Wings with hollow center panel ...

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

I have always been a little skeptical towards Dive Rite wing design and their hollow, cross-hair section center panel shown below.

Dive Rite Classic Wing | Dive Gear Express®

From the looks of it, the wing set up appeared, a bit shaky, wobbly and flimsy specially when the wing is not fully infalted. The solid center panel which is used by every one else at least gives the impression of more stability and greater long term durability.

OMS Performance Mono Wing | Dive Gear Express®

Here is an explanation given by DR why they make their wings without a solid center panel.


I wanted to ask DR wing users and people who have experience with wings in general if hollow wing design has any disadvantages compared to the mainstream designs? If not then I wonder why this is not being adopted by other manufacturers?

 

[The Chairman]

I haven't had a problem with mine. In fact, it's easier to deal with stuff since you aren't looking to align stuff anymore. I love it.

 

[rhwestfall]

"Stability": IMHO, it's more a function of wing geometry.and tank(s) used...... a wide wing on skinny tanks will "taco" and pose problems. Center panel or not, once its all sandwiched together (and locked to a tank), it becomes one solid piece.

I use the eCCR wing for my vintage doubles and VDH plate. The plate is narrower than a conventional BP, and actually doesn't touch the wing. No issues at all...

 

[tbone1004]

ok, here is the real reason that Dive Rite uses the cross hatch pattern. One word
Transpac

The transpac design requires the 1" webbing center panel in order to allow it to be used with single tanks and no STA. There is literally no other reason for it. It is easier for them to incorporate this across the line for ease of manufacturing.

I have multiple dive rite wings and have had no issues with stability. Yes they will move around a bit without tanks, but as soon as you put them on a tank or set of doubles they stabilize with no issue.

Now, the other wing manufacturers don't have transpacs, so they don't have to go to this style of design and it is easier and cheaper for them to build the wings with one big ass sheet of cordura and sew it together than sew up the wing and sew in the webbing in the middle.

 

[Centrals]

No problem whatsoever.
I added a PAD($1.75 from DGX) on each of the CAM band.

 

[Scared Silly]

There is literally no other reason for it.

There is - cost. They changed other parts of the design which cost more to produce so other parts were redesigned so to cost less.

It is easier for them to incorporate this across the line for ease of manufacturing.

It is less costly for them to incorporate this across the line of manufacturing.

 

[tbone1004]

the center panel is much cheaper to manufacture than the cross hatch as an fyi, much less labor involved and the fabric that would make the normal center panel is scrapped with this design, so it is much more expensive.

It is also easier because they can carry less sku's, and because it is easier, it is cheaper due to having less inventory

 

[geoff w]

+1 for the DiveRite design. I'm really impressed with their quality, usability and overall how well thought out everything is. Especially how you can unzip the outer cover and replace (or do an emergency patch) the inner bladder if you ever gets punctured

 

[djanni]

Never an issue. We love our DR wings.

 

[stuartv]

CS, are you coming out to Millbrook this weekend? I'll be there with Bill on Sat and Sun. I have the DR Rec EXP wing that I use with my doubles. You are welcome to try it out, if you want. I can bring my OMS wing for myself to use. For that matter, you are welcome to try them both. It's easy enough to swap them around. For that matter, I have a Halcyon Explorer 55 that is mint that I want to sell, if you're interested. Cheap!

I really like the DR Rec. But, my tanks are all 7.25" diameter. It has been noted by others before that this wing won't achieve full capacity if it's used with 8" tanks. If I were going to dive with 8" doubles, I would use my OMS.

Oh, and one of Bill's main dive buddies, Fred, uses a DR Classic XT wing. I asked him about it a while back and he really likes it, for whatever that's worth.