Lowest profile single tank wings (with built in STA)?

[stuartv]

@tiburonarizona. I am 5’2 and dive the VDH 18 with al 80’s and 63’s. Its all the wing you will need for aluminum tanks/tropical diving and packs easily.

Here’s a photo of me with a 63 tank and the VDH wing...

View attachment 533383

Is there a diver in that picture? I can't see you. LOL

@Zef - I agree with you that the difference between diving, just for example, a VDH 18 and 35 is so small that maybe nobody could actually tell a difference in a blind comparison. Maybe. Even if could tell a difference, it would be SMALL. Thus my last sentence in my previous post. A person with only a VDH 35 for single tank use would (I expect) love it and never experience any feeling, in use, of "dang! I wish I had a smaller wing."

I have both, but there are 2 reasons for that. One, I am very fortunate right now to have been in a financial position to afford the 18 when I already had the 35. And, two, I am a bit, *ahem*, OCD(?) and the IDEA of having the smallest, lightest, most streamlined wing that is appropriate for a particular use case appeals to me. Appeals? Maybe I should say COMMANDS me. LOL It dives great! But, I also get some satisfaction just from looking at it and seeing how tiny it is. Maybe kind of dumb, but I don't regret purchasing the 18 one bit. It IS a total luxury, but I like it. It makes me happy.

 

[Kharon]

This is the one I use:

Donut Bladder Single Tank

It fits 80 cf al, 50 cf steel, 30 cf al, and 27 cf steel. I mated it with: Dive Rite Harnesses for Backplates | Dive Gear Express® - the delux with release. Great for travel and works great for me.

 

[divad]

It IS a total luxury, but I like it. It makes me happy.

Whatever floats yer boat and lifts yer spirits.

 

[Zef]

Is there a diver in that picture? I can't see you. LOL

@Zef - I agree with you that the difference between diving, just for example, a VDH 18 and 35 is so small that maybe nobody could actually tell a difference in a blind comparison. Maybe. Even if could tell a difference, it would be SMALL. Thus my last sentence in my previous post. A person with only a VDH 35 for single tank use would (I expect) love it and never experience any feeling, in use, of "dang! I wish I had a smaller wing."

I have both, but there are 2 reasons for that. One, I am very fortunate right now to have been in a financial position to afford the 18 when I already had the 35. And, two, I am a bit, *ahem*, OCD(?) and the IDEA of having the smallest, lightest, most streamlined wing that is appropriate for a particular use case appeals to me. Appeals? Maybe I should say COMMANDS me. LOL It dives great! But, I also get some satisfaction just from looking at it and seeing how tiny it is. Maybe kind of dumb, but I don't regret purchasing the 18 one bit. It IS a total luxury, but I like it. It makes me happy.

I get it...your reasons are legit, just not practical...and that is ok. I don't get the sense that others have put as much thought into it as you...I think for the most part people are chasing a perceived benefit that does not actually exist. It seems like small single tank wings single are the current fad.

-Z

 

[stuartv]

I get it...your reasons are legit, just not practical

Well stated.

It seems VDH is the new DSS. Fortunately, Bryan is NOT the new Tobin...

 

[rhwestfall]

What is the perceived benefit? For me, it is the feeling of basically having nothing there at all. It is really enjoyable. That 18# wing also packs for travel much easier that the 30# wings my wife and daughter have (they just have a single multi-use rig). Looking at the pictures of my warm water diving, that 18# wing is basically empty. Why then have a 30#? I'm required by the dive op to have a wing, so this meets the need.

 

[Rich Keller]

Dive Rite travel wing is perfectly fine with no STA. It has a very low profile.

I use the same wing but I attach it to a commercial diving harness. https://www.americandivingsupply.com/Full-Body-Harness-With-Shoulder-Adjusters-p/fb16510a.htm This harness puts the tank about 1/4" off your back so the wing is sandwiched between the tank and your back creating a much lower profile.

 

[dmaziuk]

I don't get the sense that others have put as much thought into it as you...I think for the most part people are chasing a perceived benefit that does not actually exist. It seems like small single tank wings single are the current fad.

Oh-kay, so if all you do is tropical diving with Al100 or smaller, why would you want to buy a bigger wing? What would be the benefit here?

The wing I ended up with was good deal less than the then available #18s (Oxy and Apeks). That was the benefit. Now the difference between VDH #18 and DGX #30 is whooping 40 bucks, I'd very likely have gone with the former if I were buying today.

 

[Manatee Diver]

What tanks do you dive? The 30# Oxy is long, and can be an issue with an hp80. Same for the VDH. Maybe the 23? 18?

I dove a Japanese 10L steel tank that is pretty similar to a HP80, it barely fit between my cam bands, but otherwise I had no issues diving it on my VDH 35# wing.

 

[rhwestfall]

I dove a Japanese 10L steel tank that is pretty similar to a HP80, it barely fit between my cam bands, but otherwise I had no issues diving it on my VDH 35# wing.

the amount of wing below the tank will likely end up with a pinch flat if you aren't very cautious in a boat seat/tank rack....