Deep 6 Review: BP/W, Harness, and Eddy Fins

[NicKara]

Let me snap some closeup pictures tonight and upload them here, so you can check the materials and build quality for yourself. I would actually consider Deep 6 pretty minimalist and back to basics, compared even with the base version of HOG or Apeks among others I looked at, when getting myself acquainted with BP/W design.

And don't get me started on premium versions of some wings, where you'd literally lose yourself in various parts, straps, add-ons, and keeper types.

In fact, this minimalism and simplicity of design is one of the reasons I went with Deep 6. To me, you have to justify why a certain feature is present. And with Deep 6, you now exactly the reason for every hole in the plate, inch of webbing, or a number of d-rings. Nothing out of place. Only the stuff you are guaranteed to need and appreciate.

 

[NicKara]

Well, I promised pictures and here they come.

I found the wing donut to be pretty sturdy, very good craftsmanship, really nice design and branding. In the checkout dive, performed perfectly well. Below are the photos from front and back:



Notice a soft Velcro single tank adapter. The bladder comes with a steel adapter as well:



Last but not least, here's the close-up of the inflator hose. Nothing dramatic or flashy, no-color coded buttons, your standard issue inflator similar to parts sold on Dive Gear Express Does it job splendidly. For those new to wings and assembling theirs for the first time, the inflator will be in the position pictured above. You unscrew the cap at the base, turn it over, then screw it back:



The plate I picked is steel (clocks in at 2.2kg, or 4.8lbs). A nice, polished, solid looking and feeling piece of metal that's a pleasure to hold in one's hands. Given weight, don't think it's that much of a trouble for travel. The back side has a few of Deep 6 tasteful engravings. Really cool. Two sets of slits for tank bands, screw holes for trim weights, harness, and tank adapters. If you ever looked at HOG plate design, this will be very similar. Holds against you back well.



Here's a close up of the buckle. Again, nothing out of extraordinary. Good steel buckle with four openings to weave the webbing through:



Finally, here's that silicon covered webbing, along with some D-ring, keeper, and the buckle. Because why not? It's all shiny indeed:



It probably took me longer to put on the third-party shoulder pads than to assemble and fit this rig I kind of see why Deep 6 guys don't ship shoulder pads as other manufacturers do. Granted, unless you dive naked or in a thin rush guard, no shoulder pads would be needed -- even then the harness lies flat and stays tight against your body. Also, the silicon coating becomes really helpful in the water. Much easier to don the rig on and off. I haven't done this since my OW certification (always entered from the boat one way or the other), and it went without a hitch in practice runs, both at the surface and underwater.

Can't wait till diving with this wing for real in a few days from now...

I also shared the Google Drive folder with the originals, since the images on SB appear to be resized:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8bJ1w_T0y1pYmlDNTJkNFIyYnM

 

[Tournesol2000]

Thanks for the update.
What size wing did you get?
I am curious to know how easy it is to put on and get off with a wetsuit on. I can't help think that the silicon would cause friction with the wetsuit. But I am clueless and have faith in Chris, so would live to know
Good luck with the dive.

 

[NicKara]

What size wing did you get?

30lbs

I am curious to know how easy it is to put on and get off with a wetsuit on. I can't help think that the silicon would cause friction with the wetsuit.

See above as I write about it in the last few paragraphs. Really easy to put it on and off. Part of it is silicon coating sliding really well over wetsuit's neoprene, especially in water. Part of it is basic design of the wing without any hanging unnecessary straps and boondoggles common on some premium offerings.

 

[LandonL]

It is actually a Polyurethane coating, not silicone. But it does feel like it. lol

 

[NicKara]

I stand corrected on the coating Will have a few words to say about it when I have a chance to write up a real world review later in the week.

 

[Streydog]

I just received a BPW from Deep 6, my first BPW. I think I have it set up correctly but had a couple questions. The harness kit came with some string. Not really sure what that is for, tying bolt snaps? The kit also came with 4 protective sleeves and two extra retainer clips. When webbing the bottom of the plate do you just choose to use the clips or the sleeve? Hopefully it won't be too long until I can test it out.

 

[NicKara]

The harness kit came with some string. Not really sure what that is for, tying bolt snaps?

I think the bungie can be used around bent D-rings (mounted around collarbone) to help hold inflator hose. The other (white) string might be for tying off the equipment. I'll post the pictures of my setup tonight.

The kit also came with 4 protective sleeves and two extra retainer clips. When webbing the bottom of the plate do you just choose to use the clips or the sleeve?

The sleeves go over the webbing when you run it through the holes in the plate -- check out my photos. The idea is the same as with HOG and several other manufacturers. These would protect the webbing. Also, it makes sliding webbing around to adjust that much easier, especially once the kit goes through the initial breaking-in period.

What you call a retainer (I assume the soft neoprene-like tubing?) goes on the webbing near bottom slits of the "shoulder straps" -- this is to hold secondary flashlights and other things in place, in streamlined manner.

To help out all first time purchasers, I personally found the following helpful to confirm my intuition about how the whole thing might be assembled:

• Hogarthian Harness Assembly Instructions | Dive Gear Express®
• Two videos detailing what looks to be a basic HOG plate/wing assembly and fitting:

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Curiously enough, Deep 6 wing perfectly checks off all GUE Fundies requirements for the BCD:
Standards - Appendix A | Global Underwater Explorers

When I figured that out, my respect for Deep 6 team went a few notches more

 

[Streydog]

What I called a clip is a slide, the ones used to attach D-rings. The pictures OP posted shoe the slides being used and the picture you posed show the sleeves being used on the bottom of the plate. Didn't know what difference it makes.

 

[NicKara]

Ah, well... To each his own I guess!

I know some people put slides there to prevent harness from sliding around.

I'd still go with sleeves on the bottom because of their function -- protecting the webbing, which gonna rub against the steel regardless of slides. Slides would just prevent harness from sliding too far, so if you have integrated weights on the belt portion of the webbing, for example, your shoulder straps lengths won't decrease making it hard to put the wing on or cutting into your shoulders. Though it takes a small pull to move things around when this happens and I personally didn't find any problems with my setup. Have about 8 dives with the new wing -- all were perfectly fine.