It also depends on where you want to carry your 18lb.. If you have all 18 on your rig, then 20lb isn't enough. -18 lead + (-2 full AL80) + (-2 reg), is already more than -20lb. if you ditch your rig, it will sink.
A lot of people recommend getting the smallest wing possible. I respectfully don't agree. I would say get a like 30lb wing in general. It is large enough for cold water drysuit. It is stll small that doesn't create significant drag over al 18-20lb wing. It is just an overall more flexible wing with little compromise.
Everyone's opinions and experiences are a little different. Easy to see why many new divers get confused.
He/she is a new diver and used 18 lbs with a rental BCD. As a new diver, most likely they could have dropped a few pounds. Rental BCD was probably a few pounds positive too. He did say he was negative in fresh water.
Like the thread starter, I am a warm water travel diver. My 1st wing was a Oxy 30. The fact that it was only a little bigger than the various travel wings and it is versatile enough to be used for cold water, is true and makes sense.
About a year later I bought a DSS 17. It packs much smaller than my Oxy 30. It vents way easier and it dives much more streamlined. For me, where diving is 90% warm water travel, it was money well spent. I frequently have conversations with dive staff at tropical locations. They either have a similar small wing or tell me they want one.
Go with the specialty travel wing or the versatile/compromise 30 wing ? He she could buy the travel wing now and the larger wing later if/when he decides to dive cold. Many people have more than 1 wing. Decisions, decisions.
He could give Tobin at DSS a call. He makes wings in a ton of sizes, 17,20,26,30,35 and he will make a recommendation. His wings also pack down small, which is great for travel and his package pricing is tough to beat.
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