Question Halcyon aluminium versus carbon BP

[andrethediver]

I have a new CF backplate with the cinch system and integrated STA if you are interested in one. I bought it and never dove it. It seems too short for me.

Thanks but I am just trying to understand whether this wing has built in cinch system or not.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

Thanks but I am just trying to understand whether this wing has built in cinch system or not.

The photo you posted is of the CF with the cinch; notice it is flared out at the bottom of the plate. Here are a couple of photos of the old CF plate without the cinch and without the built in STA. I also added a photo of a cinch plate. The easiest way to determine if it is a cinch is to look for the two spacers and the rounded areas where the harness can slide. See attached photo.

 

[andrethediver]

I checked again and the CF plate in my image doesn’t have rounded spaces like in cinch. Looks like Pro backplate has it, I attached image

 

[JoeTPhilly]

I checked again and the CF plate in my image doesn’t have rounded spaces like in cinch. Looks like Pro backplate has it, I attached image

The photo is post 33 has two protrusions above where the harness weaves through are spacers to keep the tanks from interfering with where the harness slides for adjustment. Also, take a look at your photo and you will see long protrusions between the two bottom slots for the harness. On a traditional setup, triglides would be placed there in order to "lock" the harness in place. The cinch does away with the triglides and has those protrusions to help the harness slide for adjustment.

The previous photos you have posted have been front views. However, they show the flared out bottom indicating they are cinch plates.

 

[gopbroek]

I certainly would have given it a shot, if I hadn't already bought a Halcygucci backplate back in 2018 that is still showing zero issues! That includes use with twinsets, JJ rebreather, etc, and no STA with a single tank.

At comparative prices though, the AliEx kit is almost 'free to try!'

Its really not a complicated piece of equipment. If it suddenly cracks or delams on a dive without any prior signs, this alone is still unlikely to kill you. It just needs to be stiff, strong, and impervious to repeated exposure to seawater pressures up to ~200 psi. Presumably, they would be smart enough to know to use 316 or higher grade stainless steel grommets ... ? It's not a 4000 metres submersible

I purchased one on a lark (OK to be honest I was drinking) to try it out, I like it. I intend to use it as a travel wing. One thing I noticed with the AliEx CF plate is the horizontal slots on the sides. I found that by threading some webbing and a buckle verticaly via the slots I can mount standard slotted weights as trim weights on the back plate. So far I have not found any issues with it.

 

[justinthedeeps]

Looks useful, interested to hear how they hold up year-over-year. Particularly the embedded grommets, and how resistant the edges are to water entry and delamination after minor/incidental wear.

~$95 direct to China with no margin going to a US domestic re-seller..
I would happily pay an actual American manufacturer (not just re-seller) up to say ~$200... anyone? [crickets.....]

Undoubtedly the Halcyon gear is more stringently designed by pro divers who demand a lot from their gear, and with much higher quality control. Worth the money if you never want to question your gear--and support the people who made it possible.

$418. Probably $10-20 in materials for a bulk producer, but it ain't easy or cheap running a niche American business for high end products. Hope the people putting their hands on things are getting as much of that $$ as the ones who are just watching the work happen.