Halycon or Light Monkey reel

[formernuke]

Title says it all I'm putting a wishlist together and trying to decide between the two. Any inputs would be appreciated.

 

[rongoodman]

They're very similar and your LDS, Scuba Shack, is a big Halcyon dealer, so I'd give the local guy my business. If you haven't been there, ask about Ed's Buoyancy classes too.

 

[Scott L]

They're very similar and your LDS, Scuba Shack, is a big Halcyon dealer, so I'd give the local guy my business. If you haven't been there, ask about Ed's Buoyancy classes too.

Given the two company's history I would give a tie-breaker to Halcyon...

 

[netmage]

What can you get cheaper...?

And either way - ditch the double ender and cave tie a real boltsnap... Everyone seems to loose the double-ender - and attached reel... when back rolling off a boat...

 

[formernuke]

Thanks guys for the inputs so far.

Normally the local would break it but I have a local Light Monkey dealer as well so.....and Ed's Buoyancy 1 is the reason people are amazed when I tell them how many dives (the usualy response is thats it) I have logged. What I can't figure out is is there a quality difference with them? Any little things that I wouldn't notice unless I had them both. You know those little things that I might be missing looking at them.

 

[TSandM]

And either way - ditch the double ender and cave tie a real boltsnap...

I have a boltsnap tied to mine, and I've had dive buddies throw the thing at me at the end of a dive and snarl, "I'm never using that thing again!" Apparently, if you aren't accustomed to it, they get in the way and get caught on things. I've never noticed, but then again, it's the only reel I've ever owned.

I can't speak about the Light Monkey reels, because I haven't handled them. But when I bought mine, I chose the Halcyon because the handle was aluminum and I liked the feel of it better, and because the set screw was metal instead of nylon. So those are at least things to look at when you look at the reels.

 

[rongoodman]

The current Light Monkey reels have metal set screws. The one major difference now is that the set screw on the Light Monkey reels is on the opposite side from the line guide, as opposed to the Halcyon, where the set screw is next to the line guide. I think that's a recent change for the Light Monkey, as my old Salvo reel was the same as the Halcyon. I don't know which I prefer. I tied a bolt-snap to my reel last night, so I'll see whether I like it better than the double ender.

(I might never get past the "line following cave tourist" phase, but the old Salvo reel stayed in Playa and is doing exploration in the the cenotes these days.)