Shugrnutz
Registered
Claymore, why are you not interested in the new Aqualung style lock? My son and I have had excellent luck with the ones on our Axiom BCDs.
SS tank cam band buckles?
- Thread starter claymore
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The Aqualung and Scubapro-style bands depend on Velcro, which is hard to adjust for maximum tightness and the Velcro is prone to wear out.
OP
claymore
Contributor
I have had issues with them being difficult to unlatch if adjusted to to tight and nipping at your fingers when opening and closing. I change tank sizes often enough that I need cam bands that easily and quickly adjust. I also DM and with the new skill of resecuring a loose tank they are not very practicle to use with students for this skill.It is just a matter of what works best for me.
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I use DiveRite (pre roller version) AGIR and Halcyon cam bands (all same design). I don't like the QR ones either, have caught my fingers before, quite possibly user error but it's never happened using the DR AGIR or H ones so that's what I'm sticking with.
seaseadee
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I have the Highland straps and they work great. With Akimbo's modification they are as good as I've used. If you take them apart for travel, I find it a bit of a challenge to get the buckle re-threaded but I've got a photo on my phone so I manage OK. I do like the Scubapro single strap buckles also (they are pricey if purchasing them separately). Never had a problem on my old Scubapro BC with it.
Jim
I wondered if anyone besides me was willing to take a hack-saw to their Highland bands. I am glad it worked for you.
I bought the Highland QR straps from DGX a couple of months ago. I did a few dives with them and determined they were a serious PITA. Tank swaps took me longer than when I was using regular cam bands. I had read the threads about modding the Highland strap to make it possible to hook them without loosening the strap first. But, I didn't want to hassle with that. I felt like they would still be a PITA - just not as bad of one.
I then bought a set of the DGX Quick Release straps.
https://www.divegearexpress.com/tank-strap-quick-release-with-s-s-hinge-buckle
I have done a few dives with these now. I think about 10. These straps are great. They say these are "ScubaPro style". I know you said you're not looking at SP-style, so maybe ignore the rest of this and just know that this is one vote in favor of "Highland QR sucks".
There was a comment already posted about these and the Highland ones being dependent on Velcro. Yes, the Highland ones definitely are. And it's Velcro that, if/when the Velcro doesn't hold the strap, the strap tail could get loose and then easily pull the buckle open. With these DGX QR straps, there is Velcro, but you adjust it once, to the size of your tanks, and then leave it alone. And it's sandwiched between the strap and tank when you're using it, so there's no way for it to get weak and have anything come loose and accidentally pop your buckle open.
I will say that, when the Velcro is good on the Highland strap, it does potentially add some security to the buckle by acting to hold the buckle closed. In contrast, the DGX QR buckle is not held closed by anything other than the force of the cam action "pulling" it to the closed position once you get it closed past a certain point. But, the way the end of the buckle "lever" is shaped, it's not like something could really accidentally get under it and flip it up. So, I think it's pretty unlikely the DGX buckle would ever get opened accidentally.
I like the DGX QR straps so much and disliked the Highland straps so much that I gave the Highland straps away, to another SB'er, and even paid the shipping out of my own pocket just to send them away.
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