small wing feedback (oxy18, DSS 17 and 20, etc ...)

[stargost]

I’m looking for a small wing. Amount of lift needed is 17lbs min, so I was debating between:
Oxycheq Mach V 18lbs, DSS Torus 17lbs, DSS LCD 20.

a) Is there other ‘travel’ wings in this range ?
b) The first 2 are tore-wings which some prefer for venting, but offer little less lift (small difference, but may help to float the rig slightly better).

Anyone has experience (good and bad) on these, comparison experience ?

Thanks for any feedback !

 

[kathydee]

I have the DSS 20 lb wing for travel. Dives nice, packs great, the DSS system is very easy to assemble, disassemble.

I have not tried the others that you mentioned.

Good luck

 

[amfm1907]

had the oxycheq 18lb, worked great and I'm 225, wore 4lbs of lead, with a 3mil suit, packed super small, only drawback I found was that it did not have a pull dump at the elbow, minor detail.

 

[greylion]

DSS has a 17 lb travel wing with a single membrane and a 17 lb Torus with 2 membranes, that's the one I have. The Torus is more durable and it is a great wing.

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

My fiance and I both have the Oxycheq 18 lb wing. I gave him one last Christmas as a gift, and got so jealous of him raving about it that I bought one myself a couple of months ago. (I would have been delighted to own a DSS 17 lb Torus wing, but since I was seeking a used wing, I jumped on the Oxycheq when it became available.) It's a lovely piece of equipment. Having dived with a Taco-From-Hell 45 lb Venture wing for the past 18-months, the Oxycheq was a revelation for me. You barely notice it's there, but it has all the oomph you need. Easy to dump air, too which was a pain in the neck with the Venture wing (in my experience). Packing the wing and travelling with it is a joke because it's so small. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

FYI: the butt-dump is on the 'inside' of the wing, which took me one or two dives to get used to. No big deal.

 

[Jorgy]

I dive a 18 Lb Oxy wing (not a Mach V).......

It is great, vents easily, rolls up tight and small for travel.....

After 4 years of use still looks almost new.......

Both my wings are 360 degree donuts........

At one time I did own a 60 Lb horseshoe, I prefer the donuts for easier venting in any position.......

Hope this helps......M

 

[Bonairetrip]

+1 on the DSS Torus -- it is my travel wing and I am very happy with it. I did extend the oral inflate hose to my taste. No pull dump at the oral inflate hose (hate those anyway) and the butt dump was on the opposite side of what I was used to. Again minor and no big deal to me.

How much lift do you need? (Two goals: float your rig at the surface without you in it and at the heaviest such as with a full tank and anything you would attach such as a stage or pony; and float you and your gear in the most negative situation you might find yourself in -- such as with a full tank and a compressed wetsuit).

 

[Kern]

b) The first 2 are tore-wings which some prefer for venting, but offer little less lift (small difference, but may help to float the rig slightly better).

At one time I did own a 60 Lb horseshoe, I prefer the donuts for easier venting in any position.......

I can see how an 18lb wing would vent easier than a 60lb wing when hooked up to a single tank. I can't see how a doughnut would vent any easier than a U shaped wing with similar dimensions however.

As the lower arc of a doughnut wing is the lowest part of the wing when horizontal or head up, gas will not pass through unless you go bum up. And if horizontal, you would have to go a lot more bum up to get the gas to pass through the lower arc than you would have to go head up to get it to pass through the upper arc.

Gas will always be at the highest part of the wing. When horizontal, that will be at the broadest part of the side pontoons. The gas will no more run downhill to get to the lower arc, than it will to the upper arc.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

One nice thing about the Oxycheq Mach V line is that it's a donut wing which also has a 360 loop zipper for access to the whole inner bladder for cleaning and repairs.
The 30# isn't really that much noticably bigger and is still rediculously small and compact. It could be used for tropical travel also. The 30 might be a little more versitile.

I'm just sayin'.

 

[stargost]

Thanks to all. While still not sure what's best !!
I already own a oxycheq 30 (definitely bigger than the 18lbs), and a DSS T26 rig. I was close to go with the DSS 20, but then saw this

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/3017480089_d77cedef10.jpg?v=0

and the oxy18 would do the job very well (and you can get different cool colors as well ;-) .


I've heard a few time that horseshoe vs donuts is a wrong debate, but it is always highlighted by experienced divers. For beginners with ~20 dives or so, when head down and sinking too fast and unbalanced, it is easier to vent with a donuts. May not be compelling, but still just easier to manage.

Anyway, still not sure ! Probably fine both case anyway.