Halcyon Weighted Single Tank Adapter Review
Adds 6 pounds of non-ditchable ballast in line with your spine to reduce the need for weight around your hips and improve trim control.
Overall Score: 8.3 / 10
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enables more balanced rig configuration | Included bolts are overly long |
| Centralizes weight along the spine | Bolts are permanently attached |
| Reduces need for hip-mounted weights | Requires trimming or modification to fit comfortably |
Why I Chose Halcyon’s Weighted STA
I follow the balanced rig principle and typically dive a drysuit or thick wetsuit, so I wanted a way to carry more of my ballast in a fixed, non-ditchable position. The Halcyon weighted STA adds 6 pounds directly behind the wing and backplate, reducing the amount of weight I need to carry around my hips. It didn’t eliminate trim weights entirely, but it let me move a meaningful portion of my ballast up and in line with my spine. That made a noticeable difference in how easily I could hold trim. I’ve used it with both HP100s and AL80s in different exposure suits, and it’s remained stable and consistent.
Performance in the Water
- Trim & Buoyancy: The centralized weight improves backplate balance and lets me reduce hip-mounted weight. Buoyancy characteristics remained consistent across tank types and suits.
- Kick Styles / Usage: No impact on kicking or control. It mounts securely and stays out of the way once installed.
- Comfort: The included bolts were too long and pressed into my back. I had to trim them down to make the system usable.
- Control / Function: Solid mount, stable tank alignment, and no compatibility issues with my existing setup. Once installed, I don’t think about it.
Verdict
This upgrade made my weighting cleaner and my trim more consistent. It didn’t eliminate the need for all trim weight, but it allowed me to shift a significant portion off my hips and into a fixed, well-aligned position. The major downside was the hardware. Halcyon includes bolts that are much too long and permanently attached, which required cutting them down to avoid discomfort. Once that was handled, it worked perfectly.
Would I buy it again? Yes. The functionality is excellent, but I’d plan on modifying the bolts right away.
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
| Category | Score (0–10) | Weight | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function & Performance | 9 | 30% | 2.7 |
| Ease of Use | 7 | 20% | 1.4 |
| Versatility | 8 | 15% | 1.2 |
| Durability & Build Quality | 9 | 15% | 1.35 |
| Value | 8 | 10% | 0.8 |
| Brand Trust & Transparency | 8 | 10% | 0.8 |
| Total | 8.25 | ||
Rounded Display Score: 8.3
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 9: Centralized ballast behind the spine improves trim and reduces need for hip weight. Performs exactly as intended.
- Ease of Use – 7: Bolts were far too long and permanently mounted. Trimming them was required before it could be comfortably used.
- Versatility – 8: Works with multiple tank sizes and suit combinations. Adapts well to different setups without requiring reconfiguration.
- Durability & Build Quality – 9: Rugged Halcyon construction. Once the hardware is modified, it’s a maintenance-free component.
- Value – 8: Not cheap, but the improved balance and weighting justify the price if you value rig control.
- Brand Trust & Transparency – 8: Halcyon delivers consistent build quality, but their bolt design could use a rethink.