Rec Wing Vs. Trek Wing

[RedSeaDesertDiver]

I'm currently replacing my BC system and I relly like the DiveRite Transpac but I'm a bit confused when it comes to the wing I should pay for. So I'd appreciate if anybody tried both the Trek & the Rec wings and can give me an advise regarding this.

I'm more concerned with the dimentions and wieght of both wings, balance under and above the serface, also I need to make sure that the Trek wing can easily accomodate a twin 12 L. tanks, Alu or Steel.

Usually I'm diving with single 12 L, but I'd love to have the flexibility to go with a twing.

My usual diving profile:
* Warm Water
* 3 mm shorty suite at summer & 3mm One Piece full at winter
* Currently I used about 9Kg of lead, I have some fat in my body
* Most of the time within the deco limits, 40 m.
* Most of my dives are shore dives, then boat, then Zodiac.
* Usually I go down with a 12 L. Alu tank.

Thank you and appreciate your feedback.
Cheers,
Eagle Ray.

 

[chrisc]

I use the rec's and dive warm weather with singles. My wife uses the treks.

 

[wmspdi]

I have a SS, and an aluminum BP/wing harness. I use a DR Venture wing for single aluminum and steel tanks with my aluminum BP. I dive the steel BP, dry suit, and a DR Rec wing with my steel 100 doubles. My teenage son only dives single tanks and has a Travel wing on his Transpac.

There is a big difference in the buoyancy of double aluminum and steel tanks. Two aluminum 80 cf tanks with bands and manifold would be about 4 pounds negative when full, and 7 pounds positive when empty. Even a Venture wing (NOT recommended by DR for use with doubles) could bring you up to the surface. Steel is another story.

Double steel Worthington 100s (w/bands and manifold) would be about 22 to 23 pounds negative when full and about 6 pounds negative when empty. While the REC wing would be a good match for the steel tanks, it might be too much wing for aluminum tanks. You might want the Trek wing for aluminum.

If diving double steel consider a dry suit for backup buoyancy, unless you have enough wet suit (and body fat) to allow you to swim 25 pounds of dead weight (tanks, air, bands, manifold and regulators) to the surface should your wing fail at the beginning of the dive. Another option is a dual bladder Rec Wing.

Just as a there is no one perfect "jacket for all seasons", there is no one wing for all diving configurations. That's the beauty of the "mix and match" BP/W system over BCD's.

 

[Splitlip]

both probably have more lift than you need and probably too much wing for singles.
Get the correct wing for singles, then if you ever do doubles, get the correct one for doubles.
The compromises that come with a wing that you think can be used for both are not worth it. My opinion.
Edit:
Just re-read the post. Are you sure you need 9kg of weight (20#) in a 3 mil suit?
Have you done a serious weight check? Maybe you do need the lift offered by the Trek (40#). I would really try and evaluate your needs. If you need a wing with more lift, try and find a wing designed for a single cylinder that has the lift you require.

 

[ArcticDiver]

I have used the Rec Wing for both singles and doubles. It works just fine. Fellow divers tell me it doesn't taco on singles and looks right on doubles.

So, for most versatility it seems the RecWing is the way to go.

But, if you are one of those folks who can't stand to have more lift than you actually need I suppose you could go to the smaller wing and then buy the bigger one later.

 

[wmspdi]

...in a pinch I've used a screwdriver as a pry bar, but the I would rather have the right tool for the job...

I too have used the REC wing with a single tank (snugged up the bungee a bit) when my son used my Venture wing on his Transpac. The REC wing worked well with one tank, but the Venture just seems to work better for single tanks.

I agree with Splitlip... match the wing to the job rather than making due with a "one size fits all" solution (IMHO).

 

[RedSeaDesertDiver]

Thank you all for the valuable replies but this brings another question to my mind, how is the DR Venture wing doing with air trapping?

 

[Splitlip]

This thread got me thinking. Three buddies I used to dive with all went out and bought trans pacs with rec wings a few years ago because they planned on getting into doubles.
I just pulled out some video and looked at it. Major taco on all three with singles. I could see the ball on their bottom dumps flying high up behind them. I doubt that any of them could reach it easily. Fact is, they always vented from the inflator hose. For me when I am horizontal I vent from my rear dump.
This brings another twist in, the Trek and Rec wings are horse shoes, not donuts so you would have to vent from the inflator hose. Plenty of discussion on this. Search "donut".

 

[cool_hardware52]

This brings another twist in, the Trek and Rec wings are horse shoes, not donuts so you would have to vent from the inflator hose. Plenty of discussion on this. Search "donut".

I will agree that a "tacoed" wing is a poor choice and hard to vent, however.....

If a horseshoe wing is properly matched to the application, i.e. doubles wing of the appropriate lift for the configuration, or narrow singles wing on a single tank, there is no difficulty in venting from the OPV.

Gas will shift through the upper arc of the wing with just a slight deviation from horizontal trim. One needs to go slightly head up or shoulder up to vent a dry suit anyway.

It is very infrequent that can gas transfers through the bottom arc of any "donut" wing. The lower arc of donut wings, for the horizontally trimmed diver, are trapped below the bottom of the tanks, doubles or singles. Gas seeks the highest point, and one needs to be distinctly "butt up" before the space between you butt and the lower end of the tanks is the highest point on the wing.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[HowardE]

This thread got me thinking. Three buddies I used to dive with all went out and bought trans pacs with rec wings a few years ago because they planned on getting into doubles.
I just pulled out some video and looked at it. Major taco on all three with singles. I could see the ball on their bottom dumps flying high up behind them. I doubt that any of them could reach it easily. Fact is, they always vented from the inflator hose. For me when I am horizontal I vent from my rear dump.
This brings another twist in, the Trek and Rec wings are horse shoes, not donuts so you would have to vent from the inflator hose. Plenty of discussion on this. Search "donut".

Yeah... put the inflator valve has a pull dump, so you don't have to shift your position... I dive a rec wing, and have been able to dump from either valve with no issues at all. Maybe your friends don't have the bungies set up properly on the rec wing??