Best wing for tall diver

[jlsprat]

Looking for recommendations on a Wing.

I’m 6’5” tall, 300lbs, and am acquiring a custom backplate (XXXL) from FredT. I will be singles diving with up to 130 steels while spear fishing. What are your recommendations on wings for best trim with the extra length (and girth)?

 

[rhwestfall]

Girth makes no difference. Personally, I prefer the "long/narrow" profile of wings like the OxyCheq/VDH/DGX (I'm 6'-7") as they don't "taco" around the tank. I use 30# wings with up to HP120 tanks. Keep in mind, you want a wing that can float your rig (without you in it) at the surface.

 

[tbone1004]

body size has no bearing on wing size as @rhwestfall mentioned. The wings are determined by the amount of lift that you need and to some extent the physical size of the tank. I.e. you don't want to be using an Oxycheq 30lb wing on an AL50 because the tank is far too short and it will damage the wing. As a tall person, you won't be using those tanks, so you need to figure out which size wing you really need and I suspect that will be somewhere around 30lbs unless you're in a real thick wetsuit *which you shouldn't be*

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Any of those narrow wings like the Oxycheq style wings will work. BTW, Oxycheq was the first to design that type of wing. If you are using a big tank, heavy plate, and plan to add any ballast to your rig you might want to consider a 40 lb. wing.
Just saying’

 

[rhwestfall]

amen on the 40, all things considered for this gentleman...

(bigger than 30 - VDH had one that was more than 30#)

 

[jlsprat]

Thanks for the replies and insight...thoughts on Dive Rite Voyager 35 lb vs Halcyon or ScubaPro XTek 40#?

 

[rhwestfall]

Thanks for the replies and insight...thoughts on Dive Rite Voyager 35 lb vs Halcyon or ScubaPro XTek 40#?

none of the above...

here in 40#:

Golem Gear, Inc. - Oxycheq Mach V Signature Series Single Wing

 

[rhwestfall]

Reaons for my comment above:

DR is really made for a hybrid (Transplate/Transpac) harness as you can see the open panel. Okay, but not the best option - I do have a DR wing similar to this...

Halcyon is good, really expensive, and you can see you will also need to add a STA to your kit, so cost is even more.

ScubaPro - overpriced, and unusual...should stick to classic JetFins and regulators.....

 

[lexvil]

I have the DR Voyager XT 35, excellent wing, I tie it with OMS silicone bungee because it’s wide at the bottom, it has an actual lift well over 40lb. I dive the VDH 35 in the cold and the18 for warm water, I prefer the more narrow profile. The link from Bob above offer really good prices on those OXY MK 5’s, if I were in the market for a new wing I would buy that 40. Halcyon and SP wings didn’t impress me enough to keep them, proprietary fittings are the worst part of the SP.