Noob BP/W question

[Beowulfe]

Are wings fairly universal or are you mostly limited to staying with the same maker for backplate and wing?

[Superlyte27]

I've used DR, Hollis and Halcyon. I don't believe I've ever changed my bolt pattern for any of them.

[vondo]

Bolts are the same, but if you are using a single tank setup without a single tank adapter, then the camband slots on the wing and the plate have to match up. There seems to be no standard here. So some wings will mate with some plates, but not all. Safest is to stick with one manufacturer, especially if you are buying a complete package.

[Beowulfe]

Ok, so bolt patterns for the wings are fairly consistant.

Is there a reason you would not go with a single tank adapter?

[vondo]

Cost. Extra weight. Puts the tank further from your back.

I don't see the point of a STA once you've got a wing with built in stabilization and most people make such wings these days.

[dkktsunami]

Most are interchangeable, but not all.

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I prefer an STA. I like the extra weight and stability. A lot of manufactures have some type of STA sewn into the wing, but I still prefer an STA. More of a personal preference ;)

[banjo]

I have a DSS plate and an Oxycheq wing. They mate up pretty nice. Oxycheq's wings have a built in stabilizer that does a good job. The tank stays well planted and stable. I don't see the need of an STA unless of course you want the extra weight.

[tech3324]

I prefer an STA. I like the extra weight and stability. A lot of manufactures have some type of STA sewn into the wing, but I still prefer an STA. More of a personal preference ;)

+1

I originally had a Halcyon wing with the built-in stabilizer rods. That concept didn't work at all well for me. The tank seemed to be mounted securely to the BP but would often move during the course of a dive. The STA is far more secure and adds another pound or so to the BP weight, which I needed anyway. I personally will not use a wing without a plate mounted STA.

[cool_hardware52]

+1

I originally had a Halcyon wing with the built-in stabilizer rods. That concept didn't work at all well for me. The tank seemed to be mounted securely to the BP but would often move during the course of a dive. The STA is far more secure and adds another pound or so to the BP weight, which I needed anyway. I personally will not use a wing without a plate mounted STA.

Have you used a DSS wing with a compressible "wobble stopper" ? These work much better than hard rods in previous designs.

Such a design can actually be more secure than a STA because STA's tend to pivot on the bolts used to secure them to the back plate. Remember between the STA and the back plate is usually a less than flat metal grommet in the wing and or the harness.

Tobin

[ronscuba]

Another mixed mfr option. Oxycheq wing works with a Dive Rite plate without a STA.

[tech3324]

Have you used a DSS wing with a compressible "wobble stopper" ? These work much better than hard rods in previous designs.

Such a design can actually be more secure than a STA because STA's tend to pivot on the bolts used to secure them to the back plate. Remember between the STA and the back plate is usually a less than flat metal grommet in the wing and or the harness.

Tobin

Thanks for the heads-up, I was not aware of the DSS design.

The problem I had with the Halcyon design (plastic rods in the wing) was that a hard tug on a shoulder strap (like when picking up the rig) could cock the tank off vertical relative to the BP. Operationally it was no big deal, but it always bugged me until I got an STA.

PS: Just saw the Stability Demo video, very impressive! https://www.deepseasupply.com/images/stabildemo.mov

[halocline]

The oxycheq mach V wings have really long slots for the cam bands, so they work with a few different plates. The DSS wings have a very innovative arrangement by which the cam bands do not need to be threaded through the wing, so you can simply pull it off the DSS plate. (It attaches with little snaps on so it doesn't fall off when the tank is not connected) This is a nice feature for cleaning and storage. So, if you want to get the most out of a DSS wing, I would use their plate as well.

Both the oxycheq and DSS wings are very stable on single tanks without a STA.