My 5"2' wife needs advise on wing

[ae3753]

I second the recommendation of the DR Travel wing. On a small TransPac, it extends only a 1" from the bottom and 1" from the lowest part of top of the harness.

 

[msandler]

No!!!! You don't need a double tank wing!! A double tank wing will completely swallow a small person, and they are horrible with a single tank. Also, a doubles wing will probably extend below her posterior too, and will be a big mess flopping around. (The wing, not the rear)

The diver's size has nothing to do with the "fit" of a wing.

The smaller ones are fine with a single tank (they are even ways to chinch them in if necessary - which it is not). The wings I mentioned work very well for a 5' diver - and this is not probable but fact.

 

[WaterDawg]

One of the GoatDawgs is 5'1" and uses the 27# Pioneer and fits him well.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The diver's size has nothing to do with the "fit" of a wing.

The smaller ones are fine with a single tank (they are even ways to chinch them in if necessary - which it is not). The wings I mentioned work very well for a 5' diver - and this is not probable but fact.

I think the confusion is that you named a couple of singles wings (e.g. the Dive Rite Trek and the Oxy 45) and then followed it up by suggesting that he should be looking at doubles wings ...

I think your problem is that you should be looking at double tank wings. Most of the single tank wings have an oval shaped bladder. You would be better off without air/lift below the butt.

I don't think a doubles wing is the solution unless you're planning on diving doubles. You might find one that's short enough (e.g. the Deep Outdoors 40-lb wing) but they're going to be too wide. Cinching them in isn't an ideal solution, as the shape of the wing will still require you to roll around a bit to vent air.

The DR Trek is marketed as "singles/doubles" convertible, but in reality it's not ideal for either ... it's a "compromise" design for people who are willing to give up a bit of performance for the convenience of only having to purchase one wing. To my concern, it's not good for doubles at all unless you're planning to use smallish cylinders, and even then the top of the wing is rather narrow for doubles use. So basically it's a singles wing with some inherent limitations.

The Oxy 45 is designed specifically for singles, and might be suitable for the shorter diver if you select the Signature series ... but the standard series has a longer "footprint" and probably wouldn't fit a 5'2" diver all that well (I speak from experience as the owner of two standard Oxy 45's and one Signature 45).

A DR Travel wing or Venture wing would be a better choice for singles ... or an Oxy 30 Signature series. The Trek would work, since it is a very short wing ... but you'll need the bungees, and you still won't get the performance that you'd get with a wing that's designed specifically for singles use.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Quarrior]

If it helps, I'm 5'4" and dive the Oxycheq Signature 45. It is a singles wing and that's what I use it for. As Grateful Diver said, there are doubles wings for doubles and singles wings for singles. I would suggest following his guidance.

 

[msandler]

I think the confusion is that you named a couple of singles wings (e.g. the Dive Rite Trek and the Oxy 45) and then followed it up by suggesting that he should be looking at doubles wings ...



I don't think a doubles wing is the solution unless you're planning on diving doubles. You might find one that's short enough (e.g. the Deep Outdoors 40-lb wing) but they're going to be too wide. Cinching them in isn't an ideal solution, as the shape of the wing will still require you to roll around a bit to vent air.

The DR Trek is marketed as "singles/doubles" convertible, but in reality it's not ideal for either ... it's a "compromise" design for people who are willing to give up a bit of performance for the convenience of only having to purchase one wing. To my concern, it's not good for doubles at all unless you're planning to use smallish cylinders, and even then the top of the wing is rather narrow for doubles use. So basically it's a singles wing with some inherent limitations.

The Oxy 45 is designed specifically for singles, and might be suitable for the shorter diver if you select the Signature series ... but the standard series has a longer "footprint" and probably wouldn't fit a 5'2" diver all that well (I speak from experience as the owner of two standard Oxy 45's and one Signature 45).

A DR Travel wing or Venture wing would be a better choice for singles ... or an Oxy 30 Signature series. The Trek would work, since it is a very short wing ... but you'll need the bungees, and you still won't get the performance that you'd get with a wing that's designed specifically for singles use.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Actually, I said nothing of an Oxy 45 lb wing. I referred to the OMS 45 lb wing SPECIFICALLY, and the trek wing. Now you will have to excuse me as I am only speaking empirically from experience since I DO dive with divers of the aforementioned stature WITH the gear I described. In other words, NOT hypothesis. There are ways to cinch (I should have said snug) a bladder that does not constrict it, though unnecessary. OMS also has a 35 lb wing. But, if you ever want to try doubles it is a bit too little lift. Furthermore, I have no personal experience with the 35 so I refrain from commenting on it.

The reason for "double tank" wings is because the horseshoe shape of the wing/bladder is better than the oval shape of "single ONLY" wings. They will not interfere with the diver.

By the way, I HAVE dove the trek wings with large doubles (100's of times) and they work perfectly.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Actually, I said nothing of an Oxy 45 lb wing. I referred to the OMS 45 lb wing SPECIFICALLY, and the trek wing. Now you will have to excuse me as I am only speaking empirically from experience since I DO dive with divers of the aforementioned stature WITH the gear I described.

Ah ... my mistake. I went back and re-read your post, and see that you are correct. I haven't used an OMS wing, so cannot comment on its performance.

The reason for "double tank" wings is because the horseshoe shape of the wing/bladder is better than the oval shape of "single ONLY" wings. They will not interfere with the diver.

This statement doesn't make sense to me ... at least not in terms of what one would want in performance for single-tank diving. If you are talking about diving doubles, certainly a double-tank wing is better. But I do not see how a single-tank wing "interferes" with a diver in a single-tank application. In fact, there's a reason for the difference in design that shows up in how well the wing performs.

In my experience, a horseshoe-shaped wing isn't optimal for single-tank diving. I was perfectly happy with my Rec wing too ... until I tried a wing that was designed for single-tank diving. The first was the Venture wing, which was superior in terms of stability, ease of trim, and ease of venting ... but not big enough for me. Then I got the Oxy 45 ... and the Rec wing now sits, unused, in my garage.

By the way, I HAVE dove the trek wings with large doubles (100's of times) and they work perfectly.

Hmmm ... OK ... not been my experience. Wonder how happy you'd be with it if you compared it to a wing that's designed more for the type of diving you're doing, though ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[msandler]

In my experience, a horseshoe-shaped wing isn't optimal for single-tank diving.

Hmmm ... OK ... not been my experience. Wonder how happy you'd be with it if you compared it to a wing that's designed more for the type of diving you're doing, though ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

No issues here Bob, I am saying a " 5'0" diver in the horseshoe shaped 45lb wing is effective and functional. Not having the air bladder continue below the BP/tank (depending on tank size) is a plus. Don't forget, I stated the BackPlate is Oxy's small 13" long plate - not the ~15" of standard plates.

FWIW, I own and dive the following wings on my SS DR plate.
Oxy - 18lb
DR - Trek <50ish lbs
OMS - 45lb
OMS - 60lb

The Sixty is my preference. And, if i am diving single, I don't bother changing the 60. I have no probs with it. My son, dives (primarily) the Trek on his Oxy 13" plate or the 18 in warmer water, and my wife the 45 on her Oxy 13" Plate.

Yes the Trek wing is not suitable for large doubles WITH large stages and all the other paraphinalia, but that has to do with lift not shape.

anyway, I was just offering suggestions based on my experience. I had found what I believe to be a decent set-up that can go from recreational to technical for a smaller framed diver.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's all good ... most times these decisions really boil down to personal preference ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[crestgel]

Thanks for all the info. We well head to a dive shop that has a few of the wings mentioned above to compare this weekend. THANX