Need help with choosing a wing!

[cbrantley531]

Alright everyone, im new into the BP/W set up. Been use to diving with my scubapro Knighthawk. Finally making the step to get a back plate and wing. Im looking at the Dive Rite Transplate Harness and a Dive Rite AL backplate. Ill be diving single Hp 100s. I will not be moving to side mount or doubles anytime soon, so those are out of the question. What wing should I pair with this set up? Ive been thinking that 30lbs of lift is plenty for me.

Live in Alabama, diving out of Dauphin Island. Warm water, 1 piece 3mm suit

 

[sea_ledford]

30 lbs is plenty. FYI I don't think dive rite is making an aluminum plate anymore, just a stainless one with a bunch of triangles cut out of it to reduce weight. Probably completely irrelevant, but there you go.

I prefer the deluxe harness without the quick release clips as I have seen those fail on multiple occasions, always when climbing the ladder when the sudden weight shift from both shoulders to one shoulder is most noticeable. I think they were all with doubles though, a single tank wouldn't be such an issue.

Don't get too caught up on brands though. A doughnut wing from anyone will work pretty much the same, so long as they are of equal dimensions.

 

[lemke]

I dive single steels... DSS or Oxycheq wings in the 17-30 pound range is all you need.

 

[Keith.M]

I have been quite happy with the Hog 32lb wing.

I use a steel plate though. I was just down in that area diving last week and with the Aluminum tanks, I was glad I had a steel BP.

 

[TSandM]

Why not try the simple harness first? It's cheap, so if you don't like it and decide to buy the fancy one later, you aren't out much. If you go the other route, you've spent rather a bit more money.

 

[Mike126]

Why not try the simple harness first? It's cheap, so if you don't like it and decide to buy the fancy one later, you aren't out much. If you go the other route, you've spent rather a bit more money.

^^ Agree... the simple Hog harness is easy to get in and out of.

For warm water you could probably go with a smaller wing. The DSS Torus 26 or 17 would probably work. You really only need to float your rig. I dive the Torus 26 for warm and cold water and its fine.

my 2cents

 

[drbill]

I dive Catalina (cool Pacific waters) in a 7mm or 7/5mm wetsuit. I use a 28-32 lb wing (several different ones). I heartily recommend a donut vs a horseshoe because the donuts are easier to evacuate the air.

 

[scubadiver888]

The HP100 will be 5 pounds heavier in the water than an AL80 plus full it will have 22 cu.ft. more than the AL80. That air will add another 1.6 pounds of negative buoyancy. I'd think a 17 pound wing would be fine for an AL80. It would be able to float your gear on the surface at the beginning of the dive but you probably want at least a 24 pounds to float the HP100.

sea_ledford is correct, I went looking for an aluminum in July and they didn't have an aluminum DiveRite. They only had the steel DiveRite with a lot of triangle cut outs. The store had one Hollis aluminum plate so I ended up going with that. If the store you buy from doesn't have the DiveRite aluminum in stock they won't be able to order them.

Also, if you don't have some serious mobility issues you should give the basic harness a try. Less failure points and usually around one third the price of a Transplate harness.

I have a Halcyon harness (steel plate) and a DiveRite harness (aluminum plate). If adjusted correctly they are both really comfortable.

 

[uncfnp]

I dive warn water with HP 80's and 100's and a backplate that weighs about 4 pounds. I debated trying a smaller wing but I went with the 30 and I'm glad I did.

 

[PacificXplorer]

I also dive a steel 100 when I go out with a single tank. I have a Dive Rite Voyager XT with a simple harness and 5 lb. Steel backplate (also Dive Rite). I have more than enough weight with this setup (just the backplate is enough when diving an AL80 with a 3mm wetsuit). The Voyager wing was designed to accommodate larger tanks, but it does just fine with the smaller ones also. Nice, stable, tough wing.