Functionality of Halcyon

[bjpell]

I'm looking to purchase a halcyon system but don't know what the advantages of the eclipse are compared to the pioneer.

With the eclipse is the bp interchangeable with other wings? say the pioneer wings? Are you able to convert to a double system with basically only a new double wing attached to the eclipse system or the Pioneer system.

I need your help deciding which to buy. This is my first bc and hopefully my last! So what system would you get and why???? The Pioneer 27,36,45 or the eclipse 30,40 system?????

Or should I just forget halcyon and get the other brand I'm gawking at the Abyss Explorer 45lb Wing Plate Harness system for 386 bucks compared to 595 for halcyon system?

Thanks for your help guys/gals, Its appreciated in this purchase I'm about to make here soon...

ps. I will be diving in a 7mill suit in Michigan, some cold water and some warm inland lakes also. A 80 al tank, and I weigh 195-200 pounds and have a decent build (besides my beer belly

 

[Uncle Pug]

Pioneer 36# wing with anybody's SS plate and a DIR rigged harness.

Simplest though not the cheapest would be to buy a Halcyon all set up.

 

[OneBrightGator]

If I was going Halcyon I'd go with the 30 Eclipse, but I was also happy with my 36 Pioneer when I had it. Whatever single tank wing you go with I would make sure it's circular-shaped not U or horseshoe shaped.

Yes, with the MC system all you need is a double tank wing to dive doubles.

Ben

 

[HammerNoMore]

I'm looking to purchase a halcyon system but don't know what the advantages of the eclipse are compared to the pioneer.

The Eclipse is Halcyon's answer to the OxyCheq wing. It has a removable inner bladded with makes it more repairable. What it lacks is a built-in STA which the Pioneer does have. This is either a plus or a minus depending on the individual. Some people don't like the built in STA claming stability issues and use a separate sta even with the Pioneer. Personally I like the built-in STA and it is rock solid for me. I'm slightly overweighted with an SS plate in warm fresh water so adding a separate STA would require me to switch to an AL plate.

With the eclipse is the bp interchangeable with other wings?

Absolutly. You can get your BP from Halcyon/OMS/DiveRight/Fred-T/etc and it will accept any of the above mentioned wins.

Are you able to convert to a double system with basically only a new double wing attached to the eclipse system or the Pioneer system.

Assuming you have all the other pieces of the doubles setup (bands,manifold, regs, hoses, etc), yes.

I need your help deciding which to buy. This is my first bc and hopefully my last! So what system would you get and why???? The Pioneer 27,36,45 or the eclipse 30,40 system?????

No BC is going to last forever. The BP should assuming it's not abused, but the wing will probably eventually have to be replaced at some point in your life, better than a whole new BC though. As far as which to get this depends on your diving. Personally I use the Pioneer 36 and love it. There are many threads discussing wing size based on diving type and some searches will reveal much.

Or should I just forget halcyon and get the other brand I'm gawking at the Abyss Explorer 45lb Wing Plate Harness system for 386 bucks compared to 595 for halcyon system?

I've heard some bad things about the Abyss plate and its non-standard angles. I think you have to use different size bolts with doubles which has some issues. The big advantage Halcyon has on the wing is the doughnut shape. This allows air to travel all the way around the wing making trim easier.

Also a 45lb singles wing is overkill for most diving.

James

 

[Uncle Pug]

I've seen the eclipse and it looks to have more drag than the pioneer.

 

[HammerNoMore]

I've seen the eclipse and it looks to have more drag than the pioneer.

Good to know. There is no shop that stock Halycon stuff around here so I haven't got to see it yet. Was planning on taking a look next week in Coz.

James

 

[Uncle Pug]

James I haven't used one... I've just seen and handled it so I don't really know for a fact... I just suspect that it would have more drag. It seems much more bulky that the flat laying pioneer wings... espcially the 27# pioneer that I use.

That said the new SS inflator buttons should allow folks to take some weight off their belt.

 

[bjpell]

Thanks for your quick replys, now where is the best place for me to order from with unbeatable prices for Halcyon. The e store I have found with has a package deal is 5th dimensions. Eclipse 30 (hope is enough with cold water) with sta, 2 cam straps, and mc storage pack 595 plus shipping. Anybody have a favorite Halcyon dealer I should call????

 

[OneBrightGator]

I'm pretty sure you're going to find the same prices within a buck or two from every Halcyon dealer, my suggestion would be to buy local if that's a possibility, otherwise both 5thD and Extreme Exposure do a lot of mail-order.

Ben

 

[ScottyK]

We just picked a complete 30lb Eclipse sytem for Jen this past Sunday. We spent about two hours in the shop dialing it in, and two or three more in the pool playing with it and getting the trim tuned.

I can't say how streamlining compares to the Pioneer wing, but all in all she was very happy with it. Once we nailed the trim, she was gliding around with very little effort.

I was looking at putting my own system together, but after figuring in shipping charges from several different places there wasn't that big a savings (for what I wanted). The final deciding factor was the shop owner being willing to basically spend an entire afternoon working with us to get her ready to go. We're off on vaction in a week, and didn't want to lose the first two days futzing around with it.