Apeks Gearlock vs SP Super Cinch cam band systems

[KenGordon]

Hi!

I'm looking to get a new set of cam bands to use for my BP/W single tank setup and my zeagle ranger single tank bcd setup. I have normal plastic ones at the moment but it's a bit of a pain lifting the bcd over the tank so i'm looking to get one of these quick release systems. I know i could just remove the weights but that complicates the whole process even further, so I have narrowed it down to the Apeks/Aqualung gearlock system or the Scubapro super cinch.

Does anyone have any experiences with either of these systems or can advise on which would be better?

Looking at both of them it looks like the gearlock might hold the tanks a bit better given that it has a rubber traction pad on the back of the buckle, compared to just a piece of webbing/fabric on the scubapro. I also saw on another thread someone mentioned that there was an older and a newer style scubapro super cinch design and apparently the older ones were a pain in the backside to adjust the size. I tend to dive with either stubby/regular 12L tanks or a 15L steel tank and swap them around all the time.

I can get the Apeks cam bands for £76 for both, or the SP cam bands for £90 if i buy them individually or £70 if i buy them with the scubapro soft backplate and just put the backplate in the bin. I would have bought the SP ones already but it was in the back of my mind that it might turn up with the older designed ones that i have already been warned about.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Dan

My other half has an Aqualung BCD with one of these bands. I have to count my fingers after using it. Also, with it being a big lump of metal it is nasty to mess with using cold fingers between dives. I am also anti integrated weights, when the weather gets slightly bumpy the kit with the weights still attached is first to fall over.

 

[Daniel M. Thomas]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I decided to get one set of the aqualung straps and one set of the apeks ones, so I can compare them

 

[happy-diver]

That's funny mate, they're both the same except
AQUALUNG
APEKS
What about the prices

 

[Daniel M. Thomas]

Thought that was the case but i wasn't sure, aqualung ones were £35 and the Apeks ones were £39 each

 

[Darcimus]

Ouch.....more expensive to scratch the Apeks logo on the clasp. Not completely surprised, though I love my Apeks stuff.

 

[JackD342]

Ouch.....more expensive to scratch the Apeks logo on the clasp. Not completely surprised, though I love my Apeks stuff.

Odd. I just checked pricing in the US, and both brands are the same price. Maybe your source just missed a price increase on one.

But I did notice that there is another variation to be careful of - the Wrapture system version and the non-Wrapture version. And no, aside from the descriptions I do NOT know the actual differences between them, you have to use your own judgement on that.

Wrapture system current items are Black Ice, Axiom, Dimension, Soul, and Lotus.

 

[Darcimus]

Odd. I just checked pricing in the US, and both brands are the same price. Maybe your source just missed a price increase on one.

But I did notice that there is another variation to be careful of - the Wrapture system version and the non-Wrapture version. And no, aside from the descriptions I do NOT know the actual differences between them, you have to use your own judgement on that.

Wrapture system current items are Black Ice, Axiom, Dimension, Soul, and Lotus.

Haven't seen a non-wrapture setup yet....probably just a cummerbund and clip. Wrapture is actually pretty comfortable and I like the way it's tightened too.

 

[JackD342]

Yes, I like the Wrapture on my Axiom too. But it's not obvious what that has to do with a different GripLock design.

My only guess is that the length of the strap may be different, depending on the dimensions of the hard backpack it is intended for. Remember that there are 3 positions in the Velcro strap for the rough adjustment based on cylinder diameter. If the backpack "eats up" more or less strap, then those adjustment slots are no longer sized right.

Which also makes me realize that if using a GripLock with another company's BCD, the same issue may present itself. Should be no problem using the strap, just the pre-marked bare spots in the Velcro will need to be ignored.

 

[Daniel M. Thomas]

The gear locks have arrived, I can confirm they are exactly the same design but the width of the strap webbing is slightly increased on the aqualung opposed to the apeks for some reason. 3-5mm difference .