Good Doubles Wing

[mahjong]

Yours is hardly a typical configuration. I get dizzy just trying to envision it.

A long wing can get pinched underneath your tanks when doffing the rig on land. And, yes, at depth air at the bottom is bad for top-heavy tanks as it tips the diver further forward (Fabers tend to be top heavy, esp shorter ones--LP95s--in the way they trim out for many people). With my double Faber MP72s, I dive an Agir-Brokk 38# Habrok horseshoe wing, which was designed for shorter, particularly Faber tanks (see pic below). With the Habrok, you can see that the top of wing minimally interfers with valves/hoses, and the concentration of air is across the shoulders, correcting top heavy tanks. The wing might look bigger than it is, in part because that's a size small DSS SS backplate. This Agir wing is overall trimmer than my Halcyon 40# Explorer (also a very nice wing).

 

[mathauck0814]

I dive the HOG 58# doubles wing. I don't particularly care for the wing as it's a horseshoe and it turns out I've got a preference for donuts (who knew?). For your purposes it might work just fine.

 

[mahjong]

As you ramble on through life whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the donut and not upon the hole ;-).

I dive the HOG 58# doubles wing. I don't particularly care for the wing as it's a horseshoe and it turns out I've got a preference for donuts (who knew?). For your purposes it might work just fine.

 

[Akimbo]

Yours is hardly a typical configuration...

True enough, but the issue that prompted my comment was whether it was longer or not.

…A long wing can get pinched underneath your tanks when doffing the rig on land...

Good point. Never had the issue but worth looking out for.

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

I have dove a lot of double wings over the years and swear by the Halcyon Evolve Wings. Great inflator, Balanced and great venting efficiency. The ScubaPro is a Halcyon with a ScubaPro Inflator (bad design) and an over-sized OPV and pull dump knob (not even needed). Many of my Tec students have switched out of their XYZ brand of wings and have seen instant improvement with the Evolve.

 

[mahjong]

Scubapro inflater = bad design? Do you mean the shape? As for reliability and efficiency, they are unrivaled. Well respected technicians swear by them, and one recently told me that the OEM inflators (like Halcyon's) are a "piece of @#$%."

When you say the new Scubapro XTEK donut "is a Halcyon," what exactly do you mean? They are both donuts, but they are not even close to being identical. The Scubapro is an exaggerated square design, while the Halcyon rounder. I believe Halcyon uses 1000 cordura--the original good stuff, esp if made in USA--while Scubapro uses the 1680, the cheaper Asian imitation of the 1000 (this is not to say that 1680 is not good enough). One key is the undercoating: Halcyon claims to generously urethane underdoat their shell. I don't recall reading Scubapro making such claims (despite all claims, I have a Halcyon Explorer and an OMS 45#--the OMS undercoating is clearly more robust). The inner bladders of the Halcyon and Scubapro use the same stuff.

Beyond this, Scubapro still uses those dangerously large pull-dump knobs. Also, the Scubapro wing has two sets of cam band slots and a whole bunch of scattered grommets needed to affix it to the XTEK harness. The Halcyon wing is clean--no cam band slots and two center grommets.

And I think the Scubapro might retail for more than even the Halcyon.

I am a minor Scubapro collector, so I offer this grudgingly. I would love to love Scubapro's wings, but I find it difficult to do so.

I have dove a lot of double wings over the years and swear by the Halcyon Evolve Wings. Great inflator, Balanced and great venting efficiency. The ScubaPro is a Halcyon with a ScubaPro Inflator (bad design) and an over-sized OPV and pull dump knob (not even needed). Many of my Tec students have switched out of their XYZ brand of wings and have seen instant improvement with the Evolve.

 

[Kern]

If any Halcyon wings are being marketed in Europe, they have a pull knob on them, or they don't pass standards. Knobs are an easy fix, anvil, sledge hammer, fixed.

 

[mahjong]

Not sure who you are replying to, but at least for the last year Halcyon wings in the US have been sold with pull knobs--very tiny plastic pull knobs, but pull knobs nonetheless. Yes, sledge hammer is a good fix. However, after vaporizing the tiny pull knob, if the string is too short to accommodate a substantial knot PLUS a full finger twist, then you might as well simply unscrew the OPV, lift the gasket and unthread the string and install a new longer one--one that can allow for a good sized knot and full finger roll. If you are diving in cold water, the provided string will likely not be long enough after you vaporize the tiny plastic knob.

If any Halcyon wings are being marketed in Europe, they have a pull knob on them, or they don't pass standards. Knobs are an easy fix, anvil, sledge hammer, fixed.

 

[Kern]

Not sure who you are replying to, but at least for the last year Halcyon wings in the US have been sold with pull knobs--very tiny plastic pull knobs, but pull knobs nonetheless. Yes, sledge hammer is a good fix. However, after vaporizing the tiny pull knob, if the string is too short to accommodate a substantial knot PLUS a full finger twist, then you might as well simply unscrew the OPV, lift the gasket and unthread the string and install a new longer one--one that can allow for a good sized knot and full finger roll. If you are diving in cold water, the provided string will likely not be long enough after you vaporize the tiny plastic knob.

There ya go, Halcyon wings are being marketed in Europe, hence the addition.

Well, yes, you're right, but wheres the fun in that. Besides, it only takes a minute, & you'r probably going to replace it with one of Tobin's OPV's with the thicker string, & bigger, er, knot anyway. :mooner:

 

[rongoodman]

I've been happy with my 40# Evolve and LP85s, which are just a little lighter than the HP100s. Tobin's OPV is a nice addition too.