Sidemount Diving Equipment: Tank Band Choices

Deviance · Nov 28, 2013

I am in the process of building my sidemount kit and I am currently looking for a tank band. I personally love the scubapro style tank band (this type)

and I would love to be able to continue using this style of tank band while sidemounting. My justification for using the scubapro style tank-band is simply because they are quicker. I can just loosen and open the tank band and mount it onto another tank without having to slide the whole tank band off the empty tank. Also, I still couldn't quite remember how to do the 1, 2, 3 weaving for the other type.

However, I was reading over scubatechphilippines note's section on tank bands/ cam bands and it didn't mention anything about quick release tank bands like the scubapro ones.

http://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/sidemount-diving-techniques/#Cam-Bands

Are the traditional type of cam bands like (this type)

preferred over scubapro style ones for sidemounting or am I just over-thinking?

Also, are there any real issues associated with scubapro style tank bands that I might have overlooked?

victorzamora · Nov 28, 2013

One thing is how your leashes get held onto your camband. Normally a triglide is slid over your camband strap and your knotted leash is placed through the gap in the tri-slide.....there's no good way of doing that on the Scubapro cambands, is there?

ColdH2O · Nov 28, 2013

Why not just use SS hose clamps, maybe $6 a piece. Just buy 4 of them and you are still cheaper than cam bands.

Pixelator · Nov 28, 2013

I like the Scubapro type. I love being able to switch the Pony from tank to tank quick without tools.

I built my sidemounts out of parts from older BCD's I got off craigslist (8 older but usable BCD's for 50.00) I used the tank straps to build my Pony Bottle mounts.

Here's a few pics, hope it helps.

Pixelator · Nov 28, 2013

ColdH2O:
Why not just use SS hose clamps, maybe $6 a piece. Just buy 4 of them and you are still cheaper than cam bands.

That's what I do, it works great, It costs me about 15.00 to build my mounts. They aren't high tech but they have worked fine with no problems for years.

here's the stuff I use to make mine.

Dive-aholic · Nov 28, 2013

The only concern I can see is if the SP camband isn't fastened on tight enough and it pops open. And this is very unlikely. I use SP style cambands on my rebreather cylinders. Use what works for you. Just make sure you understand any possible drawbacks. Regardless of which method I use (I use different style cambands depending on the cylinder), I usually run some innertube over the band to keep line from getting caught in it or from the band getting caught up on anything else.

victorzamora:
One thing is how your leashes get held onto your camband. Normally a triglide is slid over your camband strap and your knotted leash is placed through the gap in the tri-slide.....there's no good way of doing that on the Scubapro cambands, is there?

Sure there is. Scubapro cambands can easily accommodate triglides.

victorzamora · Nov 28, 2013

Thanks for the correction, Rob. I just figured with hardware on both ends there was no way of sliding triglides on there.

Deviance · Nov 28, 2013

victorzamora:
One thing is how your leashes get held onto your camband. Normally a triglide is slid over your camband strap and your knotted leash is placed through the gap in the tri-slide.....there's no good way of doing that on the Scubapro cambands, is there?

The width of a camband (scubapro and non-scubapro) are all 2 inches. As long as I can find a 2 inches tri-slide, I shouldn't have any problem sliding it onto the camband.

But thankyou for reminding me to pick up some tri-slide as well.

ColdH2O:
Why not just use SS hose clamps, maybe $6 a piece. Just buy 4 of them and you are still cheaper than cam bands.

I don't own my own tank and I want tool-less dis-assembly. Plus, if I go on a scuba vacation (ex: Maldives), I felt that using hose clamps would be quite inconvenient for the boat crews who are changing my tank.

Dive-aholic · Nov 28, 2013

If you look at the pics above closely you'll notice the "ring" end of the band is simply threaded through a loop that's secured by velcro. The velcro is held tight in place on the inside when you secure the camband on the cylinder.

DevonDiver · Nov 28, 2013

Deviance:
However, I was reading over scubatechphilippines note's section on tank bands/ cam bands and it didn't mention anything about quick release tank bands like the scubapro ones.

Sidemount Diving | Course Notes | Advanced Scuba

Are the traditional type of cam bands...preferred over scubapro style ones for sidemounting or am I just over-thinking?

I didn't differentiate in the article, simply because there are so many variants of cam-bands on the market. Delrin versus Steel, 'low-profile' or thinner options etc etc

Deviance:
Also, are there any real issues associated with scubapro style tank bands that I might have overlooked?

The only real issue I'd envision applies specifically to confined/overhead environment sidemount use. That'd be a potentially greater risk of entanglement and/or accident release of the cam band; should it make contact with guidelines/in restrictions etc. For open water only sidemount use, I'd say that the choice was acceptable.

Sidemount Diving Equipment: Tank Band Choices

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