Lookin for warmer water wing for my BP

[giles45shop]

Go with a 30# Mach V. IMHO, this compulsion to go with the smallest wing you can find for "streamlining" is taking something to the extreme and just another marketing tool. Drag/streamlining difference between a 55# doubles wing an a 30# singles wing, sure I'll buy that. Between an 18# wing and a 30# wing, probably not significant. I will say that I like the long/narrow cross section of the Oxycheq as opposed to the wider/shorter cross section of a Halcyon or Golem wing.

If you buy an 18# wing, it's pretty much limited to warm water diving only. On the other hand, my 30# wing works perfectly fine for anything from warm water diving in the Keys w/ AL80's to SoCal diving in 7mm suits and HP130's and everything in between.

Good luck,

John

 

[kathydee]

My #20 lb DSS works nice and packs light.

 

[jagfish]

Go with a 30# Mach V. IMHO, this compulsion to go with the smallest wing you can find for "streamlining" is taking something to the extreme and just another marketing tool. Drag/streamlining difference between a 55# doubles wing an a 30# singles wing, sure I'll buy that. Between an 18# wing and a 30# wing, probably not significant. I will say that I like the long/narrow cross section of the Oxycheq as opposed to the wider/shorter cross section of a Halcyon or Golem wing.

If you buy an 18# wing, it's pretty much limited to warm water diving only. On the other hand, my 30# wing works perfectly fine for anything from warm water diving in the Keys w/ AL80's to SoCal diving in 7mm suits and HP130's and everything in between.

Good luck,

John

I'd agree with this post...I wonder if the packable size difference between the 18 and 30 make a significant difference for the expense of having the extra wing...as with most things in life, it's up to the user...

however, that being said, I do have a 18# Mach 5 rig with AL plate that I use for pool only. I teach a lot of pool, so it's convenient for me to have a dedicated rig...

 

[nwdiver2]

17 lbs Tropical Travel Wing from DeepSeaSuppl, another vote, I use several of thier wings and love them all.

 

[keithdiver]

Why buy at extreme exposure? I called them once for a light , it took 2months to get back to me.,screw them. You can get quality service and product at IVS scuba.com and have a timely response for a great price!!!! Ask for Bev she and the crew will do you justice.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

Go with a 30# Mach V. IMHO, this compulsion to go with the smallest wing you can find for "streamlining" is taking something to the extreme and just another marketing tool. Drag/streamlining difference between a 55# doubles wing an a 30# singles wing, sure I'll buy that. Between an 18# wing and a 30# wing, probably not significant...

I'm interested in this because, having rented a bp/w and liked it, when the time comes to buy my own gear, that's the direction I'm going to go.

Reading the board, I get the idea that one should get the smallest wing that will do the job well. I know that part of it is for streamlining, but I also thought I understood that it's easier to make buoyancy adjustments to a wing when you don't have a lot of "extra" wing. In other words, it's better to match the wing for your use as much as practicable.

So, is this hype to get people to buy more wings than they need? Or is it real?

I used a 30# wing diving in 70 degree water with a 3mm full suit. I didn't find myself using nearly the full wing's capacity, and it did seem like I had a fair bit of floppy wing to "milk" when I wanted to empty it, but then I'm a total bp/w newbie, so some of that could have been my imagination.

I had been thinking of buying a Halcyon Eclipse while on my trip (because the dive shop was a Halcyon dealer and I could have been using my own gear for two weeks instead of renting), and one of the things that had me wondering was that Halcyon only has 30# or 40# wings. I didn't end up buying then, but I'm still wondering about that.

B.


PS: Not to hijack, but it sounds like both the OP and I are looking for warm-water exclusive wings, so hopefully my post does not cause a diversion.

 

[TSandM]

When I started out, I had one wing, and that was a DSS LCD 30. I dove that in cold water and in warm, and I didn't have any problems with it in either place. When I subsequently had the opportunity to dive the TTW 17, I was delighted with it, because it was so streamlined that it seemed easier to swim forward, and because venting it was so utterly trivial, as the wing really can't "taco" up along the tanks at all. Either the inflator hose or the dump had immediately access to the gas without effort.

So, do you absolutely NEED to optimize your wing? No. And if budget is an issue and you go between warm and cold water, a standard singles wing will work for both. But if you only dive warm water with minimal exposure protection, buying a small wing will be fun.

The sad part is that, since I've more or less decided that I'm going to dive dry full-time now, I probably can't use the TTW 17 any more . . .

 

[laguna230diver]

TSandM... wanna sell/trade that itty bitty 17lb wing? Id give a good trade for it.. PM me if interested!

 

[Blue Sparkle]

Okay, TSandM, then it sounds like what I had read/digested is pretty much on the mark.

Since my plan is to dive only in warm water for the near future, it sounds like a smaller (i.e. 20#-ish) might fill the bill. And the OP is likewise looking for a warm-water only wing.

To end my hijack, if I were going to start diving cold water, well, I could imagine ending up with a lot more/different gear (dry suit, different reg, wing, etc.).

It seems a lot like choosing a boat in that if you *know* that you are going to do specifically one type of boating (or are willing to own multiple boats), you can buy one that really suits your purposes, and is often a better performer.

OTOH, if you are looking for something more multi-purpose, or you aren't quite sure what you plan to do with it, you get a boat that is a bit more of a compromise (and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as it suits).

Thanks for the input, and now, back to your regularly scheduled warm-water wing buying

 

[Splitlip]

Go with a 30# Mach V. IMHO, this compulsion to go with the smallest wing you can find for "streamlining" is taking something to the extreme and just another marketing tool. Drag/streamlining difference between a 55# doubles wing an a 30# singles wing, sure I'll buy that. Between an 18# wing and a 30# wing, probably not significant. I will say that I like the long/narrow cross section of the Oxycheq as opposed to the wider/shorter cross section of a Halcyon or Golem wing.

If you buy an 18# wing, it's pretty much limited to warm water diving only. On the other hand, my 30# wing works perfectly fine for anything from warm water diving in the Keys w/ AL80's to SoCal diving in 7mm suits and HP130's and everything in between.

Good luck,

John

I've used a fair number of wings.

None is as adept at bubble management as the Mach V's. I have 2 now. 30 and 18. They pack nearly as nicely as my Razors (bladderless) did. Just have to squeeze a little more to get them flat and the difference is negligable.

edit:
Oh the black is 18# and the red 30#.