Which Quick release tank bands?

[dumpsterpurrs]

Should I get the EDGE or the OEM?

Quick Fit Cam Strap with Stainless Steel Buckle

OTG Dive

Their locking mechanisms look different, and because I'm not a physics major, I'm not sure which one is better. Perhaps the EDGE?

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

Out of pure curiosity, why are you going with the quick release rather than a standard cam band?

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

I struggle to lift the whole thing up. Too heavy for me. I'll add a loop at the top of my wing/harness to hold the tank up before closing the qr buckles. It's just easier for me. I don't switch tank size.

 

[Zef]

I put a normal cam strap at the top and a quick release one down lower...seemed like a good idea, but in actual use it was not so much.

I have used both designs and find them to be a pain in the arse to use. They make removing my bp/w from a tank easier but getting them on the tank they are quite fiddly, especially when they are dry as they tend to shrink ever so much to make it difficult to clip.

I realized that it was far quicker and easier to just remove the weight from the pockets I have on my harness waist strap to get things set up than muck about with the QD straps...I also did what you did with adding a loop at the top of my plate to hang it in position consistently, this too has been abandoned as it was a great idea in my head but in use became more of pain.

With regards to clamping force, I found they both worked well.

-Z

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

I put a normal cam strap at the top and a quick release one down lower...seemed like a good idea, but in actual use it was not so much.

I have used both designs and find them to be a pain in the arse to use. They make removing my bp/w from a tank easier but getting them on the tank they are quite fiddly, especially when they are dry as they tend to shrink ever so much to make it difficult to clip.

I realized that it was far quicker and easier to just remove the weight from the pockets I have on my harness waist strap to get things set up than muck about with the QD straps...I also did what you did with adding a loop at the top of my plate to hang it in position consistently, this too has been abandoned as it was a great idea in my head but in use became more of pain.

With regards to clamping force, I found they both worked well.

-Z

Thanks for all the details! I'm trying to come up with the path of the least suffering... Cambands are so awful I literally want to cry every time I have to buckle them or lift the bc. Thinking of using the loop (maybe make it adjustable so it's easier to set it up?) And two bands. Would it help to wet the bands before putting the whole thing on a tank?

 

[Zef]

Thanks for all the details! I'm trying to come up with the path of the least suffering... Cambands are so awful I literally want to cry every time I have to buckle them or lift the bc. Thinking of using the loop (maybe make it adjustable so it's easier to set it up?) And two bands. Would it help to wet the bands before putting the whole thing on a tank?

For me, I started with an adjustable loop and then changed it to a fixed loop as the adjustable loop to hang my plate just made things worse. Eventually I just abandoned the idea as it made it a pain to get the plate on and off the tank and just did not work as I expected it to, and it made things more cluttered around my valve.

Wetting the bands is recommended but is not always practical, especially when I dive in colder temps.

If your cam strap experience is a pain then it could be how you have them threaded, or how you are using them, and/or it could be the webbing is too stiff. I bought a pair of regular cam straps from an online shop and the webbing was coated and stiff making them a real pain to use...they also could have stood to be a 2-4 inches longer. I purchased some other cam straps that were less stiff and a little longer and have had no problems....my daughter had the same experience with her setup as well.

If you are diving a bp/w then I definitely recommend using 2 cam straps...the tank will be held more secure. I get the top one semi-situated where it will be to hold the bp in place, then adjust the plate a bit on the tank and tighten/secure the bottom one down...then make any final adjustments and tighten and secure the top one properly.

-Z

 

[Zef]

Here is a video that may help you with using cam straps:


I don't always have the opportunity to wet my straps prior to placing my BP/W or BCD on the tank so I don't. I also don't stand sideways to the tank setup , I stand on the BC or BP side and reach over the tank to adjust and tighten the cam straps.

What I find really good about the video is how the guy demonstrates rocking the buckle up to lock the tail of the strap temporarily. This allows you to adjust your grip without losing tension before threading through the final slot of the buckle and clamping it down....and/or if you need to pull more webbing through the the buckle, by rocking the buckle up to temporarily lock the buckle in position you can let go of the tail of the strap with the other hand and readjust your grip for mechanical advantage, then just slightly back off pressure on the buckle and pull more strap through, rock and hold the buckle up to temporarily lock the strap again and either rinse and repeat until the strap is tight and/or use the technique to hold tension on the strap while you thread it through the final slot and cam the buckle down completely.

All this is dependent on having the cam strap properly threaded through the rest of the buckle. If you need a video resource for that let me know and I will send one to you.

-Z

 

[Zef]

Here is another video on youtube that shows both proper threading of the cam strap and how to rock the buckle up to temporarily lock the strap in place so one can adjust their grip.


-Z

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

When attaching a BP/W using cam bands, I slide it over the cylinder and put it into position. I then use my knee to hold it there while I tighten the cam bands.

I teach my students to rock the buckle to 90 degrees. If it is tight at 90 then you have it right. Then thread through the last slot and use the extra band material to ratchet it down. It is pretty simple with the right technique.

I have found the quick release to be hard to tighten and they have taken bites out of my fingers a time or two.

Good luck with whatever option you choose and keep us updated.

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

Here is a video that may help you with using cam straps:


I don't always have the opportunity to wet my straps prior to placing my BP/W or BCD on the tank so I don't. I also don't stand sideways to the tank setup , I stand on the BC or BP side and reach over the tank to adjust and tighten the cam straps.

What I find really good about the video is how the guy demonstrates rocking the buckle up to lock the tail of the strap temporarily. This allows you to adjust your grip without losing tension before threading through the final slot of the buckle and clamping it down....and/or if you need to pull more webbing through the the buckle, by rocking the buckle up to temporarily lock the buckle in position you can let go of the tail of the strap with the other hand and readjust your grip for mechanical advantage, then just slightly back off pressure on the buckle and pull more strap through, rock and hold the buckle up to temporarily lock the strap again and either rinse and repeat until the strap is tight and/or use the technique to hold tension on the strap while you thread it through the final slot and cam the buckle down completely.

All this is dependent on having the cam strap properly threaded through the rest of the buckle. If you need a video resource for that let me know and I will send one to you.

-Z

Ho boy so basically you've tried everything I've thought of testing myself, and you hate them all. Not so optimistic for me!

I've always dived rental jackets with one cambands. What I hate the most is lifting the bc over the tank. I also dislike closing the plastic buckle, but that part of the pain is quick.

I'm putting together my first personal set of harness, soft plate and wing. I will always be able to wet everything anytime I want, tropical boat diving only.

I'm taking all of your advice into consideration. I wonder if our differences in comfort preference and diving conditions would mean the best solutions for each of us might differ. Or perhaps all the cambands I've used are crappy plastic rental stuff, and I might not hate better cambands and ss buckles. Hm...