Halcyon Prices

[markosis]

I may have been unlucky, or may not be representative, but I've seen a lot of Halcyon gear fail over the last two years.

In particular, the wings and torches seem to suffer from poor build quality, and I've seen or heard of numerous instances of these items of kit failing either on the surface or underwater.

I have to say, it hasn't happened to me, but then again, I only own one peice of Halcyon stuff and that's one of their bottom reels (which I like).

I'd think twice about buying anything from the big H now, even though I am in the market for a new wing.

[And]

Hi

I dislike the idea of the fair price policy or whatever they call it, and some of their products seem to be overpriced, or to put it in a different way, offer less value for money than other comparable products.

However, I pretty much always buy Halcyon, and have no real problems to report. Liisa and the team at DIR direct have always been more than helpful and provided excellent service on the few occasions where I have needed help. I have also seen Rich spend a day at Stoney with someone to compare Evolve and Explorer wings to see which one suited them best, which I thought was awesome service.

All the gear I have purchased from Halcyon has served me well, to a point where I do not see the point of upgrading to Evolve wings, or upgrading my Scout backups to LED. My existing gear just works, and it continues to look good. Everyone says that the bulbs are fragile, but I just throw my 18w in my dive box with all my other gear, bash it around in caves, and I have had one bulb blow in the 4 (I think) years I have had it, the original testtube is fine. I even buy the stage kits which always seem expensive and I could make them myself if I wanted to, but I have noticed that the cord used is thicker and stronger than the alternatives sold by Niknaks, and proof of that was demonstrated when Al's cord snapped whilst on a zero viz cave exit and he had a flailing AL40 to cope with as well as the stressful exit.

In the end, although I cringe when I hand over the cash, it is soon forgotten when I do dive after dive without problems, without fuss, and without complaint (just like me really ), whilst watching other divers with supposedly better kit have little niggles and minor failures.

Andy

[DanE]

When I bought my Explorer wing, I thought it was quite reasonably priced. It's worked well, with one problem (the much publicised inflator fault), which was dealt with quickly and efficiently by UE.

I have a few Halcyon reels and spools and things, not the cheapest on the market, but have worked well. I did have to take about 50m of line off the reel, but I can't whinge about getting "too much"

I was thinking of buying a HID torch this year (although expensive car problems have put pay to that) and I have to say, the Halcyon NiMH torches do seem expensive when compared to the competition. But is it a case of H being too expensive, or the competition being too cheap?

dan

[Rob Dobson]

I like the Evolve and I think that Halcyon make the best dSMBs but generally I think that it's expensive kit which is no better than the next brand (and their hoses are awful).

My last Halcyon purchase was a set of straps for an argon bottle a couple of weeks ago - £45 for two lengths of webbing with some Velcro and a buckle on! If I could have found a non-Halcyon product to do the job I would have gone with it.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

My last Halcyon purchase was a set of straps for an argon bottle a couple of weeks ago - £45 for two lengths of webbing with some Velcro and a buckle on! If I could have found a non-Halcyon product to do the job I would have gone with it.

1m thick bungee 30p.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

I like the Evolve and I think that Halcyon make the best dSMBs but generally I think that it's expensive kit which is no better than the next brand (and their hoses are awful).

My last Halcyon purchase was a set of straps for an argon bottle a couple of weeks ago - £45 for two lengths of webbing with some Velcro and a buckle on! If I could have found a non-Halcyon product to do the job I would have gone with it.

again - you should have come to me - and I would have made some for you - just like I did for me.. cost: about 80 pence to a pound.

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by wilbo

again - you should have come to me - and I would have made some for you - just like I did for me.. cost: about 80 pence to a pound.

Yeah I have those sorts of straps - these are to connect a 1L bottle to the BG cylinders. Yeah I'm sure I could have come up with a Blue Peter solution but I was out of washing up liquid bottles and double-sided sticky tape at the time...

[And]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

My last Halcyon purchase was a set of straps for an argon bottle a couple of weeks ago - £45 for two lengths of webbing with some Velcro and a buckle on! If I could have found a non-Halcyon product to do the job I would have gone with it.

Well, if you were Doing It Right, you would just use two jubilee clips and a bit of old webbing, and mount it wreck stylee . They sell the nonsense products at high margins so they can afford to make the proper DIR products.

Andy

[Janos]

Originally Posted by And

Well, if you were Doing It Right, you would just use two jubilee clips and a bit of old webbing, and mount it wreck stylee .

Has any one got a photo of the correct way to mount it wreck style

Janos

[And]

Originally Posted by Janos

Has any one got a photo of the correct way to mount it wreck style

Janos

Here you are;



and here is the bottle;