As with all grate questions pertaining fire you should consult the Fire Master a.k.a. Paul Linder he has a vast and immeasurable wealth of knowledge in this area. As for me I would go with Scott. I have not tried a lot of different packs but I have seen a lot of other packs malfunction. I do say KISS and don’t rely on any thing that requires batteries in a fire. As far as MA and other departments in your area that is smart but don’t jump of a cliff just because other lemmings are. Lastly get the packs and demo demo demo try and bring them the next class in Nov. I would love to break someone else’s demo pack.

I almost forgot What’s The Good Word

Tried Scott, MSA, Sperian, and ISI. You know the problems with Sperian. The MSA we tried was bulky and all the electronics are mounted to the shoulder strap. ISI packs have the second stage regulator attached to the facepiece at all times. Scott works well for us and has the best safety features we could find. Try to demo a Draeger...heard they are pretty good also.

I think some of the others have the right idea on trying several brands. It never hurts to demo all manufacturers, especially if they let you use them for training. I am a MSA certified technician but have used, tested, and have looked extensively at all other brands. I am a line firefighter who does not sell any product. We have our own service center which does all repairs in house except for electronics. My honest opinion is this, I would only buy Scott or MSA. Both of these brands stand behind their products even after the warranty and they are both time tested. Now that Scott has fixed the fogging problem, I like their face piece better but MSAs comfort and reliability is hard to beat. We have had our current 54 SCBAs for 9 years and I have never had to fix a first stage regulator and the second stage regulator usually only need an adjustment every 2-3 years. If your set up for high pressure or have the funds to be, I would highly suggest the low profile 4500 psi 30 minute bottle. It is a real advantage in tight spaces and really cuts down on how much you hit your tank on objects. You will really notice it if you try going back to a low pressure bottle. I hope I have at least given you something to think about