STAs and What size wing for BP?

[fishchaser]

For the best results you will want a 30lbs or smaller wing. Several of the guys i dive with use 18 or 27lbs wings

IMO you want a wing in the range of 36#-45# for cold water diving.

Do not buy a single tank wing over 40 lbs

Okay, I'm getting ready to buy a BCD and am pretty certain that I'm going the BP/wing route. But I'm confused as to what size would be needed. While the other posts (quoted above) were helpful, they were somewhat conflicting.

Background: I'm 240#, just bought a Bare Trilam ATR drysuit (yeah!) and will be using that around here, but hope to use BP/wing on ocassional tropical trips with a 3mm full wetsuit. I'm planning on getting the Hammerhead SS BP which is 12# with their STA. I used about 35# of lead for 7mm wetsuit here, and 12# for a shorty in the tropics. I do not plan on diving doubles, and would accept buying a new wing if I change my mind in the future.

So, what lift would be required or desired? Just how does one determine this?

From the Halcyon website:

The 36 lbs. wing is designed for use in cold water where heavy exposure protection with steel cylinders is the norm

(they are comparing their 36lb Pioneer to their 27lb Pioneer. Why is more bouyancy needed for cold water use? More lead to offset thicker, more bouyant wetsuit? But if you are neutrally bouyant (suit offseting lead, or vice versa), why would you need more lift from a wing?

And, does anyone prefer one brand over another, and for what reason? Dive-rite? Oxycheq? Halcyon? Or, does any of those manufacturers make a wing that's best suited for my application?

Thanks again!