Hollis S Series vs Oxycheq Mach V

[MrAC1980]

Hello all... I'm in the market for a wing/bp setup. I only do single Faber HP 117s with a 40 pony. I'm torn between the Oxycheq and the Hollis wings... I found the Hollis S 38lb lift for a good deal, but is it worth passing up the Oxycheq? Will the Oxycheq be too small at 30lb lift? I'm 5'7, 225lb, dive semidry and currently use 18lb of weight. Thanks...

 

[DrunkenParrot]

I only have experience with the Oxychex. I have seen the Hollis in person and is a nice wing, but when compared together the oxycheq has a thicker bladder. Oxycheq Extreme wing is well worth the extra money. I don't think you could wear it out. If I were you I would get the 40 lb Mach V it is only .5 wider and 1" longer than the 30lb. Here is a video of the extreme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXx_XflRke4
Here is a pic of my 40lb Mach V Extreme.....

 

[MrAC1980]

The other wing I found compatible for my needs is the HOG 32. For the money, I'm leaning more kinda toward this one, but I'm scared that I'll regret not getting something different and will end up getting it at a later date anyways.

 

[DrunkenParrot]

The other wing I found compatible for my needs is the HOG 32. For the money, I'm leaning more kinda toward this one, but I'm scared that I'll regret not getting something different and will end up getting it at a later date anyways.

I have a hog 32 pound wing also. I really like the price and the wing is top quality too. It measures 19" W x 25" L, So its bigger than the Oxycheq and the bladder is a lot thinner and different material, but overall a good wing. HOG has great customer service and great prices in all their gear. I think the best deal for that wing is at Dive Right in Scuba at 199.99 with free shipping and loyalty points you cant go wrong. oh yea pic of the HOG wing for ya.

 

[KillerJupe]

was talking to a textiles friend of mine who makes a lot of fabrics and then sells it to companies for finishing. he tried to explain some of the differences about the difference between a "plastic" bladder (oxycheq) vs nylon backed w/ urethane (hog)

the nylon will fold better and resist abrasion better while being lighter and more tear/cut resistant (good if you might get sand up in your outer bladder alot by diving in mucky water)
however it will not resist punctures from pins or small objects as may slip through the outter layer. it will also be harder to patch as you must patch on top of the nylon and cannot "weld" directly on the inner urethane coating.

that said, he thinks both are just fine and not to worry about inner bladder, but focus on outer bladder strength.

D

 

[MrAC1980]

Thanks DP for the input. I think I'm going to go with your HOG 32. I found it a bit cheaper some place locally.

 

[mahjong]

I have a hog 32 pound wing also. I really like the price and the wing is top quality too. It measures 19" W x 25" L, So its bigger than the Oxycheq and the bladder is a lot thinner and different material, but overall a good wing. HOG has great customer service and great prices in all their gear. I think the best deal for that wing is at Dive Right in Scuba at 199.99 with free shipping and loyalty points you cant go wrong. oh yea pic of the HOG wing for ya.

Just doing some wing research: That 32# HOG looks exactly like the 32# OMS wing, shape and material, but for the 3 sets of grommet holes (OMS has only one set). What is the HOG inner bladder made of, rubber or nylon?

Just an aside: It seems to me that the Hollis wing (25# is the one I'm looking at) is more like a Halcyon in shape and also has the nylon inner bladder, like Halcyon.

I've had both an OMS and Halcyon for singles diving. Both are great, but I think I like the shape of the Halcyon a bit more.

 

[Ouvea]

I don't think you can go wrong with either bladders. I would do a buoyancy requirement check. Using a Hollis SS Backplate with a Hollis S38 bladder, 16lbs of weight and a Faber 72cft, I had enough to keep it afloat in the pool. You should be fine with that the Oxycheq 40lbs, I don't think the 30lbs lift would work with the amount of weight that you use. The bladder is very well constructed. The material is very rugged and approaches the toughness of my Pinnacle Evolution 2 dry suit.

C.

 

[mahjong]

was talking to a textiles friend of mine who makes a lot of fabrics and then sells it to companies for finishing. he tried to explain some of the differences about the difference between a "plastic" bladder (oxycheq) vs nylon backed w/ urethane (hog)

the nylon will fold better and resist abrasion better while being lighter and more tear/cut resistant (good if you might get sand up in your outer bladder alot by diving in mucky water)
however it will not resist punctures from pins or small objects as may slip through the outter layer. it will also be harder to patch as you must patch on top of the nylon and cannot "weld" directly on the inner urethane coating.

that said, he thinks both are just fine and not to worry about inner bladder, but focus on outer bladder strength.
D

And neither will the rubber bladder resist punctures from pins. The ONLY advantage of a rubber bladder that I have been able to find from research is that it is easier to patch if punctured. Otherwise, the coated nylon inner bladder is more rugged, does not harden/stiffen over time, is lighter, packs up more compactly, and resists pinch punctures, something to which rubber bladders are very susceptible. Generally, if you do the research, I think you would find that most of the highest end wing manufacturers use the nylon inner bladder--Halcyon, Golem, Hog, Hollis, OMS, DUX. Dive Rite, Oxycheq, Zeagle, DSS--they all use rubber inner bladders. In the end, I don't think it matters too much, as most of these companies all make excellent wings. I guess I think of it as something of an added luxury to have a nylon inner bladder, but not exactly a necessity. I have used both for years--Halcyon Eclipse and an old Dive Rite Junior Wing. I love both of these wings; however, I do prefer a bit the lighter and more pliable feel of the Halcyon wing--and this was due I believe to the nylon inner bladder.

 

[KaizerWilhelm]

I've had bad experiences with the HOG 32 lb bladder. After a month of use it busted as I was going through GUE/EDGE in 5 ft of water. I'm never going to buy a HOG badder again.

I now have the Hollis S38. I love it. I use it for my steel 102s and sometimes a pony. It's a great bladder. However, compared to the Halcyon Eclipse 40 lb, it's a monster. The Halcyon is tiny compared to the S38. But I can honestly tell no difference in performance.
Just my $0.02.