Dive streamlined, travel streamlined
When I first picked up the Aqualung Rogue, I noticed both how light it is and how soft the shoulder straps and back pad are. Testing the Rogue, those early observations were confirmed. Nothing dug into my shoulders, and it sat nicely on my hips.
I dove in a model with the weight-integrated waistband and, while some divers like the weight in the front, I would have preferred to have the weight back on my hips. But that’s why I like this BC—all divers can personalize the Rogue to meet their own needs.
The back-inflate worked as it should, keeping me trim with zero feeling of rolling through the water. The three-position bladder-retraction system works great, leaving me streamlined in the water.
I trust this BC enough, and I like the sizing options enough, that this is what my young son dives in. Once he outgrows the current setup we can purchase new shoulder straps and waist straps, making it a nice long-term piece of equipment.
Note though that since the Rogue is a back-inflate, at the surface the tendency will be to roll a diver face down.
Spec Breakdown & Features
The most prominent feature of the Rogue is the three-position bladder-retraction system, which pulls the bladder in during deflation, keeping the diver streamlined and reducing drag.
Being a back-inflate, wing-style BCD, the Rogue allows the diver to maintain good trim and remain streamlined throughout the water column without the weight of a backplate/wing setup. At only five pounds dry weight, this is an ideal travel BCD. The 35 pounds of lift (in all sizes) capacity will keep any diver stable on the surface without any struggling.
Fully adjustable and interchangeable shoulder and waist straps make the Aqualung Rogue one of the most versatile BCDs on the market, meeting the need of a wide variety of divers’ shapes and sizes. In fact, the adjustment capabilities of the BCD mean there are up to 27 different configurations.
While the Rogue only has one cam-band tank attachment, the grip-lock system ensures a secure bind between the tank and the BCD. Aqualung’s “finger saver” technology ensures wet fingers won’t slip, and divers won’t have to struggle changing tanks.
Regardless of the configuration the diver chooses, the Rogue can accommodate 20 pounds of weight in all sizes. Placement of weight is also variable depending on the diver’s wants and needs. Standard with hip weight pockets, divers can choose a weight-integrated waistband or additional trim pockets in either 3 or 5 pounds capacity.
Standard with four pre-bent stainless steel D-Rings, divers can choose where they want to attach their gear and always have it at their fingertips. Also at your fingertips is the Aqualung Powerline Inflator, designed to give you just the right amount of air in your wing.
Accessories
You can’t go wrong if you decide to completely kit up in Aqualung equipment. Their gear is top of the line. We recommend choosing a great regulator to go with your Rogue BCD. Check out our review of the highly rated Aqualung Leg3nd Elite here.
If you’re looking for a dive computer that won’t break the bank and will still provide safety and security while diving, look no further than the Aqualung i300c dive computer. Budget friendly and safety conscious, you can read our review here.
Once you are fully supplied and stocked up, you’re going to need something to hold all your gear on your next adventure. A great dive bag does the trick. Check out our review of the Aqualung Explorer here and get ready to set off on your next adventure.
Price/Quality Ratio
We would consider the Aqualung Rogue to be a mid-price BCD when compared to other back-inflate units. While you can certainly find some brands that run on the less-expensive side, most comparable brands run almost double what the Rogue will cost you.
At that price point, you are getting a really good, adjustable BCD from a top-tier company. What we really like about the cost of the Rogue is that you can buy different attachments to accommodate growing divers without having to buy from scratch.
Do we recommend the Aqualung Rogue?
We do recommend the Aqualung Rogue. It travels well, it’s comfortable, and it keeps divers streamlined in the water. With the multiple sizing options, this BCD is great for younger divers and will grow with them.
This is also a great option for those who want the trim that comes with a wing-style BCD without the added weight of a backplate/wing system.
While we do recommend the Rogue, we should mention that the clips for the integrated weight pockets that attach to the frame of the BCD (not the integrated weight pockets themselves) are small and delicate, and have the tendency to break.
Specs & Features
| Inflation | Back-inflation wing style |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5 lbs |
| Lift capacity | 35 pounds (in all sizes) |
| Clips/D-rings | Four pre-bent stainless steel, octopus holder, knife attachment point |
| Adjustment points | Shoulder straps and waist |
| Tank attachment | One cam-band |
| Weight capacity | 20 pounds (in all sizes) |
