When I started down the path to tech diving, I read all that the SB experts had to say about lift requirements for wings, diving with doubles, etc.. and I determined that a 45# wing should be good for diving with double 100s and 1 deco cylinder.
And I was right.
My first tech instructor told me, "buy a 60# wing. 45 might be enough for now, but you know you are going to progress to trimix and advanced trimix and you'll end up buying a 60# wing eventually anyway."
And he was right.
I still use my 45# wing with doubles sometimes. It is adequate. But, when I can use my 60 (i.e. it's not out on loan or something), I do.
The 45 will hold me up in the water, so that I can have my head out of the water, even when all my cylinders are full.
But, the 60 will hold me up just a little bit higher, which is nice. Especially in sporty sea conditions.
For me, anyway, there is no downside to using the 60. The possible difference in drag from a "bigger" wing is not detectible (by me, anyway). And, keep in mind, the amount of gas you put in the wing is the same for either one - unless you actually need and use more lift than what the 45 can provide.
So, the 60 has more capacity, but when you're not using that extra capacity, how much extra drag will it really create?
Now, I tell my students the same thing my original instructor told me. Just get a 60. There is no real downside and there are some real and some potential benefits.
There is such a thing as "too big", but a quality 60 is not that. I had a student show up for Intro to Tech one time with a wing his local shop sold him (regarding which he did not consult me first). It was a 90# wing! That was definitely TOO big. It really wrapped up around the sides of his tanks and made it very hard for him to dump gas or control the gas inside the bladder in many situations.
Lastly, wing SHAPE really does make a difference. For doubles, I have owned wings from Halcyon, Oxycheq, OMS, and Dive Rite.
With everything else the same, the Halcyon and Oxycheq wings made me foot-light (in a drysuit, with very negatively buoyant fins (Hollis F1)). I could only maintain good trim with no effort by using a tail weight.
The OMS and both my Dive Rite wings allow me to maintain good horizontal trim with no effort and no tail weight.
My personal favorite wing for doubles is my Dive Rite Classic XT. 60# lift. A nice, streamlined shape. Even lift from top to bottom. Very rugged. Top notch customer service from Dive Rite (based on other things - never had an issue with my wing).
And I was right.
My first tech instructor told me, "buy a 60# wing. 45 might be enough for now, but you know you are going to progress to trimix and advanced trimix and you'll end up buying a 60# wing eventually anyway."
And he was right.
I still use my 45# wing with doubles sometimes. It is adequate. But, when I can use my 60 (i.e. it's not out on loan or something), I do.
The 45 will hold me up in the water, so that I can have my head out of the water, even when all my cylinders are full.
But, the 60 will hold me up just a little bit higher, which is nice. Especially in sporty sea conditions.
For me, anyway, there is no downside to using the 60. The possible difference in drag from a "bigger" wing is not detectible (by me, anyway). And, keep in mind, the amount of gas you put in the wing is the same for either one - unless you actually need and use more lift than what the 45 can provide.
So, the 60 has more capacity, but when you're not using that extra capacity, how much extra drag will it really create?
Now, I tell my students the same thing my original instructor told me. Just get a 60. There is no real downside and there are some real and some potential benefits.
There is such a thing as "too big", but a quality 60 is not that. I had a student show up for Intro to Tech one time with a wing his local shop sold him (regarding which he did not consult me first). It was a 90# wing! That was definitely TOO big. It really wrapped up around the sides of his tanks and made it very hard for him to dump gas or control the gas inside the bladder in many situations.
Lastly, wing SHAPE really does make a difference. For doubles, I have owned wings from Halcyon, Oxycheq, OMS, and Dive Rite.
With everything else the same, the Halcyon and Oxycheq wings made me foot-light (in a drysuit, with very negatively buoyant fins (Hollis F1)). I could only maintain good trim with no effort by using a tail weight.
The OMS and both my Dive Rite wings allow me to maintain good horizontal trim with no effort and no tail weight.
My personal favorite wing for doubles is my Dive Rite Classic XT. 60# lift. A nice, streamlined shape. Even lift from top to bottom. Very rugged. Top notch customer service from Dive Rite (based on other things - never had an issue with my wing).
