Opinions on BP& Wing (Looking to Upgrade)

[02gluken]

I have been diving for about 2 years and presently have a Scubapro Knight hawk. I am looking to go to a BP& Wing. The combination I am looking at is a DR SS Backplate, STA & Cambands, Basic harness, Hog 32# Wing, Phantom 7' & 30" hoses, and a Hog Classic 2nd stage regulator. My LDS, that I purchased my present gear and pushes Scubapro wasn't too encouraging with my choices. Said he had seen some HOG Gear on a boat this weekend and wasn't too impressed with and does not think the DR cam bands are not as good as the Scuba Pro super clinches. I also have a S600 Regulator and doesn't think the Hog regulator would be adequate at best in a stressful situation. His opinion of the hog Wing was that it was not made with the same quality the Scubapro Wing is. Thoughts and comments would be appreciated. I think sour gapes on his part based on my research. Plus he couldn't come close on price.

 

[kotik]

Most people I've talked to aren't keen on the braided hoses for the long hose-- too floaty. The other stuff looks just fine.

 

[SandPhantom]

I transitioned from a knighthawk to a DSS BP/W and love it. I have the LCD20 wing by DSS. Put over 120 dives on it and never had an issue. Why 32#?

 

[02gluken]

To be honest, not Sur e which would be the better option 32# or 20#

---------- Post added September 9th, 2013 at 07:17 PM ----------

How do you think the Hog 2nd stage compares to Scuba pro S600? Big price difference.

 

[kotik]

To be honest, not Sur e which would be the better option 32# or 20#

---------- Post added September 9th, 2013 at 07:17 PM ----------

How do you think the Hog 2nd stage compares to Scuba pro S600? Big price difference.

Unless you yourself are pretty buoyant, 20 lb lift will not be enough if you dive a steel tank in warm water.

The HOG second stage breathes well, I don't notice any big difference between it and an S600. How they're tuned can make a noticeable difference. Dive Rite also makes good regs, give them a look too.

 

[SandPhantom]

Wing size will be dependent on a few factors concerning salt/fresh, buoyancy, exposure suit buoyancy, etc... Give Tobin a buzz and go over your options. I use Scubapro, Atomic, and hog regs. Personal preference as far as I'm concerned. I do favor the Atomic M1. My personal opinion is that the Hogs breathe just as good as the others. I did run into an issue, but think I may be able to make an adjustment and hopefully resolve it.

 

[kotik]

Wing size will be dependent on a few factors concerning salt/fresh, buoyancy, exposure suit buoyancy, etc...

Not to be at all argumentative--

Wing size does depend on a lot of things, but there's one thing that can be said universally: a 32 pound wing can be deflated to have zero lift, but a 20 pound wing can never be inflated to have 32 pounds of lift.

To me it's better to simplify problems when possible. Wing size should be chosen for as much lift you're liable to need. If the OP is wearing a stainless steel backplate, and if there's any chance of someday wearing a steel tank with a thin wetsuit in rolling seas, he'd do well to check that he's got a nice layer of fat to help out with lift before going for a small wing. There is no buyer's remorse worse than what you feel when you can't keep your head out of the water.

 

[SandPhantom]

I agree, and that is why I said dependent on a few factors. Obviously, I didn't list all of them. Drysuit, his physical buoyancy characteristics, 7mil, steels, doubles, equipment carrying....you get the idea. Depends on what you intend on using it for.

I'm sure you will agree that having too large of a wing creates unnecessary drag as well.

 

[kotik]

Well, speaking from my own perspective:

I own one wing for diving singles, and I'm not at all inclined to buy a whole spectrum of wings, each of which is optimized to have just enough lift to suit a specific gear configuration and water salinity. If I were inclined to do that, then the first wing I'd get would be the one with the maximum lift, since that would still work for all situations that could use a smaller wing. The more optimal wings can be added to the collection later as budget allows.

The wing I own has 25 lbs of lift, and this is at the very bottom end of what I would want. When I dive it in a drysuit, it has no problem at all. Diving in shorts, with an aluminum backplate and a steel tank in a flat lake is a little uncomfortable on the surface-- I have to keep my lungs partially filled to keep my face all the way out of the water. That wing with a steel tank, steel backplate, in warm water with any waves to speak of would be no fun. I sink naturally, so my body type may come into play on the amount of lift needed.

My recommendation when buying the first wing is, if there are a variety of types of diving you'll be doing, forget about those that require less lift. If you occasionally dive in a 7mm, with aluminum tank and aluminum backplate, and other times you dive in a shirt and shorts with a stainless steel backplate, you should size your lift needs per the shorts with steel situation. The slight increase in drag can be overcome, and might not be noticed, but too little lift can be a huge bummer.

 

[02gluken]

I am about 6'2, 225 lbs. Usually diving salt water 3 mil to 5 mil wetsuit. With my Knight hawk with 3 mil usually need about 17# with 5 mil about 20#. This with Aluminum 80.I am sure my current BCD is giving some additional buoyancy which will be lost.

---------- Post added September 9th, 2013 at 08:48 PM ----------

My main point being in all of this, I think the configuration I have put together is probably going to work pretty well. I think my LDS negative opinion on the package is more because he does not want to be competitive on the pricing and is not going to make a sale, rather than admitting the equipment is good equipment, although it isn't the Scuba Pro line he sells at a higher price.