New BP/W?

[diverrex]

I have the Halcyon Infinity and really like it but will say that I don't think I ever use the cinch system anymore. My webbing is set in one place and it just stays that way.

 

[kathydee]

I tried a couple of other brand wings with varied success. Dove Halcyon and fell in love with it's stability and ease of function. I'm not saying that other brands don't work. I'm just sharing my experience that not all wings perform equally.

Im my experience, you can't go wrong with Halcyon. Great quality, great service, easy to vent and very stable.

But if you have the chance, dive as many wings as you can before you purchase.

+1

Can't go wrong with Halcyon's basic system. You can always add the cinch system in the future if desired for $99.00. The other elements of the Infinity System is superfluous padding, etc., which is unneeded buoyancy.

I agree with Scott, a simple webbing system on a Halcyon rig is fine, no need for the adjustments and padding.

 

[BoltSnap]

I see that BP/W manufacturers have Single and Double tank Wings setups (Halcyon for example), does this mean that if you buy the single tank setup, you can't use the same setup for doubles by just installing a bigger Wing? (Halcyon Infinity vs. Evolve BC).

 

[cool_hardware52]

I see that BP/W manufacturers have Single and Double tank Wings setups (Halcyon for example), does this mean that if you buy the single tank setup, you can't use the same setup for doubles by just installing a bigger Wing? (Halcyon Infinity vs. Evolve BC).

The plate and harness can in most cases be used for single tank or double tank diving.

The wings are distinctly different for singles vs doubles, both in capacity and in shape.

Tobin

 

[LenC]

I see that BP/W manufacturers have Single and Double tank Wings setups (Halcyon for example), does this mean that if you buy the single tank setup, you can't use the same setup for doubles by just installing a bigger Wing? (Halcyon Infinity vs. Evolve BC).

One of the great benefits of a bp system is you can use the wing which best fits your set up. You can also switch out the bp itself. I have a ss bp set up for a 3 mil wetsuit and one set up for my drysuit, as well as an aluminum I used when I wore steel 130's. I've got four sets of wings, but I admit that is overkill - one specifically for my ccr. Personally, I consider every harness out there a waste of money. But that's just me. Build your own and spend the cash you save on a really good wing. Heck, you can pick up a bp on ebay for next to nothing. There is no practical difference between a new bp and a used one.

 

[BoltSnap]

LenC,

By saying "Wing" you are referring strictly to the air bladder only, correct?

 

[LenC]

LenC,

By saying "Wing" you are referring strictly to the air bladder only, correct?

Yeah. Think of this as three distinct parts, not as a whole.

The harness you set up to fit you. I prefer straight webbing. A steel buckle with three D rings is all the hardware I normally use. I have a pocket I slide on the right side and I typically secure it using a plastic buckle. You can put weight pockets on it but I prefer a belt when I need weight.

The bp can be either ss or aluminum. Steel will weigh about 6 pounds and AL maybe 2. Which you prefer is based upon how much weight you want to take off your weight system. The plates really don't differ that much, though Halcyon does a neat little bend at each bottom corner which I find quite comfortable. If you typically don't use a lot of weight and you want to carry a steel 120, you might want to go with aluminum to keep from being too heavy.

The wing is going to be based upon your rig. If you are using singles, you want a small wing. Large if you use doubles. You can switch back and forth between singles and doubles just by changing wings. Of course, you will want a single tank adapter for singles.

What is really nice is that this kind of thing packs much easier than your standard BC, aside from being far more versatile. You are not stuck with using a single brand. If you like halcyon's plate but love the OMS wing, you can have both. You build it to suit you.

I also advise to forget padding. A bare plate is very comfortable. The only reason I use one is that it has a sweet pocket you can slide a lift bag into and attach to the back ring of the crotch strap.

 

[BoltSnap]

Yeah. Think of this as three distinct parts, not as a whole.

The harness you set up to fit you. I prefer straight webbing. A steel buckle with three D rings is all the hardware I normally use. I have a pocket I slide on the right side and I typically secure it using a plastic buckle. You can put weight pockets on it but I prefer a belt when I need weight.

The bp can be either ss or aluminum. Steel will weigh about 6 pounds and AL maybe 2. Which you prefer is based upon how much weight you want to take off your weight system. The plates really don't differ that much, though Halcyon does a neat little bend at each bottom corner which I find quite comfortable. If you typically don't use a lot of weight and you want to carry a steel 120, you might want to go with aluminum to keep from being too heavy.

The wing is going to be based upon your rig. If you are using singles, you want a small wing. Large if you use doubles. You can switch back and forth between singles and doubles just by changing wings. Of course, you will want a single tank adapter for singles.

What is really nice is that this kind of thing packs much easier than your standard BC, aside from being far more versatile. You are not stuck with using a single brand. If you like halcyon's plate but love the OMS wing, you can have both. You build it to suit you.

I also advise to forget padding. A bare plate is very comfortable. The only reason I use one is that it has a sweet pocket you can slide a lift bag into and attach to the back ring of the crotch strap.

First, thank you VERY much for taking the time to explain it. Second, with the choices you list, it is not a good thing. This means that I'll be spending lost of $$ to buy all of the choices as I want to experiment with them all

1. Is the "single tank" adapter that would be available if I bought the "Single Tank" system at the instead of the double tank system at the beginning?

2. If I bought the "single tank" system at the beginning, would I have to buy some sort of an adapter to switch to the double tank setup in addition to using a different wing?

3. Is there a wing that can be used for both?

 

[Randy g]

Kurt great thread!

Len thanks for the explanation.

I am slowly heading down the tech road and acquiring gear for my BP/W. I picked up a used OMS steel BP from the lds and a used scubapro bungie wing from a local gear *****, both for next to nothing.

I am looking at webbing now but not in a big hurry. I plan on setting up the bp/w for doubles and use my Ranger for singles.

First I need to dive my new (to me) dry suit for a few months to get used to it. Later I will jump into the big pond with the doubles.

I cant wait for this season to get started.

 

[LenC]

First, thank you VERY much for taking the time to explain it. Second, with the choices you list, it is not a good thing. This means that I'll be spending lost of $$ to buy all of the choices as I want to experiment with them all

1. Is the "single tank" adapter that would be available if I bought the "Single Tank" system at the instead of the double tank system at the beginning?

2. If I bought the "single tank" system at the beginning, would I have to buy some sort of an adapter to switch to the double tank setup in addition to using a different wing?

3. Is there a wing that can be used for both?

A back plate is really designed for doubles. What the single tank adapter does is bolt a strip of metal with cam bands where you would otherwise have bolted the bands of doubles. It is a very simple set up, but you need it to use a single tank with a plate. Just about every company that sells a plate sells an adapter and yo u can use the adapter from one company with the plate of anohter. So you don't need to buy an adapter to use doubles, just remove the adapter for a single.

Yes, you can use the same wing for both but it is not recommended. A wing that fits doubles will be very floppy with a single and be a pain to deflate. A set of doubles is going to be about 125% wider than the same tank as a single, so you can see that the wing which work with the doubles will have a lot of excess material with the single.

What I would suggest is you drop by a dive shop and take a look at this stuff. It makes much more sense when you can see it.