Help deciding on a wing...please.

[firehawk335]

I'm getting ready to take adv. nitrox, deco, ext. range. My instructor teaches from a cave diving standpoint. He recommended approx. 50# lift and either the oxycheq standard or signature wing OR the DiveRite Classic Wing. I have no backplate or wing yet. My tanks are PST E8-119 doubles. Luxfer AL 40 cu ft. deco mixes (plan on 2 stage cylinders as trimix is the goal) Any advice with my tanks in mind.

Thanks,
-Chip

[firehawk335]

And what is the difference b/t the Oxycheq standard and signature?

[White-Trash]

I do not know the difference but i have an Oxycheq 50 and I love it. Well desinged, balenced in the water and durable. Oxycheq gets my vote.

[bletso]

I've used a Dive Rite Classic for years, very durable.

Whatever wing you decide on, I wouldn't recommend any style with bungees. Just personal opinion.

Dale

[skip]

I dive the halcyon, and like it fine (plenty of lift for stages), but have my eye on the larry green signature wing with OMS.... longer sides and skinnier so it puts the lift further back and keeps the wing from flaring out. no bungee either. low profile inflator valves, top and bottom.....

anyone used one?

-skip

[sam]

I dive the halcyon, and like it fine (plenty of lift for stages), but have my eye on the larry green signature wing with OMS.... longer sides and skinnier so it puts the lift further back and keeps the wing from flaring out. no bungee either. low profile inflator valves, top and bottom.....

anyone used one?

-skip

Skip I have one. I really like it, it trims out nice. It comes set up with a short inflator hose an elbow instead of dump like some wings come with.
I have used the OMS 60# non bungee and the DR Classic too. Both are fine.

Oxycheq are real nice too. I have the 30# single and love it.
FYI the difference between the standard and signature is the material that it is covered with. The Signature is more durable than the standard.

Sam

[ARY]

Short tanks - DR Classic 55, Oxycheq 50, Halcyon Explorer 55, OMS 55
Longer tanks - Larry Green Signature, Halcyon Evolve. I have doubles Faber LP108(@2400psi) and new Halcyon Evolve is excellent wing for it.

[temrich]

I dive a Classic. I have used them with 104's and 108's along with a buddy bottle and a 40cu. Diving wet or dry, it is an all around good wing. I actually bought another one as a back-up. Just my two cents

[Gary]

I'm getting ready to take adv. nitrox, deco, ext. range. My instructor teaches from a cave diving standpoint. He recommended approx. 50# lift and either the oxycheq standard or signature wing OR the DiveRite Classic Wing.

I read good recommendations from everyone so I'll take it one step ahead.

Will you be headed to redundant buoyancy - double BCs - in the future? What does your instructor recommend for that?

For redundant buoyancy I dive 2 sets of wings and it works fine but I often wonder if a dual bladder BC of one style or other might be preferable. I already own multiple BCs so purchasing another just to own a dual bladder BC would be excessive - but I if didn't own any BC I'd think about it.

Not everyone recommends dual BCs and many people think a drysuit would be adequate backup. I fall into the camp that says two BCs are better then depending on a drysuit for backup and managing a 90-120 min deco in open ocean on a drysuit would really suck. On the other hand Dual bladder BCs are compact for dual BC purposes but likely a little more bulk then you may need for standard diving.

Single/Dual BC questions aside:
A 50# wing is plenty - avoid larger bladders. 40# might work for medium technical level dives for some people but 50# should cover anything for almost anyone. Longer more narrow designs are less drag in the water and probably a good choice for most people. I think the signature series of the Oxycheck wings have an extra heavy duty plastic for the bladder and thus preferable over many other wings of the same design if you don't mind putting out the extra money for extra quality.

[akcaver]

i also dive two separate wings, but havent quite moved to the dual bladder because of expenses, but am looking at getting a dual rec wings very soon. Diving wet with alot of gear one should definatly use a backup wing, either separate or dual bladder. One train of thought ive heard is that for in caves, if you hit something that will puncture the cover and the first wing, it will most likely puncture the second wing if its a dual bladder. Dont know if its ever happened though. A dual bladder wing will be more streamlined, i can tell you that from experience, and also a little easier to handle when setting up gear and such. And its also not a bad idea as a backup backup if youre diving dry. Just only have one wing inflator attatched though, ive had my backup second inflator get stuck open in a cave once, luckily it was during deco and I was at the roof anyways