Buying My 1st Wing - Advice Needed.

[Jay]

I'll be investing in a set of tech wings sometime early this year and I'd like to know if any of you have any suggestions. My primary use for them will be for diving recreational limits on a 12 litre twin set but I would like to make the best choice for the future too as I'd like to do a couple of TDI courses in about 12 months time (advanced nitrox and extended range) so I need a relatively versatile setup. I know Andy is going to suggest the Buddy Tech Wing but do any of you dive with anything else? Requirements are more based on future adaptability (e.g. adding a secondary bladder for redundancy, new webbing / harnesses / D rings etc.

I'll have to try your Tech Wing out Andy - the price looks almost too good to be true! (BTW - could you get me a similar deal on twin 12s as you got??)

Regards

[Dominic]

Assuming you haven't bought one already...

Buddy wings get my vote as well. But modified:

If you're planning on diving singles, get the Tek or Travel wings so you've got the plastic backplate. Replace the webbing with one continous piece of stiffer webbing. I found the soft buddy stuff got tangled and moved around through the weight retainers, and the clips came undone.

If you're only really after using it with twins, rather than the Tekwing, get the Redwing - It's  the same wing, but much cheaper. You can move the inflator hose to the left side with no problem.
Also, buy a Combro backplate (www.backplates.co.uk) and some stiff webbing (about four meters) to make a harness with (http://www.gasdiving.co.uk/pages/misc/kit/harness_2.htm has good harness-rigging instructions)
You'll also need to punch holes in the wing for the bolts on your twin bands to go through. Use a soldering iron for that, and finish them off with metal eyelets, available from most fabric shops or the better outdoor shops.
You've then got yourself a wing setup that'll work for any type of diving you may take up in future (with the possible exception of CDG-type dives)
You can't add a second bladder to a Buddy wing, but you shouldn't need one so long as you're using a drysuit, and you can always just buy a Redwing to have two wings.
You really do only need three D-rings if you've got pockets. If you haven't, get some pockets rather than adding D-rings, they're a great way of keeping your gear organised. I keep a spare mask, DSMB, reel, strobe, cutters, and slate in my two pockets..
HTH
Dominic

[Jay]

Hmmm - yes, I have been thinking about the Redwing (only because if I play my cards right, I may be in a position to purchase a second hand one very cheaply - eh Andy??? - :lol:)

Whay about the Diverite stuff? And why the Buddy preference? I'm going to make sure I am armed with ALL the facts this time rather than rushing in with my eyes closed and my wallet open (another story that I may share over a pint of Heavy at St Abbs).

Regards

[Dominic]

Buddy preference because it's a cheap wing, very well built, excellent customer service, and I've never owned any Dive Rite stuff, so can't really comment on it. I believe they make good wings tho.
Mind you, I do know someone who bought the Transpac and sold it almost immediately, he disliked it so much... If you do go for DR, still buy yourself a steel plate and rig your own harness, don't go the Transpac route.
I'm surprised Ammers hasn't advertised Halcyon wings on this thread yet, but I'm sure she'll get to it

[Jay]

To be honest, I'd appreciate Ammer's view on the Halcyon stuff too - I'd like as much information as possible before making my purchase. Thanks for your comments though - I am favouring the Buddy system myself at present.

Regards

[Ammers]

I've been meaning to get some info to you on the Halcyon front, will do it soon.

[Jay]

Cheers

[andy2tanx]

you trying to push me into making that decision early Jay?  As for the Dive Rite stuff, I got a classic wing and SS plate with Hog harness but I just couldnt get comfy in it so I sold it within a week of buying it and went the Buddy way too.  The stuff is bombproof.

[Jay]

Did I mention you?? *hehe*

Regards

[Ammers]

Hi, sorry about the delay in getting this info to you. If you fancy having a look at the kit this Sunday I can arrange to meet you somewhere and you can take a look for yourself. The Halcyon wing is the only wing in production today that has a coated, extremely robust, cordura bag covering the bladder inside the main bag and that adds a layer of protection. Other wings, i.e. OMS etc only have the bag and you are relying on this to save your life. In environments like wrecks and stuff, it's this very bag which is vulnerable, so it's nice to have the extra cover. The corrugated inflator/deflator hose is quite short, meaning that you can deflate, inflate, etc whilst clearing your mask at the same time. I use the 55lb wing and this will easily provide enough lift for the type of diving that I am planning in the future, i.e. staged decompression in the 100m range. The lift capacity in the wing is fantastic and holds you in a good, upright position at the surface. I have used it with twin 15s and still been head and shoulders out of the water. It's a flat wing, no bungee, no unnecessary extras and very streamlined and easy to work with. Probably the most important point - it's extremely durable, like all Halcyon products, I have seen a few that have done well over 300 dives and they look like brand new. The build quality is incredible. Before I decided to buy the Halycon wing, I did open water dives trialling out lots of borrowed gear, including OMS, Dive Rite, Buddy and Scubapro to name a few. Not one of those other wings matched Halcyon for sheer build quality, comfort, ease of operation and trim/streamlining. Indeed with some wings you just can't get yourself into the right horizontal position in the water. The Halycon wing can be used with either ali or stainless steel backplate - this is personal choice although I recommend the steel as it's weighted (6 lbs) and you can remove lead from your belt. The harness that is generally used with it is continuous webbing - no failure points and extremely comfy and robust. I use a crotch strap, personal choice, I find this to be quite integral in the whole system as it holds the wing and tanks in place very well and there is NO tank roll in the water. The wing and backplate are designed so that when you have the bands in the right place on a twinset it's very easy to reach the valves for shutdown purposes.
My technical instructor is a UK Halcyon dealer and has years of experience of helping people to get kitted out for the type of diving they want to do in the future. He will not sell anyone stuff they don't need and I can recommend him in terms of integrity and experience. I want to make the point that I have nothing to gain personally from recommending this gear except the knowledge that someone will get infinite pleasure and many years of great diving from it.  Making expensive mistakes isn't nice for anyone and the sport costs us enough money without buying kit that you later find doesn't measure up to the job or indeed hinders you in the water. Anyone looking for contact details, drop me an email either in the forum or am23uk@yahoo.co.uk