Review: Apeks WTX4 wing (approved by seals!)

[The Penguin]

Thought i'd do a little review since i don't think it's been done before...

Have to say i'm pretty impressed with it!



45 lbs lift, no bungies. Apeks reckon it's good for twin 15s, and i wouldn't dispute them on that. They also reckon you can fit a single tank to it (hence slots for cambands) but since i don't have one of these any more i won't be able to put it to the test for a while.

The corrugated inflate hose is fitted to the top centre of the wing, and it's perfectly positioned, no need to roll around to get air into one corner, just raise the hose... The control is rather nice, feels good and solid and metallic, not light and flimsy and plasticky.

The pull dump is on the inside of the wing (side towards body); i think a second one can be fitted to the other side (currently blanked off as it came), but i haven't tried swapping them around, the threads look the same.

In use...

I've dived it now with both twin 7s and today with twin 12s. No complaints at all about surface support, even on the 12s. My 12s are wide bands (manifold is for twin 15s) so if it was going to get badly crushed between tanks and wing they would've done so. I'd happily dive twin 15s on this; it's hardly crushed at all. Some photos of it rigged up with the twin 12s, inflated and deflated... (i've it fitted to an OMS backplate.)















In the water it was just lovely, inflating, deflating, and supporting as required.

Overall i'm very impressed! Price to performance and build quality is excellent. If you are thinking about a wing of this size (45lbs) it's definitely worth considering...

And the seal we saw on the Alastor today didn't seem too put off by it!

Al

[ardhill]

I am glad to hear the seal is back.

Actually, while you were away playing in the water, I was ordering a 60lb one of those wings

I had a look at a Dive Rite Classic Wing and an Apex wing today. The Apeks was slightly smaller than the classic when flat, tough I was still a bit concerned that it was a fair bit of material to deal with. Then it was pointed out to me that it was the 80lb version I was looking at.

Tom had no 60lb one there as they didn't come in on his last order, so I asked him to get me one in the new year.

Though I do like Dive Rite, the elbow is not quite central on the classic, so it is pushed up against a tank when all bolted together, this was not so with the Apeks, as the elbow was central and fitted nicely between the tanks.

Thanks for giving me the idea of the Apeks wing Al.

[The Penguin]

I am glad to hear the seal is back.

and very frisky and playfull too! gorgeous. and an octopus on the line too...

Actually, while you were away playing in the water, I was ordering a 60lb one of those wings

I had a look at a Dive Rite Classic Wing and an Apex wing today. The Apeks was slightly smaller than the classic when flat, tough I was still a bit concerned that it was a fair bit of material to deal with. Then it was pointed out to me that it was the 80lb version I was looking at.

Tom had no 60lb one there as they didn't come in on his last order, so I asked him to get me one in the new year.

Though I do like Dive Rite, the elbow is not quite central on the classic, so it is pushed up against a tank when all bolted together, this was not so with the Apeks, as the elbow was central and fitted nicely between the tanks.

Thanks for giving me the idea of the Apeks wing Al.

nice one! looking forward to seeing the size of it, i couldn't get a good idea from the internet photos. i didn't know Tom stocked the Apeks wings. do you think he would have a spare pull-dump i could fit in place of the blanking plate?

A.

[ardhill]

and very frisky and playfull too! gorgeous. and an octopus on the line too...

And me not diving today

looking forward to seeing the size of it, i couldn't get a good idea from the internet photos.

Yeah, me too since I have ordered it!
The 80lb was a bit big for my liking. Though, as the 80lb was a bit smaller (physically) than a Dive rite classic and they are popular enough. So the 60lb couldn't be too bad. Apeks seem to have gotten extra lift by increasing the size via the gusset expansion rather than just a massive amount of material to fill.

i didn't know Tom stocked the Apeks wings. do you think he would have a spare pull-dump i could fit in place of the blanking plate?

I don't know, but since he will be ordering me a wing from them over the holidays, then you could call him on Monday and ask him to get you a pull dump if he doesn't already have it in stock.

[balbrigganbloke]

You had 12s on?
Ok i wanna know did anyone get any video of you staggering, sorry walking manfully to the water?
All the best and a happy christmas

[MidnightCowboy]

I currently use the WTX60 with twin 12's and agree, a great wing for the price

[The Penguin]

You had 12s on?
Ok i wanna know did anyone get any video of you staggering, sorry walking manfully to the water?
All the best and a happy christmas

luckily i can't green you for that...

[RogerViking]

you can never have enough lift eh? cant wait to see the seal again....

[RogerViking]

al i might just be joing you and paul with a new wing as mine has packed it in today i opened it up and there were bubbles coming out of seam of the bladder.

[The Penguin]

al i might just be joing you and paul with a new wing as mine has packed it in today i opened it up and there were bubbles coming out of seam of the bladder.

you're welcome to have a shot with mine sometime if you're up this way and are thinking about trying something smaller!