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Hi everyone, I have had the Halcyon 50 lb wing and stainless steel backplate system for a couple of weeks now and have been diving it in the pool and in the open water. I do not have the backplate pocket so I cant answer those questions. I am from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada and diving 4 to 5 times a week in Lake Superior, Yes the water is cold ( 0 - 4 degrees Celsius depending on the day and wind which blows colder water into the bays ). So I am just going to relate some of my experiences with the system to you folks. Overall I am really happy with the System, after a lot of practice ( about 20 - 30 dives open water and about 4 pool trials ) I am really comfortable with this system. I do not think that you can get a more stable properly fitting system which is simple and easy to use as this one. Using this system in cold water has taken some time to get used to. I practiced and got used to some of the things that warm water divers take for granted (dexterity). I think that I will change one thing however not sure how yet but it has to do with retaining the LP inflator to the shoulder strap. This system cost me $292.00 US funds including shipping (dealer price) once a shop puts their mark up on it I can see it being a pretty expensive system (Thank the tech wannabees for increasing the demand and hence getting the prices jacked up). The Dive Rite system is cheaper and is almost Identical to this one, The harness is different and the Dive Rite does not come with a single tank adapter (Dive Rite tries to push the deluxe harness, you can put a Hogarthian harness together for about 30 dollars). If you are looking for a reliable and simple system that stays away from all of the bells and whistles and super duper gadgets and is of excellent design. I would recommend this wing system. It does take time to get use to adjusting and using this wing. practice with it. I am sure you will like it. Feel free to ask any questions folks. Have a good day Richard Hayward Pros 1) very comfortable and stable when properly adjusted, I had an OMS Backplate and wing before, and although it was similar in size and shape to the Halcyon backplate, the Halcyon seems much more comfortable for some reason. The OMS had too many buckles quick releases etc. (all bells and whistles in my opinion) 2) When you buy the Power of Purchase package, the system comes complete and ready to dive for either single (comes with a nice single tank adapter made of aluminium and with two cam straps) or double tanks. 3) I tested the inflator and deflator valves, the valves will let more air out than you can put in with the inflator, so if the inflator freezes in the inflate position and you dump the air at the same time, the wing will not fill. Very nice and reassuring for cold water diving. Also the inflate and deflate valves are easy to distinguish and locate. 4) It was on my doorstep in two days (it even had to clear Canada Customs) because it came from the states. 5) The handle on the top sewn into the 50 LB wing is a really nice feature (I use the handle all the time now), when the wing is inflated the handle pulls snug to the top of the wing, I do not foresee it as a potential snagging point, 6) Scuba Pro Stainless Steel Buckle, bent D - rings, very nice 7) 50 lbs. of lift is plenty, would not want any more, with the drysuit as the backup system perfect. Cons 1) in cold weather, the system is very difficult and time consuming to adjust, but once adjusted look to pro 1 which surely outweighs this con. 2) I thought that the wing would come with the bladder reinforced with a tire tube (Brownies endorses this as doing it right, but no reinforcing). So you have to do this on your own. 3) If you get the crotch strap to fit your drysuit and you dive in cold water, forget about the crotch strap ever fitting properly in warm water with a drysuit or wetsuit, I got the Large crotch strap and it fits perfectly with the 400 weight thinsulate that I wear in the winter, but I can see it being too big in the summertime. And every body was saying that this is the only backplate that can take 2 inch webbing on the crotch strap, well the slot on the crotch strap is only 1 1/2 inches. It would be hard or next to impossible to get a 2 inch piece of webbing through there unless you cut it or trimmed it to fit. Also the crotch strap is sewn onto the backplate, the only way to remove it is to cut it off if you were inclined to do so. 4) The bungee that holds the LP inflator hose is difficult to manipulate with three finger 5 mm mitts on. You have to actually remove the inflator from the bungee to get it to dump air in a swimming postion. The bungee holds the inflator lower than the top of the wing. You could roll onto your right side and then hold the inflator up without removing it from the bungee retainer. I like to remove it from the bungee and then dump the air and am now used to this. 5) With a single tank on you need to get used to the different buoyancy characteristics by the air shifting in the wing. This takes some practice as well. The deflate on the bottom of the wing is difficult to locate with the single tank because the wing folds around the single tank so you have to reach for the dump. Any one else have cold water experience with this system, let me know of your pros and cons. Any tricks you figured out? -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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