XDeep Zeos or Zen?

[jellycatsdad]

What are the differences between the two besides from the wing and backplate? I’m currently diving a Tusa T-Wing but would like to upgrade to a steel backplate and have a higher lift wing to accommodate for future drysuit diving. I also want something DIR-compliant, as I’m considering taking GUE Fundamentals down the road. With my current setup, I dive HP100 steel tanks, wear a 7mm wetsuit with a hooded vest on top. 14lbs of lead are used to sink, I’m 5’9” and 190lbs.

I’ll be looking at the standard versions of such, steel backplate and 38lbs lift.

 

[Wallowa]

What are the differences between the two besides from the wing and backplate? I’m currently diving a Tusa T-Wing but would like to upgrade to a steel backplate and have a higher lift wing to accommodate for future drysuit diving. I also want something DIR-compliant, as I’m considering taking GUE Fundamentals down the road. With my current setup, I dive HP100 steel tanks, wear a 7mm wetsuit with a hooded vest on top. 14lbs of lead are used to sink, I’m 5’9” and 190lbs.

I’ll be looking at the standard versions of such, steel backplate and 38lbs lift.

Is your wet suit a farmer john style? Is that 14lbs with double HP100s?

Thanks...

 

[eightytwenty]

If you're looking to be DIR compliant, play it safe and get the Zeos. No silliness like skeletonized plates or "Y" shaped crotchstraps to be seen there.

 

[jellycatsdad]

Is your wet suit a farmer john style? Is that 14lbs with double HP100s?

Thanks...

Wetsuit is a regular full suit with a 7/5mm hooded vest over my core. Single HP100.

 

[Pearlman]

The XDeep Zen backplate does not have holes at the top corners to attach a dry suit inflation tank - if you decide to switch from wetsuits to drysuits. I don’t dive dry suits but saw this in an online review and thought I would mention it here just FYI …

 

[GDHLEWIS]

Have both and have found the Zeos the more DIR compliant of the two. Both dive similar to each other, do believe the Zen has a higher lift capacity. Cant really go wrong with either but it DIR and GUE are in your path for the future, might be better off with the Zeos. One thing I found as a shorter individual the Zeos backplate was more comfortable that the Zens, Zeos BP is also not as wide making travelling with a tiny bit easier when fitting in backpacks / bags.

 

[MarkA]

Have both and have found the Zeos the more DIR compliant of the two. Both dive similar to each other, do believe the Zen has a higher lift capacity. Cant really go wrong with either but it DIR and GUE are in your path for the future, might be better off with the Zeos. One thing I found as a shorter individual the Zeos backplate was more comfortable that the Zens, Zeos BP is also not as wide making travelling with a tiny bit easier when fitting in backpacks / bags.

With the zen. What size do you have? Less than 175cm (S), or 175 cm or more (L). I am looking for something for holiday diving, possibly a zen or ghost and am under 175cm.

 

[Wallowa]

Wetsuit is a regular full suit with a 7/5mm hooded vest over my core. Single HP100.

Thanks...got it...not a Farmer John but with a 7/5 vest over waist high 7mm wet suit..single HP100

FYI...at 5'9"/172lbs the XDeep NX Zen steel plate in Large fits me....and for the record the double strap crotch really works to not only anchor the plate but not "groove' your crotch...

 

[NothingClever]

If you plan on technical diving with deco bottles, the XDeep wing shape can nudge (or throw) you into positive (head down) trim.

I took a Doubles Primer course with @kierentec and we compared my XDeep wing with another and it was immediately clear why I suffer positive trim as soon as I add deco bottles.

That XDeep has advertised their wings with the dive model putting weighted cam straps on the bottom of both steelies of a twinset (and no deco bottles) speaks to this. While it looks cool, it isn’t cool.

Their advertising further emphasizes the advantage of their wing while on the surface. On the surface is not where I want the wing optimized - flattened out with deco or stage bottles and underway with a DPV is.

If I’m diving a slick AL80 twinset, my XDeep Hydros wing is the cat’s meow.

Start adding some routine kit and it quickly gets outclassed by other wings with a more traditional design.

 

[jellycatsdad]

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.