Deep six, new wing has some nice features

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Cushion/comfort. I’ve only rented bp/w, but they’ve had a pad on the backplate for comfort. I’ve seen it in scubapro, Hollis, other brands. One guy I talked with in a dive boat had a Hog system, and said he wished it had a pad. I think if I buy one, I’d like pad for comfort.
 
I've never felt the need to pad the backplate. You don't feel it at all. And I am not fat by any means. Besides I often dive only in rashguard, therefore not leveraging the cushioning effect of 3/5mm neoprene.
The only thing you may like (arguably) is some padding on the shoulders if you dive steel tanks and put the weights on the wing setup, instead of belts. If you dive alu with weightbelt, there is no need. And you can always retrofit shoulder pads if you find the real need. to do so. Less is more, even with the recreational setup
 
Is it possible to add padding to the backplate?
Possible, but unnecessary. Any of the standard pads should fit.

We just don’t make one as it isn’t really needed.
 
Possible, but unnecessary. Any of the standard pads should fit.

We just don’t make one as it isn’t really needed.
Hi, Just to make sure I'm understanding. In this image off your site -
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- I assume you're saying that angles of the backplate mean the wing-nut doesn't make contact with the diver's back?
 
Hi, Just to make sure I'm understanding. In this image off your site -
_dsc0303.jpg
- I assume you're saying that angles of the backplate mean the wing-nut doesn't make contact with the diver's back?

That is correct. The wing nuts are recessed in the center channel so they don't stick out. I've never felt the wing nuts against my back (in a rash guard, 3 mil wetsuit, 7mil wetsuit, or dry suit).
 
That is correct. The wing nuts are recessed in the center channel so they don't stick out. I've never felt the wing nuts against my back (in a rash guard, 3 mil wetsuit, 7mil wetsuit, or dry suit).
Thanks, I assumed, just wanted to make sure.
 
FWIW, I thought the same thing when I first looked at BPW systems.
On paper, it just didn't look friendly at all.
Started diving in horse collars, talking about uncomfortable, have tried just about every type of rig.
No back pad, no shoulder pads on any of my BPW's and they are hands down the most comfortable system available, in and out of the water. The orange one is my new favorite...:)
 
@LandonL could you share a little bit about what sets these apart from other wings, specifically any differences in manufacturing choices and quality control compared to competing offerings? Where are they manufactured? What material or process specifics differentiate them from the super cheap wings sold on AliExpress (and now Piranha)? How about the very similar narrow wing from DGX that is 20% less expensive, or the Apeks that is 20% more expensive? Are there actual differences in material sourcing or critical processes like how the inner bladder is welded, stitching, quality control, etc between cheap and expensive wings? Are all power inflators and dump valves essentially the same or does the quality vary? Are all internal bladders the same or do some use better material/thickness than others?

I don't mean for this to come off as an aggressive grilling, more an opportunity to educate and advertise. I'm genuinely curious how these outwardly similar, relatively simple, safety-critical products compare in manufacturing quality, durability, and longevity. For what it's worth I have the Apeks wing and your regs, very happy with both, might be in the market for more wings.
 
@OTF, no worries. I get it.

Speaking in general terms, I have never really been one to do 'cost cutting' when manufacturing a product. We mostly make what we want to dive, then figure out pricing from there. Broadly, I would say this results in us going with superior material choices and tighter tolerances when compared to competitors.

Without going into brand specifics. I will say that some of the options you mention use thinner materials, cheaper threads, wider spacing, and thinner welds. They can have difficult warranty processes, or none at all. It is all a variable scale. Some make better choices than others. Some provide better support. Some are generic designs, others (like ours) have been tuned for specific balance.

Specifically to us, we are mostly unique in using the quick dry shell material, which I have found to drastically outlast any of my wings made from plain Cordura or cordura like fabric. The UV resistance and tear resistance are far superior, plus it is quick dry and lighter weight. A great added bonus for travel. I do believe Apeks has since followed us with a quick dry material, but I have no long term experience with them.

We try to make sure our wings work well to balance with the tanks they are designed for. The stability wing is tuned to provide balanced lift for recreational diving, where as the standard wing is designed to provide a little more head lift. A largely unknown fact is that you can technically flip the standard wing and swap the dump/inflator if you want to shift the emphasis on the trim.

There are varying quality inflators and valves, but I select the ones I think are better quality and suit our needs. Right now we are using low profile valves and elbows in the Stability series, which are doing great. I find them to be functionally superior for our goals with that product line. The traditional elbow we use in the standard wing uses the more expensive thicker thread, because I like it better, and didn't care about saving $1 going with the thinner thread option other brands use.

For internal bladders, mostly you have two options, either a polyurethane bladder, or a woven fabric (ex: 440D Cordura). Fabric bladders are more durable, and that is what we select. We also have a thick/wide weld between them. To date I don't believe we have had a single return for a bladder defect, proving the quality of our work for nearly a decade now. My original wing from our first production run is still going strong, after probably more than 1000 dives on it, and years of sun exposure.

I truly feel if you make subjective comparisons with other products, we either exceed (material, stitching, weld, valves) or are equal to (K inflator, embroidery) the majority of our competitors.

I feel that most customers have seen and appreciate our efforts in design and material choice. We continue to grow annually, and our sales numbers have consistently surprised me. It seems I always underestimate them! lol

I hope this helps with some insight. If you have and product specific questions, let us know.

Cheers,
Landon
 
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