Small Wing Recommendations

[halocline]

I have the oxy 18 lb with a freedom plate. I like it!

 

[eelnoraa]

I don't like Oxycheq MkV for travel. The main issue is the stiffess of the shell material makes packing more difficult. With DSS, HOG or Halcyon, you can pretty much fold or roll the wing into quite small, not with Oxycheq. It is also pretty heavy compared the rest.

 

[Rich Keller]

I don't like Oxycheq MkV for travel. The main issue is the stiffess of the shell material makes packing more difficult. With DSS, HOG or Halcyon, you can pretty much fold or roll the wing into quite small, not with Oxycheq. It is also pretty heavy compared the rest.

I do not think I will need to roll this up but I was wondering what it is made of that the others are not. Is the stiffer shell material a benefit that the others do not have? Is this type of wing better suited to use without a STA? I am not too concerned with a little extra weight as I am saving a lot of weight by attaching it to a commercial diving harness instead of a standard metal backplate.

 

[drydiver]

I do not think I will need to roll this up but I was wondering what it is made of that the others are not. Is the stiffer shell material a benefit that the others do not have? Is this type of wing better suited to use without a STA? I am not too concerned with a little extra weight as I am saving a lot of weight by attaching it to a commercial diving harness instead of a standard metal backplate.

i have had my 18 lb Oxy for 4 years and dived it exclusively for the first 2 years, 200+ dives and then only a couple of times a year since then, I like that it has survived my abuse, never found the need to roll it and can see how the fabric would resist that. No STA is necessary due to little "roll bars" for lack of a better description, on the cam band slits. I haven't had an issue with tank movement...

 

[Rich Keller]

i have had my 18 lb Oxy for 4 years and dived it exclusively for the first 2 years, 200+ dives and then only a couple of times a year since then, I like that it has survived my abuse, never found the need to roll it and can see how the fabric would resist that. No STA is necessary due to little "roll bars" for lack of a better description, on the cam band slits. I haven't had an issue with tank movement...

Can you elaborate on the "roll bars"? I have not seen anything about that in the research I have done so far. I am attaching this to a soft, flexible harness not a metal plate so I want to know if I would feel the roll bars through the harness. If you have no further use for it and want to sell it let me know.

 

[buddhasummer]

You will not feel the "roll bars" (roll control tabs) as they are on the other side of the wing i.e the side that comes into contact with the tank. All Oxycheq Mach Vs now come with roll control tabs. Their function is to stop the tank from moving, with these wings the use of a hard STA is not necessary. There are two sets on the wing, depending what plate you are using they may or may not line up with the cam band slots on the plate. If they don't line up with the plate you may need to use an STA. Hope this was of some help.

 

[drydiver]

Can you elaborate on the "roll bars"? I have not seen anything about that in the research I have done so far. I am attaching this to a soft, flexible harness not a metal plate so I want to know if I would feel the roll bars through the harness. If you have no further use for it and want to sell it let me know.

i may not be describing it well, pretty sure they cannot be felt, even with soft harness, they are tank facing...and it is currently my tropical wing

 

[redacted]

the "roll bars" are Oxycheq's built in STA. It consists of two pairs of fabric tubes where each of the tank straps come through. I use the Oxycheq UL 18 lb wing (no longer available) with their travel plate (a stiff piece of fabric) for tropical diving and it is stable and comfortable. I suspect that wing had some durability issues as it is quite light but mine is going strong with close to 200 dives in Cozumel and Bonair.

 

[Rich Keller]

You will not feel the "roll bars" (roll control tabs) as they are on the other side of the wing i.e the side that comes into contact with the tank. All Oxycheq Mach Vs now come with roll control tabs. Their function is to stop the tank from moving, with these wings the use of a hard STA is not necessary. There are two sets on the wing, depending what plate you are using they may or may not line up with the cam band slots on the plate. If they don't line up with the plate you may need to use an STA. Hope this was of some help.

I have a couple of options for attaching cam bands to the harness. The first would be to make the existing slots, that were made to be used with hose clamps, longer to accept a 2" cam band. The slots themselves are 3/4" long so I could extend them another 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" in either direction. The harness slots are 2 1/2" apart and the upper set is 6" above the lower set. The second would be to run the cam bands under the vertical strap on the back of the harness used to lift the diver into the bell. The only minor problems with that is the bands would slide to the bottom of the strap when not under tension and might result in the tank moving too much from side to side.

 

[Bellaco]

I know you mentioned you had a couple of these harnesses & you were trying to rig up a lightweight travel combo, but it just seems like a lot of hurdles for a small return. You could always go with one of the lightweight plates like the Express Tech or Freedom Plate for similar money & less hassle. Of course, I have never seen a commercial backplates in person. I'm just going on your descriptions & frustrations