WillAbbott
Guest
Well as most of you know, last weekend I tried a BP/Wings set-up for 2 dives, and had some issues.
This weekend I did 4 dives in the same rig, with a few exceptions.
1) We removed the weight pockets (which unfortunatly had the D-rings on them, so my SPG had to be cliped to a chest D-Ring
)
2) lightended my weight by a little, I still dove with 37lbs including the BP itself, and ankle weights (28lbs belt) Though I belive I COULD have lightned it some, I was pretty comforatable, a few times I felt much less weight wouldn't have been enough.
I dove with my suit VERY empty this weekend, offten not adding air or only a small amount when it got REALLY tight... for the most part my suit was squeezing me to death
I also got fin keepers on my boots, which deffinately helped, but I still like the ankles... I still seem to get a bit of air in my feet, esspecially with the BP/Wings, it seems like air goes to my feet easier with a BP.
My first dive I was still a little uncomfortable with it, and my weight belt was sagging (couldnt' tighten anymore). After that dive I did some adjusting of the Left shoulder strap (it was loose) and tightened it up, and tightened the rear adjustment on my weight belt. This dive was FAR better, and on that dive (#4 on a BP/Wings) I was comfortable.
I love it, and see no reason not to buy one. Though I think I would be happy with a jacket I deffinatley preffer the BP/Wings now. It is noticably more stremlined (today we dove with and against a light current, and to be honest I never knew there was a current due to the streamlining)
The fit and comfort is FAR superior, in and OUT of the water. Though it weighs 6lbs (on the BP) it feels lighter than a normal BC, and is much less cumbersome to take on and off of tanks, and manipulate on land.
I did feel like I was more heads down than usual, which to be honest I think I was perfectly horizontal, it does take some getting used to feeling that way, in some ways I prefer being slightly feet down, as it's a little more comfortable to look forward, and keeps the air out of my feet more. HOWEVER, I wouldn't trade a BP/Wings just for that, the benifits far outweigh a feeling, and as near as I can tell, thats all it is, is a feeling, not actually occuring (or if it is, I'm just at the proper angle)
The old style wing with the inflate button on the left still bugged me slightly, but I was able to adapt (new wings aren't set up that way, which is encouraging)
There was no crotch strap on the rental, so I don't know how that will affect me, but I doubt it will.
It did seem as if the set up almost has less side streamlinning. I say this because on the first 2 dives this weekend, we had a light cross current (wasn't supposed to be ANY current at this site... HA) And to be honest, it was the worst current ever in my 20dives. NOT that I had a problem with it, but as we were swimming perpendicular, it seemed as if I had to swim at a 45degree angle into it and in the direction of travel, whereas others without BP/Wings were swimming in the direction of travel with no signs of a current effecting them. That said, it was impressive feeling like it was pushing me decently good, to turn into it more, pull in my arms nice and tight, and lightly kick (the most lazily kick) and move quickly INTO the current, with no force on me what so ever. So to me it seemed as if the wings acted like a sail when given a cross current (ideas???) but when presented with a head on current, it was very hard, if even noticable that there was a current effecting you... The front on streamlining is insanely impressive. They even feel stremlinned on surface swims.
Well that's probably a long enough report. In just. When I have the money I'm buying me a Halcyon Pioneer Wing, BP, and Harness. They are a beautiful device and I can't belive now that I ever shrugged at them, or put off the "too good to be true, claims" about them. Are they the best thing on the planet, IMHO, not necisarrily. Are they the best thing I've seen or used, HECK YEAH. Do they perform as mentioned elsewise, with streamlining, etc... DEFFINATELY.
I also still really enjoy the left side lower dump valve, way easier to find and use than a normal BC, though it's probably not "proper" I did like using it when I wanted to descend sometimes, or if I accidentally went up a few feet and didn't dump, I just turn and start swiming downward, and pull and down I go. Makes for a speedy descent when you decide you want to go down faster. I could live without that dump valve, I just find it somewhat convienient, and VERY easy to use.
I can't wait till I get my own... slowly but surely I'm slowly becomming more DIR. Though I doubt I will ever be 100% esspecially since I LOVE my computer, I'm working on getting there. Decided I want the BP/Wings, and am Planning on setting up my reg when I get it with the long hose primary, and thats about it at this point.
ONE last thing. If you have thought about trying a BP/Wings or have tried it and hated it, I HIGHLY reccomend trying it again, get yourself at LEAST 4 dives in on it, and make sure to adjust the harness if you can. If you can't see if you can get someone to, or one that fits better, a loose harness can make you misserable. But make sure you get in at LEAST 4 dives, even if you are overweighted (as I probably still was) after about 3 or 4 dives you feel more comfortable in it. I was NOT impressed my first 2 dives and thought, "WHAT A PEICE OF JUNK" but after the 3rd and most certainly the 4th dive (after finnaly getting it properly adjusted) I LOVED it, and would have taken one home if I had the money. So make sure you do at LEAST 4 dives, and maybe even split them up over 2 weekends or something so you can talk to people (like here on the board) about any issues you may have had, so you can fix them on the next 2 dives.
Ok Enough out of me.
This weekend I did 4 dives in the same rig, with a few exceptions.
1) We removed the weight pockets (which unfortunatly had the D-rings on them, so my SPG had to be cliped to a chest D-Ring
)2) lightended my weight by a little, I still dove with 37lbs including the BP itself, and ankle weights (28lbs belt) Though I belive I COULD have lightned it some, I was pretty comforatable, a few times I felt much less weight wouldn't have been enough.
I dove with my suit VERY empty this weekend, offten not adding air or only a small amount when it got REALLY tight... for the most part my suit was squeezing me to death
I also got fin keepers on my boots, which deffinately helped, but I still like the ankles... I still seem to get a bit of air in my feet, esspecially with the BP/Wings, it seems like air goes to my feet easier with a BP.My first dive I was still a little uncomfortable with it, and my weight belt was sagging (couldnt' tighten anymore). After that dive I did some adjusting of the Left shoulder strap (it was loose) and tightened it up, and tightened the rear adjustment on my weight belt. This dive was FAR better, and on that dive (#4 on a BP/Wings) I was comfortable.
I love it, and see no reason not to buy one. Though I think I would be happy with a jacket I deffinatley preffer the BP/Wings now. It is noticably more stremlined (today we dove with and against a light current, and to be honest I never knew there was a current due to the streamlining)
The fit and comfort is FAR superior, in and OUT of the water. Though it weighs 6lbs (on the BP) it feels lighter than a normal BC, and is much less cumbersome to take on and off of tanks, and manipulate on land.
I did feel like I was more heads down than usual, which to be honest I think I was perfectly horizontal, it does take some getting used to feeling that way, in some ways I prefer being slightly feet down, as it's a little more comfortable to look forward, and keeps the air out of my feet more. HOWEVER, I wouldn't trade a BP/Wings just for that, the benifits far outweigh a feeling, and as near as I can tell, thats all it is, is a feeling, not actually occuring (or if it is, I'm just at the proper angle)
The old style wing with the inflate button on the left still bugged me slightly, but I was able to adapt (new wings aren't set up that way, which is encouraging)
There was no crotch strap on the rental, so I don't know how that will affect me, but I doubt it will.
It did seem as if the set up almost has less side streamlinning. I say this because on the first 2 dives this weekend, we had a light cross current (wasn't supposed to be ANY current at this site... HA) And to be honest, it was the worst current ever in my 20dives. NOT that I had a problem with it, but as we were swimming perpendicular, it seemed as if I had to swim at a 45degree angle into it and in the direction of travel, whereas others without BP/Wings were swimming in the direction of travel with no signs of a current effecting them. That said, it was impressive feeling like it was pushing me decently good, to turn into it more, pull in my arms nice and tight, and lightly kick (the most lazily kick) and move quickly INTO the current, with no force on me what so ever. So to me it seemed as if the wings acted like a sail when given a cross current (ideas???) but when presented with a head on current, it was very hard, if even noticable that there was a current effecting you... The front on streamlining is insanely impressive. They even feel stremlinned on surface swims.
Well that's probably a long enough report. In just. When I have the money I'm buying me a Halcyon Pioneer Wing, BP, and Harness. They are a beautiful device and I can't belive now that I ever shrugged at them, or put off the "too good to be true, claims" about them. Are they the best thing on the planet, IMHO, not necisarrily. Are they the best thing I've seen or used, HECK YEAH. Do they perform as mentioned elsewise, with streamlining, etc... DEFFINATELY.
I also still really enjoy the left side lower dump valve, way easier to find and use than a normal BC, though it's probably not "proper" I did like using it when I wanted to descend sometimes, or if I accidentally went up a few feet and didn't dump, I just turn and start swiming downward, and pull and down I go. Makes for a speedy descent when you decide you want to go down faster. I could live without that dump valve, I just find it somewhat convienient, and VERY easy to use.
I can't wait till I get my own... slowly but surely I'm slowly becomming more DIR. Though I doubt I will ever be 100% esspecially since I LOVE my computer, I'm working on getting there. Decided I want the BP/Wings, and am Planning on setting up my reg when I get it with the long hose primary, and thats about it at this point.
ONE last thing. If you have thought about trying a BP/Wings or have tried it and hated it, I HIGHLY reccomend trying it again, get yourself at LEAST 4 dives in on it, and make sure to adjust the harness if you can. If you can't see if you can get someone to, or one that fits better, a loose harness can make you misserable. But make sure you get in at LEAST 4 dives, even if you are overweighted (as I probably still was) after about 3 or 4 dives you feel more comfortable in it. I was NOT impressed my first 2 dives and thought, "WHAT A PEICE OF JUNK" but after the 3rd and most certainly the 4th dive (after finnaly getting it properly adjusted) I LOVED it, and would have taken one home if I had the money. So make sure you do at LEAST 4 dives, and maybe even split them up over 2 weekends or something so you can talk to people (like here on the board) about any issues you may have had, so you can fix them on the next 2 dives.
Ok Enough out of me.
