Better Choice For Duals and Singles?

[ArcticDiver]

I like to dive as much as possible with the same kit. Also, most of my diving is done while I'm traveling so luggage weight and bulk is a consideration. While I'm traveling I frequently dive both single and double tanks on the same trip.

Right now I'm using a DiveRite RecWing as my travel wing. It handles both singles and doubles just as advertised. It isn't the ideal wing for either. But it does the job.

Short of taking two wings with the additional weight and bulk is there a better choice?

 

[dschulte]

Not really for what you are doing. The RecWing has decent lift for the doubles; it is kind of middle of the road for performance as you have observed. It is almost too small for the doubles but too much for a single. For a traveling diver who dives both singles and doubles it appears to be the correct choice. I dove one for a while before I switched over to the OMS 94lbs wing in preparation for a technical diving class. Now I just dive a bungeed wing to keep the profile down.
:monkeydan

 

[wunat]

Why are you looking for a better choice than RecWing?

If you want better performance, the way to go is the right wing for the right set up.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Why are you looking for a better choice than RecWing? ...

A good diver is a learning diver. It has been a few years since I bought this wing and something may have happened in the meantime that would be a better choice. If so, I figure this is the correct forum to learn about it.

So far, replies, and the lack thereof, seem to affirm that the RecWing is still the best choice for this job.

 

[MSilvia]

Short of taking two wings with the additional weight and bulk is there a better choice?

How much weight and bulk do you really think an extra wing adds? They're flat when deflated, and can't weigh much more than a pound or two at most. In your position, I'd get two wings instead of diving with a half-assed wing in the name of saving a negligible amount of luggage space.

 

[FoSheZZie23]

I swear nobody on this form says anything about OMS! It is simply the best! I use my OMS IQ pack with 100lb bladder for singles and twins. You just need to bring the single tank adaptor (which all you do is screw it on with two wingnut screws) takes all of 1 minute to put on. Then bring either bands or the "travel" kit which has straps for twins and they screw on just like the single tank adaptor with two wingnut screws. Its super easy and quick. In my opinion OMS made their bc's for twins, and they feel PERFECT when they have twins, I do the majority of my diving with a single and it feels better than anything else i have dove.

 

[JohnW]

I'd get two wings instead of diving with a half-assed wing in the name of saving a negligible amount of luggage space.

.....and you can only dive one wing at a time, so if you need to save weight space bring only one LP inflator and hose assembly.

 

[MSilvia]

In my opinion OMS made their bc's for twins, and they feel PERFECT when they have twins, I do the majority of my diving with a single and it feels better than anything else i have dove.

Out of curiosity, what singles wings are you comparing a 100lb OMS wing to when you say it feels better than anything else you have dove? In my head, I'm picturing a gigantic taco with a diver suspended below it.

Until I had been behind the wheel of other vehicles, my '78 Buick Regal had the best acceleration and tightest turn radius of any vehicle I had driven. That does not mean it had good acceleration or a tight turning radius when compared to vehicles designed with those qualities in mind.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Out of curiosity, what singles wings are you comparing a 100lb OMS wing to when you say it feels better than anything else you have dove? In my head, I'm picturing a gigantic taco with a diver suspended below it.

I was thinking the same thing ... :11:

100 lb wing for doubles seems like serious overkill ... can't imagine having that much wing wrapped around a single cylinder.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ams511]

I think you are looking for a magical product and there isn't one. Ideally you want the right wing for the right job. At a miminium, one wing for singles and another for doubles. Any doubles wing is going to be less than ideal when diving singles because of the taco effect. Bigger wings cause more tacoing.The Rec wing is a compromise because it is smaller doubles wing also Deep Outdoors sells similar product.

As other posters pointed out the size of a single wing is very small rolled up and should not cause too much of a packing problem. If cost is an issue then watch the classifieds here or look for sales. You can find a good new single wing for around $250.