Review of DGX Gears S1 (Dive Gear Express) Wing for Single Tank Diving
I’ve been asked several times to write a review of the DGX Gears Single Tank Wing. For those who have been waiting for it, I apologize for the delay. Things can get a little busy here at JoeScuba HQ. On with the review…
To begin with, the S1 wing is only appropriate for single tank diving. If you need a wing for diving doubles that can also be used for single tank diving, this isn’t that. It is a “donut” design with 30 lb lift capacity, which in my experience, is plenty for most divers. If you are a large individual, diving with a wetsuit in cold water, AND you use a very negative, high pressure steel tank, you may need a bigger wing.
I dive with a drysuit in cold water. Even with an extremely negative steel cylinder, 30 lb lift is plenty. I won’t suggest that’s sufficient for all divers, but I do believe it is for most of them.
The DGX Gears S1 Single wing is constructed of 1000 denier nylon protecting a urethane coated 200 denier laminated bladder. It has a simple “K” style inflator at the end of a 16″ corrugated hose.
According to Dive Gear Express, “integrated roll pads” eliminate the need for a single tank adapter (STA). I made a trip to Honduras once and decided to leave my STA at home. It worked out ok, but it is much quicker and simpler assembly process using a single tank adapter vs. leaving your STA at home.
My preference for travel is the OMS Soft Single Tank Adapter. Oddly enough, OMS named it that, while in the description they state directly, “It is NOT a single tank adapter.” Go figure. In any case, I find it to be far more stable and simpler to assemble on a dive boat when using this or another STA. For travel, the OMS version is very lightweight.
If you do choose the OMS Soft Single Tank Adapter, recognize that it doesn’t tuck completely into the “donut” part of the wing. Also, when you get home, take your STA off of your backplate and rinse everything separately in fresh water. The assembled system tends to hold onto salt in places you can’t easily see.
Diving with the DGX Gears Single Tank Wing
If you dive the DGX Gears S1 Single Tank Wing, be sure to check that the threads are tightened at the elbow as well as the inflator and deflator buttons. I’ve seen both shipped loose. It isn’t a reflection of quality, but during a dive, any of these can be a serious problem. The parts themselves are good–just make sure they are tight.
This is a long, skinny wing. Buoyancy runs further along the tank than most other wings. Probably the nearest competitor is the Dive Rite Travel Wing, although the DGX Gears S1 Wing looks suspiciously similar to a wing made by Oxycheck, as well as one by Deep 6. (I don’t have the numbers, but I’m pretty sure Dive Rite sells a lot more wings than Oxycheck or Deep 6.)
Being a donut wing, air can transfer freely from side to side regardless of your orientation in the water. This is intended to allow for better freedom of movement underwater and to increase stability and lead to better trim. Chances are, you won’t notice any difference compared to a “horseshoe” style wing. I don’t.
That said, the DGX Single Tank wing is great in the water. The buoyancy cell rides very close to the diver’s center of buoyancy, which may help with trim, especially for those who tend to dive over-weighted.
Would I buy the DGX Gears Single Tank Wing? Is it worth it?
The simple answer is, yes. I would buy the DGX Gears Single Tank Wing, and I do feel it is worth the price (currently $289 US). A better question might be, is it my first choice of single tank wing? The answer to that is a little more involved.
Keep in mind, I have a lot of wings and just as many backplates, so I have used most of the popular ones underwater. Two wings that I just can’t understand are the OMS Mono Wing and any I have been underwater with by Halcyon. Both of these carry buoyancy at the top of the wing, which is the opposite of what most divers need to achieve perfect trim. Both dive better when mounted upside-down (just my opinion, but I am pretty freakish about trim and have tried both that way). Also, all you DIR/GUE divers, go ahead and flame me, but come on… over $600 for a bladder and a couple of valves?! Get real.
My favorite scuba wing (air cell) is the Dive Rite Travel Wing
For starters, I own and dive with both frequently. The DGX wing sells for $289, which is a great price. The Dive Rite Travel Wing has only 25 pounds of lift and is slightly shorter, but still hugs the tank pretty closely. It costs $369, so $80 more.
The deciding factors for me:
- The Dive Rite Travel Wing is slightly more compact for travel.
- The Dive Rite Travel Wing is constructed from SuperFabric, which is amazingly durable, and certainly more durable than 1000 denier nylon.
- The Dive Rite Travel Wing is largely open inside the bladder “donut hole” area, making it compatible with a wider range of tank band placements.
- The Dive Rite brand is available at your local dive shop. A lot of local dive shops get pretty territorial when it comes to Internet sales.
Final Thoughts About the DGX Gears S1 Single Tank Wing
I like it, and I 100% believe it is well worth the price and will last for many, many dives. I suspect the same wing is sold under other brand names (at a higher price). The DGX wing is awesome underwater as well.
However, if I were to choose between the DGX Gears Single Tank Wing and the Dive Rite Travel Wing, I favor the Dive Rite. It is only $80 more, slightly more compact, more versatile, tougher, and your local dive shop won’t give you so much grief for showing up with it.