Abysmal wings

[Bishop]

What are some opinions on the wings made by http://www.abysmal.com/ ?

How do they compare/contrast with Halcyon wings?

[Iguana Don]

The website has been under construction for about 1.5 years.

Don't know anybody that uses them either.

Don

[padiscubapro]

I was given one of the wings while they were in the final prototype stage.. They are a DIR style wing, For doubles they are wondeful (they have a larger section on the top of the wing and the cell is spread further than many other wings), for singles they suck.

[caverkevin]

When it comes to wings there is Halcyon and everyone else. The reason is the bladder. Everyone except Halcyon uses a thin, clear plastic type bladder. Which is prone to develop stress cracks, puncture or split fairly easy. The bladder on the Halcyon is bomb proof in comparison. Halcyon uses a coated cordura nylon that will take a beating and still perform.

For example, the turtle bite (not a scientific test). I witnessed a 250 pound logger-head sea turtle bite into and try and rip a chunk out of a Halcyon 55 pound explorer wing. One minute later the same turtle bit into my arm. The wing had no visible damage and needed no repairs. My arm was really messed up and I still have scares from the bite almost a year and a half later.

My money is on the Halcyon. I have had three wings a 27, 45, and 55 for three years, with no problems, no repairs and no disappointment. Personally, I will not dive with anything else on the market. No because of the name Halcyon, but because of the quality. That is the only thing that means anything to me when it comes to my life-support equipment.

Kevin L. Jones

P.S. I will post some pictures supporting the turtle attack

[caverkevin]

This is the turtle coming in to bite my arm while I am looking at the wing.

Kevin L. Jones

[Aquamaniac]

padiscubapro once bubbled...
I was given one of the wings while they were in the final prototype stage.. They are a DIR style wing, For doubles they are wondeful (they have a larger section on the top of the wing and the cell is spread further than many other wings), for singles they suck.

Why would it be better to have more air, further away from the center of Gravity? (ie at the top of the wing).

[caverkevin]

Another picture of the bite on my arm.

Kevin L. Jones

[Rooster1]

caverkevin once bubbled...
This is the turtle coming in to bite my arm while I am looking at the wing.

Kevin L. Jones

I hope your arm is ok...and all that reading I've done saying that aquatic life just don't attack divers for the hell of it. We had a small turtle here bite a guy on the side unexpectedly. I tell you if one of the big ones like you got bit by was near me... out the Knife would come and if it made a move then I would make a few moves if you know what I mean;) ( Turtle soup). Goes to show you can't always believe what you read in books.

[Aquamaniac]

OUCH!!


And yet he still manages to wear the mask in the "fashionably correct" manner;)

[Genesis]

can be very aggressive.

I've not had one come at me - yet - but I try to be very respectful around them.

Those beaks look AWFULLY sharp....

[padiscubapro]

Aquamaniac once bubbled...


Why would it be better to have more air, further away from the center of Gravity? (ie at the top of the wing).

The area is just a little bit larger, and it doesn't seem to bother my trim underwater, but on the surface it seems to get me a little higher out of the water, and in swell a few inches can make things more confortable while waiting for other divers..
but I would definately not recommend them for singles..

[Green_Manelishi]

Unless money is truly a concern you should have an appropriate selection of wings to use based on your different tank configs.

For many reasons, a wing that is large enough to truly support (heavy) doubles is waaaaay more than you need with a single (unless it is one of those 190cf Bow-shots) and the elbow/shell connection should, for doubles use, be placed in the center of the wing-top so it does not "interfere" with the valves/manifold.

A wing that is advertised as "good for doubles OR singles" is
making compromises. Compromise is bad.

G_M

[Raywerner]

At the risk of yet another flame, I have the wings and like them just fine. They are well made, tough, kind of minimalist, and they do what they are supposed to do.

[omar]

Ray,
Where's that admission that you were wrong? You said you were man enough to provide one.


If you are right, I surely will admit it.

see:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10621&perpage=15&display=&pagenumber=2

omar

[Techniciany]

Abysmal is the first company to use Balistic proof nylon bags, Halcyon bags are not as strong or durable but they look nice. Halcyon has gone after the sport market single tank bladder. Lets face it folks all the bags are made in the same place and the only difference is the material used. I wouldn't give up my Abysmal double bladder for anything. I have never been more stable in the water until I switched to this BCD. My OMS bag has since dried out cracked and is now used as a liner for the cats litter box.

[roakey]

Technician once bubbled...
Lets face it folks all the bags are made in the same place and the only difference is the material used.
Bzzzzzzzt. Wrong, but thanks for playing. Halcyon has their own manufacturing facility.

Roak

[omar]

Ballistic Nylon was named "Ballistic" because it is used in conjunction with Kevlar® or Spectra® to make bullet proof vests. Although it is extremely tough, it is not “ballistic proof”.

Any dual bladder design is suspect because it is adding more problems than what it is trying to solve.

Example: The second bladder is to provide backup in case of the primary bladder failure. It solves one problem (that can be solved by other means without extra gear) while adding many.

1&2. The second bladder requires a second power inflator, this is more prone to failure than the bladder, all it takes is some sand. It can fail on or off, so a runaway inflation or failure to work is possible.

3,4&5. A second LP hose w/connection to the 1st stage; another 3 failure points, the o-ring on both ends and the hose.

6. The possibility of task loading, which one do I use for inflation deflation??

There are more but you get the picture (hopefully).

The design(s) of the Halcyon wings are significantly different than the others. I have a few different brands and I will only buy the Halcyon wings in the future.

I must say that you have found the ideal use for the OMS wings.

omar

[caverkevin]

My guess....the cat now refuses to use the litter box.

Kevin Jones