Normally when I test a wing-and-harness system, a fair amount of customisation is required to get the layout I prefer.  |
Normally when I test a wing-and-harness system, a fair amount of customisation is required to get the layout I prefer. The new Tekwing from AP Valves, however, required very little modification. Indeed, all I added was a couple of bungee loops to keep the direct-feed hose tidy.
Fitting the Tekwing to a pair of twin 12-litre cylinders took around 15 minutes and required a certain amount of thought, as the version I was provided with had double-cam band slots which allow the fitting of two sets of twin-set cam bands, top and bottom. This cylinder cam setup is designed to retain a twin-set consisting of two independent cylinders (with separate first stages rather than a manifold) as firmly and rigidly as steel bands. The problem was that I had a manifolded set. I would, therefore, have preferred a way of simply using the backpack and fitting it straight onto my existing bands as with a conventional harness. On the other hand, the ‘Super Cam’ (as AP Valves calls them) webbing bands do have the advantage over steel bands in that they are easier to pack for travel, require no tools to fit and are easily adjustable to suit other diameter cylinders.
I had the optional weight integration system fitted, but chose to use the pockets to hold a delayed SMB reel and buoy and spare mask rather than weights. I also used the Auto-Air, which replaces the standard inflator and has the advantage of replacing the second regulator – it acts as a demand valve in an emergency situation.
I tested the wing on a week’s trip to Scapa Flow where, because I was using a twin-set and occasional 7-litre side-mount, I knew a fair amount of buoyancy would be required and I wasn’t disappointed – the Tekwing provides in excess of 26kg and had plenty in reserve during all my dives. The harness features two welded, stainless-steel D-rings that can be moved to the ideal position, and two further D-rings on the wings for easy attachment of side-mounted stage cylinders. These are ‘pre-bent’, which made attaching the side-mount a relatively simple operation.
If you tend to dive head-down every now and again, two crotch straps prevent the set from falling over your shoulders, while at the same time reducing ‘ride-up’ on inflation of the wing at the surface. As with the Commando BC, the Tekwing features an over-pressure valve and two dump-valves, one at the kidney and the new dumping elbow at the shoulder, which is integral to the corrugated hose assembly.
After the first couple of dives, using the wing became second nature, which is exactly what makes a piece of kit good. I particularly liked the generous shoulder straps that made kitting up on a rolling boat a relatively simple procedure.
The wing comes as a ‘one-size-fits-all’, and as I am more than six feet tall, I had most of the straps tightened towards the maximum. So if you are slight of build and short, it could be a touch too big. If AP Valves is to make serious inroads into this competitive section of the BC market, it should include the option to have a back-pack that will accept standard stainless-steel cam bands, even if it means sacrificing the adjustable lumbar-support feature.
At under £300 for the basic wing including the harness, the Tekwing is excellent value and if it proves to be as hardwearing as the rest of the range, will give a very low cost of ownership.
VERDICT
Well built and easy to use
Value 9/10
Performance 8/10
CONTACT
Company AP Valves
Phone 01326 561040
Web www.apvalves.com
