Question for OMS Wing Users

[Kristen]

Someone (not on here) was recently extolling the virtues of an OMS wing and said that it was a great all round wing for a number of reasons. Ok - it's his opinion which is fine. One claim he did make was that you can take the b/plate out for travel and simply attach single cylinders to the IQ pack using the cambands. This seems useful but I thought I would check what OMS had to say on the point.

Their response was as follows (and copied to a number of people within OMS!!!):

"It can be done but we strongly recommend that you do not use this method as it is very very dangerous!"

I was wondering (not being an OMS owner) whether OMS are @ss-covering or whether this is a real issue. Any views appreciated (but please don't turn this thread into a Halcyon is best.... blah blah DIR).

Thanks,



Kristen

[Stevie Boy]

it can be done and has been. OMS are A** covering as they recomend you have a means of lift ie the wing.
To use the can bands you have to cut a couple of slots in back fabric that match up with slots in back plate.
IQ system is fantastic and very comfy, but dont allow much scope for side slung cyls,the 'D' rings are fixed in place. The harness is better for that as 'D' rings are totally adjustable.

[Robert]

I think there's a bit of confusion here surely.
You can use cam bands with the IQ harness to attach a single cylinder without a backplate (on the OMS website it actually says 'IQ ™ pack ... is capable of being utilized with or without a back plate'.
The bands go through the webbing loops stitched onto the back of the harness, through the slots in the wing and then around the cylinder.
I haven't tried it 'cos I wondered how tough the stitching might be    and also I would guess the weight of the IQ harness to be not a great deal less than an aluminium backplate and webbing harness.
Regards

Robert.

P.S. Have a look at the OMS news pages for their comments on Halcyon kit - most amusing!

[Dr Stevil]

I've got an IQ harness too and the ali BP is light enough that your luggage won't be too overweight for travelling.
Looking at the stiching and durability I'd say it looks more than capable of taking a single tank without undue stress, in fact I might try this next wek in the pool as an experiment

[Kristen]

OK. The President (!) of OMS has replied as follows:

Question: "Does this mean that you do not recommend using the webbing to
thread through cam bands to mount a single cylinder and wing to the IQ
pack?"

Answer:  weave cam bands through the back of the IQ for use with a single
cylinder

OR

Insert the Back plate in the IQ and attach the single cylinder adapter.

For Doubles: you must use the back plate and mount on the cylinders as
pictured on the website.

Thanks for the responses

[Dr Stevil]

Or leave BP in and thread cam bands through IQ harness, which is what I do.

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'>I have to say I wouldn't consider taking mine on holiday. &nbsp;If you still have a BC then keep that for travelling and use the OMS for the UK. &nbsp;Its too bulky

FB

[Spike Jackson]

I'm looking at going to Truk Lagoon next year. Deep air diving on twin independents and in a wetsuit. As such I am keen on taking my OMS double bladder wing with an ali backplate and harness but not sure I will be able to make the weight! Would really prefer to have a redundant bladder though.

[Dr Stevil]

Took my OMS IQ harness + ali BP + 100lb (single) bladder with me both times in the Red Sea and will be taking it again in April, even with the measely 20kg Excel baggage rigidly enforced, I was only 1.5kg over the limit and I had a lot of other stuff in the box like toolkit and spare 1st stages etc, so you should be ok with your double bladder, can't be that much heavier surely

[Robert]

How about -  wearing  the harness and backplate onto the plane - claim it's some sort of surgical support,  
Or removing the OMS D-rings - they must be the heaviest I've seen,
Failing that, cram it into your hand baggage with all of the other stuff that you pretend is really light when you show the check-in staff.

Oh, and aluminium backplate, webbing and (deflated!) OMS wing - definitely less bulky than my old Mares BCD.
Rgds


Robert