<font color='#000F22'>So what does Mr Hayhurst fly???
Halcyon make good kit thats very expensive for no apparent reason that I can see.
I use a Custom Divers Wing which is good but could be improved.
A couple of points about wings I have noticed since starting to use one:
The back plate should have slots so you can simply insert a cam band and use it for single tank dives if you like.
There should be a method of fixing the wing to the back plate to prevent the wing lifting off the harness and wrapping around a single tank.
A further two sets of slots one each side of centre, will allow the wing to be fitted with soft cam bands for twinning up independents when on holiday
There should be a groove in the back plate to hold a single tank straight when in use
There should be ample holes in the back plate to allow mounting kit.
A lightweight aluminium plate should be available as an option for travelling if you wish to save on weight.
There should be adjustable locations for D rings on the harness
D rings should be SS
The CD back plate harness and wing do all of the above.
There are some points which I dont like. I dont like all the joints in the harness. 1 snap connector is all thats required to make the rig usable but I do like to two adjustable shoulder straps as they make getting it on and off very easy.
I binned the chest strap and crotch strap as they didnt do a lot
The D rings on the shoulder straps could be improved with off set D's that would make clipping things on a bit less hassle
The alternative bum dump is poorly located as it is inaccessible when wearing full kit and stages.
The inflator hose sleeve is a brilliant bit of kit for keeping inflator hoses out of the way but it needs a loop added to the top to stop it sliding down over the inflator hose connector and prevents quick detachment if the inflator should jam.
In the water I found no problems on the surface laying back and waiting for the boat it is very stable and the three point height location on the back plate made balancing the rig a doddle. Lift is more than adequate for twins and two stages and my wing is two years old and so far I have had no breakages faults or other problems past those mentioned above. I dive all year in fresh and salt water and have used the wing with twins and stages and single and pony rigs and found it to be generally very good.
If I were choosing again it would be another CD or an OMS but I am only ruling out Halcyon on price there is nothing wrong with the wing.
On the hot issue of bungies:
I do mainly wrecks and I do a bit of penetration and I have tangled various bits of kit but never a wing bungee.
If I did I doubt if I would notice as they are silicone on the CD and break / cut very easily. They also tie back together again very easily too.
I dont honestly feel the bungee do very much on the CD wing as they are not as drastic as the OMS ones but they do keep it looking neat and stream lined.
For pose value a Halcyon looks good on the boat but crap in the water. The wing flaps up and around the tanks and looks awful on singles.
There is also to awful problem of being mistaken for a DIR diver.
Good luck with the decision process.
Mark Chase