Wings for Ladies!

[Pach]

Since the LIDS 2006 is coming up... I want to upgrade to wing type BC and I was wondering what wing people recommend (for a 5'4" medium built lady). I'm planning to use steel twin 7L (or maybe twin 10L... depending on how heavy they are). The Poseidon BeSea W100 looks good...

I'm new-ish, yet familiar-ish, to this wing and twin stuff so please be gentle!

It's gonna be a heavy month next month... new BC, new cylinders, new freedive suit, more council tax, more bills...

 

[Amphibious]

your going to need a singles wing for single tanks and a double wing for doubles. the ones that are sold that claim to do both do; but very poorly.

A simple Backplate and wing is a great way to go and there are lots of choices. a 6lb Stainless back plate will take those 6lbs off your hips and distribute them over yout back.

Halcyon (owned)
Oxycheq (owned)
DeepSeaSupply (in the mail)
Golem Gear
DIR Zone

all make quality wings. my favorite doubles wing was the Oxycheq 50lb. tough and solid. was very happy with it.

 

[Pach]

Are they available in the UK? I haven't heard of them before... it's probably me.

 

[Pach]

LIDS is in 2 weeks so I've got my arse into gear. I think I might get a Halcyon wing. I've heard good reviews about the Halcyon Evolve but I'm scared it might be too big on me (ie, I won't be able to sit down on a boat, etc). Either get the Evolve or Eclipse (and so stick with a single cylinder).

 

[Veronika]

Hi, don't worry because of the Halcyon Single Tank Wings, they fit fine for people who are not very tall. I'm just approx. 5cm taller then you and I own a Pioneer, and a traditional Backplate. Never had any problem. Even Explorer 40 and 55 are fine.
If you still worry about the Backplate size - which I wouldn't - , there is a guy in Germany who produces smaller Backplates. Very expensive, though (189 EUR). If you want to have the adress, PM me.

 

[Helen F H]

Hi, try these guys for a single tank wing in the UK - www.divingniknaks.com

Phill is an absolute star and his customer service is second to none.

The DIR Zone stuff is very well made, better than the halcyon in my humble opinion.

I have a halcyon explorer 40lb wing and it has frayed very very badly on the bladder cover. Due to where i bought it (imported from Germany) i cant get it replaced easily.

As for height stuff and the evolve, my friend Clare dives one and isnt a whole lot taller than me (me at 5ft 2) and she has no problems at all.

Hope that helps.

H

 

[Pach]

After reading the Yorkshire Divers forum I think I'm going to go for either the Halcyon Eclipse or DIR Zone single tank wing set (I see that Phill is always trying to advertise the stuff! ). Problems deciding are:

1. DIR Zone is cheaper than Halcyon
2. DIR Zone is more 'bullet proof'
3. I like the donut shape on the Halcyon Eclipse
4. Wondering if the material has improved for the Halcyon wings (fraying)
5. If I buy the Halcyon, would it be for the name or the quality?

The twin wings option will have to wait. I not bothered since I live in a top floor flat and hauling my dive gear downstairs is knackering enough let alone having a twin sets too...

It's either DIRZone or Halcyon now.

Is DivingNikNaks going to be at the dive show? If not, will he have products at dive show prices?

 

[]-[@biT]

Hi, I have Halcyon Eclipse 30 lbs BC, and dive with a 12L steel, I have had no problems. I can/will definitely recommend it.


I only recently read about the DIRZone BCs… also I do not know of any one diving with one in my area (CT, ZA), it is all Halcyon… The Poseidon "BC" has a "plastic" adjustable back plate… I wouldn’t use plastic with twins… or at all for that matter…

Using a back plate and wing setup is nice, because you could always buy a different wing later should you feel like it (or upgrade)…

O-yeh, maybe you should check with Halcyon.net, some one mentioned to me the other day that the Halcyon Explorer wing is also available in a donut shape…

Hope it helps with your decision. :ko

 

[]-[@biT]

:head Correction: it is the Halcyon Evolve wing that is donut shaped and support twins.

 

[Amphibious]

I owned a Halcyon Pioneer wing. it was AWSOME in the water, perfectly ballenced, stream lined...... and later.... 2 bladders later.... it was sold. very very flimsy material.

my DSS #30lb wing (www.deepseasupply.com) came in the mail yesterday. I haven;t dove it yet, but am VERY impressed with the construction. I'll have a ncie review in a month or so when the ice on local dive spots melt

looks like it was tailor made for my single PST LP104/E8-103 tanks :t