XDeep Zeos or Zen?

[Wallowa]

I’ve been advised to take a look at the DGX BPW. But I feel 30lbs of lift isn’t much of a difference over my current setup with 27lbs.

For comparison, you probably already know, the XDeep NX Zen has 42.7 lbs. of buoyancy in SW.

 

[jellycatsdad]

For comparison, you probably already know, the XDeep NX Zen has 42.7 lbs. of buoyancy in SW.

I’m sticking DIR-compliant in case I do want to GUE Fundies down the road. And my current setup is mostly-DIR.

 

[Wallowa]

I’m sticking DIR-compliant in case I do want to GUE Fundies down the road. And my current setup is mostly-DIR.

OK with that...I have no idea what those standards are just adding information....I was just helping with weight vs buoyancy needs...

 

[NothingClever]

I’ve been advised to take a look at the DGX BPW. But I feel 30lbs of lift isn’t much of a difference over my current setup with 27lbs.

If you want to pursue Fundamentals, you'll be diving a twinset and a 30lb wing won't cut the mustard.

 

[eightytwenty]

I’ve been advised to take a look at the DGX BPW. But I feel 30lbs of lift isn’t much of a difference over my current setup with 27lbs.

I guess to start off, why do you feel that you need 38 pounds of of lift for recreational single tank diving? For reference, I dive in the same area as you with doubles and stages, and find that a 40lb wing is more than adequate. I have never felt as though I needed more than a 30lb wing for recreational singles, wet or dry.

The singles wings with crazy amounts of lift are usually a band-aid fix to poorly balanced rigs. When the rig is properly balanced, you should have no issue with a wing in the 30lb range. Since you're interested in GUE Fundamentals, you'll learn much more about balanced rigs.

If you want the 38 pound wing for singles and doubles use, then I would suggest you think about buying a proper doubles wing separate from your singles wing. No use in trying to find an end all be all solution, because one doesn't exist.

The DGX backplate and wing is affordable and great for what it is. I've used one for a while now and found that it does everything I want it to quite well.

 

[eightytwenty]

If you want to pursue Fundamentals, you'll be diving a twinset and a 30lb wing won't cut the mustard.

It's also possible the OP is referring to fundies in its pre 2025 form, where the course could be taken in singles. As far as I know, that's now called GUE performance diver...

If they do want to pursue what is now called technical fundamentals, then yeah, skip the 30 pound wing and get one made for diving doubles.

 

[NothingClever]

Concur - horses for courses.

Single wing for ST diving and appropriate doubles wing for twinset diving.

 

[jellycatsdad]

I guess to start off, why do you feel that you need 38 pounds of of lift for recreational single tank diving? For reference, I dive in the same area as you with doubles and stages, and find that a 40lb wing is more than adequate. I have never felt as though I needed more than a 30lb wing for recreational singles, wet or dry.

The singles wings with crazy amounts of lift are usually a band-aid fix to poorly balanced rigs. When the rig is properly balanced, you should have no issue with a wing in the 30lb range. Since you're interested in GUE Fundamentals, you'll learn much more about balanced rigs.

If you want the 38 pound wing for singles and doubles use, then I would suggest you think about buying a proper doubles wing separate from your singles wing. No use in trying to find an end all be all solution, because one doesn't exist.

The DGX backplate and wing is affordable and great for what it is. I've used one for a while now and found that it does everything I want it to quite well.

I was basing my need for a 35-40lb wing from the Optimal Buoyancy Computer. It seems to base things off worst-case scenario. FWIW, my buoyancy and for the most part trim is OK with my current 27lb wing. I’ve talked to a few and they all say I won’t need much more than 30lbs of lift, even with a drysuit.

But won’t I need more lift to offset the need for more lead when I do dive dry?

 

[MarkA]

But won’t I need more lift to offset the need for more lead when I do dive dry?

Short answer. No

Long answer. The wing needs to compensate for two things. Weight of gas and loss of suit bouyancy. An example is a 12l cylinder has about 3kg of useable gas. The complete loss of buoyancy of my drysuit would cause approx 8kg loss of buoyancy. Therefore 11kg would be enough for me, rounded up to a 30lbs wing. Your mileage may be different.

Someone on here did an exercise of flooding a drysuit. Who I don’t remember.

Edit. Also has to float itself on the surface.

 

[Wallowa]

Short answer. No

Long answer. The wing needs to compensate for two things. Weight of gas and loss of suit bouyancy. An example is a 12l cylinder has about 3kg of useable gas. The complete loss of buoyancy of my drysuit would cause approx 8kg loss of buoyancy. Therefore 11kg would be enough for me, rounded up to a 30lbs wing. Your mileage may be different.

Someone on here did an exercise of flooding a drysuit. Who I don’t remember.

Edit. Also has to float itself on the surface.

OK....buoyancy in wing/BCD also needs to lift any weights carried, wing and plate weight [and wt adapter if single,]....any gear carried [regs/gauges etc] and of course depending on bottle size if it adds or subtracts buoyancy during profile....FYI...... XDeep Zen Project double tank wing is 230 Newtons or about 51 pounds of lift....no, I do not sell XDeep but own both Nx Zen [single] and Project [double] with SS plate and love them...

Did not even mention personal body buoyancy....some of us float , some sink....