period rather than a problem, and divers who came from a backplate and wing describe it as familiar.
The decision most buyers face is covered in our jacket versus back-inflate comparison, and the honest summary is that jackets are easier on the surface and back inflation is better in the water. If you are considering going further, our jacket BCD versus backplate and wing comparison covers the modular route.
Whichever you buy, the fit is what matters. Our BCD selection guide covers sizing and lift capacity, and our weighting calculator helps you carry the right amount of lead rather than the amount you were handed on your first course. Nothing on this page replaces training. Dive equipment is only as safe as the diver using it, and every item here assumes you hold a current certification appropriate to the diving you are doing.
Who it suits
- Divers wanting better horizontal trim without moving to a backplate and wing.
- Anyone who has ever surfaced and wondered whether a weight pouch was properly seated.
- Divers carrying tools and accessories who need real attachment points.
Who should skip it
- Brand new divers who want the most forgiving surface behaviour, where a jacket BCD is easier.
- Divers set on a modular backplate and wing configuration.
- Anyone unwilling to have the inflator and valves serviced on schedule.
Alternatives worth considering
Cressi Solid Jacket-Style BCD, Black and Red, L
~$235
A Cordura 500 denier jacket BCD built for dive centre use, with high lift capacity, two dump valves plus an overpressure valve, and integrated gauge and octopus attachment. More forgiving on the surface and considerably cheaper.
Check price on AmazonZeagle Octo Z II Combination Regulator and Inflator
~$270
Combines the octopus and the inflator, which cleans up the left side of the rig considerably on a BCD with a lot going on. It changes your out-of-air procedure, so train on it before diving it.
Check price on AmazonAKONA Azul Mesh Backpack, 65L
~$65
A loaded BCD with integrated weights is heavy and awkward. A 65L mesh backpack at 28 by 15 by 9.5 inches fits under a dive boat bench and drains rather than holding salt water against your gear.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Jacket vs back-inflate BCD
- Jacket BCD vs backplate and wing
- How to choose a BCD
- Weighting and buoyancy calculator
- Buoyancy and weighting guide
- Cressi Solid BCD review
- Best scuba BCDs
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Jacket or back-inflation BCD?
A jacket wraps air around your sides and holds you upright on the surface easily, which makes it forgiving for new divers. Back inflation puts the cell behind you, which gives better horizontal trim underwater and a slight forward push on the surface. Most divers who try back inflation stay with it. Our comparison covers both cases.
Do BCDs need servicing?
Yes. The inflator mechanism, the dump valves and the bladder should be inspected and serviced on the manufacturer's schedule, typically alongside your regulator service. A sticking inflator that will not stop adding air is a genuine hazard, and a leaking bladder discovered on a dive is a bad time to find out.
How much lift do I need?
Enough to float your rig at the surface with the cylinder and to hold you comfortably head up in the conditions you dive. Overshooting lift capacity means a larger, draggier air cell that is harder to control. Our BCD guide covers sizing, and the weighting calculator covers how much lead you should be carrying in the first place.
Are integrated weights better than a weight belt?
They are more comfortable and they keep the load off your hips and lower back, and they concentrate the weight where your BCD is. The trade is that ditching must be practised, because the pouch release is not as instinctive as a belt buckle under stress. Whichever you use, be able to ditch it without looking.
Does the lock indicator actually matter?
A dropped weight pouch mid-dive causes an uncontrolled ascent, which is the failure mode that hurts divers. An external indicator that shows the pouch is latched turns a check you might skip into one you can do at a glance on the surface. It is a small feature addressing a real risk.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, published training agency standards, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every depth rating, cylinder capacity and algorithm name quoted here is the manufacturer's published figure unless we say otherwise, so confirm it on the current spec sheet before you buy. Nothing here is dive instruction, and no calculator output on this site is a dive plan. Scuba diving carries a real risk of decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity, barotrauma and drowning. Dive within the limits of your certification, verify every plan with your own computer, and buy the training before the gear that assumes it.
Logging your own SAC rate and gas plans? The Dive Kit & Air Planning Workbook is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.