Wing Recommendations?

[jlcnuke]

So, for my progression into tech, I bought a used Dive Rite Dual Rec doubles wing. As it turns out, diving HP100 doubles in my drysuit with an AL80 stage, it's a bit undersized (my head is barely out of the water, chin/mouth can be out if I don't move much from "just the right position", otherwise the overpressure valve dumps and I'm dropping back down some). So, I'm in the market for a new wing for diving doubles with and finding a lot of options. My planned progression is to be doing full cave at some point as well as decompression diving on wrecks and elsewhere. So drysuit for sure, probably also diving in with a 5mm wetsuit for AL80 doubles in Mexico's Cenotes - thought drysuit is a possibility there as well).

Any suggestions as to what wings I should be looking at (and what wings to avoid)?

Thanks

 

[Marie13]

Dive Rite Classic XT wing.

 

[grantctobin]

You’ll likely need two wings, one to account for the AL80/~7” cylinder diving and the other to account for 8” cylinders. Either of the Halcyon #60 variants for the 8” cylinders and either the Halcyon 40 wings or the LM 45 wing for the smaller ones.

 

[jlcnuke]

You’ll likely need two wings, one to account for the AL80/~7” cylinder diving and the other to account for 8” cylinders. Either of the Halcyon #60 variants for the 8” cylinders and either the Halcyon 40 wings or the LM 45 wing for the smaller ones.

The HP100's are also 7.25" cylinders.

 

[grantctobin]

The HP100's are also 7.25" cylinders.

Yes, quite aware. If you’re in that much of a pickle on the surface at the start of the dive, your full AL80 stage is ~#5 of ditchable weight. I’m not a fan of the Rec wing (admittedly haven’t tested one in ten years), but I don’t think you need a bigger wing. What undergarments are you using? Trilam or Neo suit? AL or Steel backplate? LP85s would also solve help to alleviate your problem.

 

[jlcnuke]

Yes, quite aware. If you’re in that much of a pickle on the surface at the start of the dive, your full AL80 stage is ~#5 of ditchable weight. I’m not a fan of the Rec wing (admittedly haven’t tested one in ten years), but I don’t think you need a bigger wing. What undergarments are you using? Trilam or Neo suit? AL or Steel backplate? LP85s would also solve help to alleviate your problem.

I had no problem with the wing in double AL80's backmounted in a 3mm wetsuit. In my trilam with light undergarments (150g merino wool), double HP100's, steel BP, AL80 stage bottle, a couple spools, light, etc, it was clearly struggling to keep me out of the water. I'm sure it would be better if I was in more buoyant undergarments, but then a flooded drysuit puts me back at "this wing may be undersized". Even my tech instructor said I need a wing with more lift this weekend. I'd rather have a bit extra lift than not quite enough.

Cave fills aren't much of a thing where I live, so HP100's are nicer for the gas volume for me at the moment, though I understand not everyone agrees on the HP/LP tank debate. I'm more looking to find a wing that works with what I'm using (yes, I can drop to an AL BP and free up a few lbs of lift, and probably will, but it's still pushing the capacity of my current wing... hence looking for other recommendations).

 

[grantctobin]

Explorer 55, Evolve 60. Anything larger is overkill. It could be that when on your back and mounted to your cylinders and harness, you’re not actually getting the full capacity of the wing because of space restrictions. You can fill it with water, weigh the difference, and get close to seeing how much lift the wing is actually giving you. The “Rec wing can be used w singles” bs that DR promoted resulted in a wing that was too narrow and lost lift capacity when mounted onto a set of doubles.

A plastic or CF plate gives you back 6-7#. That and an XCore vest or more than a base layer of undergarments and you’d be fine. You might be able to find a plastic plate for $25-50 and temporarily save yourself the purchase of a nicer wing. I think Red had a pair listed on CDF not too long ago.

 

[jlcnuke]

Good info, Thanks @grantctobin