People who don't like BP/W?

[TechBlue]

I tried a BP/wing during my DIR-F course. I was not impressed. It was a pain to adjust, never did get it to where it was comfortable on land (with a 2pc 5mm suit on) and it did nothing for my trim that my other bc did not do with the weights properly placed. Underwater I could tell very little difference. I range from a 2pc 5mm to a t-shirt in exposure suits and I don't want to have to go through re-adjusting it every time.
I find many of the "benefits" of a BP to be overrated. The one piece harness for example. Yes it can be replaced cheaply but just exactly how many BC's have you seen worn out? Or there are no plastic buckles to break, again, yes a few do get broken but they are fairly rare, most likely from a dropped tank, not a failure at depth. Give the option of taking a chance on a broken buckle or having to deal with adjusting a BP harness, I will take the buckles.
If I were going to dive doubles or hang stage bottles off it then I would get a BP which is the right tool for that job but for my typical diving- shallow open water they give me no useful benefits.

As in BCD's all wing systems are not created equal, we actually caught this on video a student using Halcyon wings just could not get his trim right in the water no matter how he and his instructor tried to adjust his setup, the same student the next day tried an OxyCheq wing and his trim was spot on. The same applies to the "head forward" that most people talk about inherent in backmounted wings again the design of the wing definitely affects your position in the water. I am not trying to knock Halcyon or push Oxycheq, this is merely an observation (that was captured on film) that you should explore all your possibilities and options before you make your final decision.

 

[jplacson]

TechBlue, that's a very interesting scenario you described... since, even though I dive a 100% Halcyon rig, I honestly don't see any real difference from wing to wing (except those with the funny bungee cords) I can't imagine why a student would have a difficult time with the Halcyon over the Oxy... my only guess would be that maybe he was using the adapterless Pioneer wing... this has been known to cause some tank shifting when cam straps are not tightened properly.

 

[TechBlue]

TechBlue, that's a very interesting scenario you described... since, even though I dive a 100% Halcyon rig, I honestly don't see any real difference from wing to wing (except those with the funny bungee cords) I can't imagine why a student would have a difficult time with the Halcyon over the Oxy... my only guess would be that maybe he was using the adapterless Pioneer wing... this has been known to cause some tank shifting when cam straps are not tightened properly.

Hi John,
As I said I'm not knocking Halcyon, I don't believe you have taken a good look at the new signature series OxyCheq wing, they are not the same. This particular scenario was captured on video and we will have it at our booth for BTS in March.

Chris

 

[reubencahn]

Hi John,
As I said I'm not knocking Halcyon, I don't believe you have taken a good look at the new signature series OxyCheq wing, they are not the same. This particular scenario was captured on video and we will have it at our booth for BTS in March.

Chris

Can you describe the difference--and anything else worthy of note about the signature wing? I've got the regular Oxycheq 30 and am thinking about getting signatures for my wife and son. But I haven't seen any around here.

 

[jplacson]

??? The Sig Series looks like the Eclipse wing. The one that seems very different is their O-Pac, which looks like an improved version of OMS's IQ-Pac

 

[reubencahn]

??? The Sig Series looks like the Eclipse wing. The one that seems very different is their O-Pac, which looks like an improved version of OMS's IQ-Pac

Actually, the Eclipse has a very distinctive upside down violin shape. My Oxycheq 30 (and from what I've seen the Pioneer 27 is the same) is more or less a perfect oval. I'm wondering if the Signature is the same or if its shape has been modified in any way. The pictures at the Oxycheq site are good enough to tell.

 

[TechBlue]

Can you describe the difference--and anything else worthy of note about the signature wing? I've got the regular Oxycheq 30 and am thinking about getting signatures for my wife and son. But I haven't seen any around here.

The only difference between the Standard OxyCheq 30# and the Signature series is that Patrick beefed up the Signature seris wings, he added a heavy duty bladder and the Outer bag is also heavier, basically as far as diving the two wings there is no difference in bouyancy or trim characteristics, depending on the kind of diving you do you may not need to make the extra investment and just stick with the regular 30#. You may want to look at the 18# wing though, the inside gussets make these an extremely low profile wing, for warm water diving they are incredible.

 

[reubencahn]

The only difference between the Standard OxyCheq 30# and the Signature series is that Patrick beefed up the Signature seris wings, he added a heavy duty bladder and the Outer bag is also heavier, basically as far as diving the two wings there is no difference in bouyancy or trim characteristics, depending on the kind of diving you do you may not need to make the extra investment and just stick for the regular 30#. You may want to look at the 18# wing though the inside gussets make these an extremely low profile wing, for warm water diving they are incredible.

Well, I'm not sure I really need the signature. I'm not a wreck diver and the diving around here is pretty benign. But I imagine the signature would last forever in those conditions, so it seems that it would be worth the extra money. I'm not sure how I feel about the 18. I wish I could dive with it before spending the money. I'll probably go with either the Signature 30 or possibly the Eclipse.

 

[TechBlue]

??? The Sig Series looks like the Eclipse wing. The one that seems very different is their O-Pac, which looks like an improved version of OMS's IQ-Pac

Have you actually held one in your hand, or even better dove one they are far from the same, trust me on this one.

 

[jplacson]

Yup... the 18# wing is similar to the old "Batwing" of Halcyon as well. Oxycheq has a great line-up... I was just wondering what could possibly cause a shift in trim from one BP/W to the next. I mean, it's a metal plate with a balloon bolted to the back... how much different can they REALLY get?!?!? I know, I know... shape, weight distribution, etc...etc... but come on... (as a Halcyon advocate...even I find this one a real stretch) ... the only component that can really screw up your trim with a BP/W rig is your tank placement... how high or low it is on your back.

Before I shifted to a BP, I wore my tank fairly low (PADI style) to avoid banging my head against the reg.... when I first switched to a BP, I wore it the same way, and the thing kept rolling me around... it was like having 'power steering'.. in a bad way, every little twitch or roll I made was amplified by my tank. I've since then moved my tank higher up, and added a trim weight of 2#. I think it's just a matter of getting used to the thing. OMS's rig feels different as well, but it's more of just an adjustment period of a couple of dives more than anything else.

Now, the Eclipse & the Sig Series... hmmm... great ideas, but are they really needed? Any wreck diver would probably go doubles so the usual Explorer line or Double Cylinder Wings would be the wing of choice... unless the wreck is at 50'-60' maybe.

I am drawn to the 18# wing though, and that makes me wish Halcyon didn't discontinue their Batwing.