Hollis HTS 2 vs Oxycheq BP/W

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Cruiser24

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hi, m helping a friend decide on whether to go with:

1) hollis hts 2 softpack with the s 25lbs bladder or

2) an oxycheq hog harness; an oxycheq mach v wing and the oxycheq ultralite travel backplate.

diving in only warm waters. which would you recommend and why?

many thanks.
 
Hi,
the two are both great BCDs. The hollis HTS2 has a velcro cummberbund which the oxy doesn't and you may find it a bit more snug if using the hollis. you will also find that the hollis is 4kgs vs a oxys 3 kgs. the hollis also has a bit of padding which will make it a touch heavier to carry out of the water as padding tends to retain a bit of water when taken out. both are great systems. i think some retailers that are sellign the HTS2 have weight pockets as standard, but the oxy will be an additional addon. for me i went with the oxy due to the different colours they have and also it is light!
 
I think it is hard to beat an Oxycheq Mach V Extreme. The 18lb version be my next purchase (when my Halcyon finally wears out...).
 
agree but i guess for most recreational diving, the extreme might be abit of an overkill?
 
One of the big advantages of a BP/W set up is the hogarthian harness, which lacks padding (not needed and actually less comfortable underwater, and buoyant) and the truly dumb idea of the underwater cumberbund.

I would just forget the ultralight fabric "plate" and get a standard AL rigid plate. You don't need the 'extreme' version of the wing, just the 18 lb machV, hogarthian harness, AL plate, two cambands, and you have an ideal warm water set up that will dive beautifully and be extremely compact to travel with. I would also get four xscuba camband pockets; one on each camband, two on the waist belt. That way you can put weight wherever you want it to adjust your trim.

IMO, much of the emphasis on lightweight diving gear for travel is way over blown. I recently travelled by air carrying full set ups for double and single tanks and had no problem staying under the weight requirement for the airline. My bag had 3 regs (3 1sts, 4 2nds, 2 SPGs, 5 ft and 7ft hoses) 2 wings, 1 AL BP, 2 masks, 2 wetsuits, 1 pair fins, 1 computer, 3 lights, etc. I save weight by packing everything in a lightweight duffle rather than a 10-15 lb suitcase.

Choose dive gear based on how it performs while diving!
 

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