55lb bladders?

[scuba_guy]

i see that alot of techies are using 55lb bladders. hows that working? to me it seems a bit small. i dive in cold waters with a dry suit. lets here from all of ya.

[roakey]

A 45 lb wing barely floats my SS BP, cannister light and double 104s in fresh water. Since I'm [unfortunately] a bit buoyant, that makes the 45 lb wing perfect. A 55 lb wing, having 10 lbs more lift should be just fine for up to three AL80 stages, for example.

Roak

[WYDT]

Originally posted by roakey
A 45 lb wing barely floats my SS BP, cannister light and double 104s in fresh water. Since I'm [unfortunately] a bit buoyant, that makes the 45 lb wing perfect. A 55 lb wing, having 10 lbs more lift should be just fine for up to three AL80 stages, for example.

Roak

Hey Roak,

You ever think of going with the AL BP with those 104's? You certainly don't need any extra weight with them do ya?

As far as the wing goes... I've got 104's and with all tanks full, AL Backplate, 2 AL80 stages, TLS 350 drysuit (with minimal gas), Cannister light etc... the 55lb wing *barely* kept me off the floor... I now have a 65lb wing for BIG dives. The 55lb is perfect in 90% of the dives though.

I've also heard the older Halcyon 55# (which is the one I've got) is really about 40# which seems about right to me.

DSAO!!

[ericfine50]

You are right, the older Halcyon wings were rated a little bit higher thatn the actual lift. I have one of their 65 lb. wings and it was really 50 - 55 lbs. Perfect for the LP95s, Canister Light, and AL 40 Stages.

Eric

[wetman]

I've seen the 65 numbr around a few times. Is the 65 pound the same as the 70 or is the 70 new? And why is it that they seem to rate them higher than they really are?

steve

[ericfine50]

Steve,

The 65s were their orginal large wings. The 70s are now 70 (i am told :-)) I am not sure why the listed lift was off on the orginal sets of wings, maybe bad math?

Eric

[MikeFerrara]

I have a 70# halcyon. I got the 70 because they were out of the 55 and I was in a hurry. My wife has my old 55. She dives double HP 100's dry suit and 2 al 80 stages and it floats her with room to spare. Needless to say the 70 is more than enough. I'm diving double 104's with a dry suit. I'll probably try a 55 when I have an extra one. Halcyon has been having trouble delivering.

[JamesK]

Originally posted by MikeFerrara
Halcyon has been having trouble delivering.

Ain't that the truth! I drove 300 miles to get my 55lb wing. Then the store sold it out from under me thinking they could get another one no problem. Luckily they did. They said that they had a very arhd time getting another one from Halcyon.

[ericfine50]

Ain't that the truth! I drove 300 miles to get my 55lb wing. Then the store sold it out from under me thinking they could get another one no problem. Luckily they did. They said that they had a very arhd time getting another one from Halcyon.


It is all about supply and demand. Everyone wants one and they can't keep them on the shelfs. Sometimes being an excellent product can be a bad thing :-)

Eric

[JamesK]

Originally posted by ericfine50



It is all about supply and demand. Everyone wants one and they can't keep them on the shelfs. Sometimes being an excellent product can be a bad thing :-)

Eric

*sigh* sucks don't it.

[ericfine50]

Yup - no other way to say it.
Eric

[WYDT]

Originally posted by JamesK


*sigh* sucks don't it.

Not for Halcyon... most mfg's dream of having a product with such demand that they can't produce them fast enough!! :D

You diving this weekend James?

DSAO!!

[JamesK]

Good Point.

Yeah, I am diving, but it is only going to be in the quarry. I am going to practice using stage bottles. It will also be the first time one of my dive buddies gets back into doubles after rotator cuff surgery. We want to play around here before we go down to the caves on the 13th. Where are you diving?

[WYDT]

Originally posted by JamesK
Good Point.

Yeah, I am diving, but it is only going to be in the quarry. I am going to practice using stage bottles. It will also be the first time one of my dive buddies gets back into doubles after rotator cuff surgery. We want to play around here before we go down to the caves on the 13th. Where are you diving?

Stages are good!!! The hardest part is getting good at picking them up and putting them down quickly and efficiently without your light flailing about.... hint... clip your light off and tuck the cord (make sure it's under the long hose) before you start messing with unclipping the stage.. also anticipate what you're going to do and do it in order. Good idea to watch your buddy during the gas switch too and be ready with a reg/assistance.

We're diving Peacock 3 on Saturday and JB (scooter) on Sunday am.

[ericfine50]

Not for Halcyon... most mfg's dream of having a product with such demand that they can't produce them fast enough!!


True, but there is a point where the customer is not going to want to wait and may go somewhere else. Ok... enough about business, who is going diving? :-)

Eric

[JamesK]

Thanks for the tips! Have fun doing P3 and JB. Lucky dog.

[NetDoc]

but what about OMS's non-bungeed wings? I bought my 55# wing for $169, which I thought was an awesome price.

[ericfine50]

I don't think anything is wrong with them. If you have them or the older DR Classic wings (w/o pull to dump). It is all ok.

Eric

[WYDT]

Yeah, just make sure they don't have a fast inflator (they might) or a really long hose (they might)... or a pull dump... or balls on the dumps.. also check under the zipper for something to protect the bladder from the zipper (like innertube)..

Not saying the OMS wings are bad just pointing out some things to check... :D

[ericfine50]

Yea. You gotta look for those things (reason why I like the Halcyon wings best). But with a few mods- you can have a very good wing.

Eric

[scuba_guy]

everyone who is diving the 55lb wings. how deep are you going and are you diving a drysuit?? if you need halycon 55lb wings, let me know the store i go thought has about 8 of them in stock.

[WYDT]

Originally posted by scuba_guy
everyone who is diving the 55lb wings. how deep are you going and are you diving a drysuit?? if you need halycon 55lb wings, let me know the store i go thought has about 8 of them in stock.

Why does how deep you go make any difference in your wing selection??

Not trying to start something just wondering what your thought process is on this question...

BTW: I dive my 55# wing both wet and dry depending on what I'm doing. If I'm cave diving with one or fewer stages I wear it with the drysuit. If I'm ocean diving wet I use it with AL80's and a wetsuit. If ocean diving in colder water I use it with a drysuit and AL80's or LP 104's depending on the dive. My max depths are <130 since I'm not using Trimix... yet.

DSAO!

[Samir]

some of you said that 55 is not enough, I use diverite dual wreck wings, 12L steels for twins, 2 X 7L steels for stages, and in summer use wetsuit for ocean dives, and have no problems for dive to 80 meters. In caves I have my drysuit which never used for Bouyancy. I never found a problem with it, but also playing around with larger wings for bigger dives on the way. Any way my 2C worth.

[Uncle Pug]

Shoot... I'm glad I have a P-valve. :D