BP/W tank cam bands

[lostlugnut]

I have been pondering this question for a few days and am unsure if it is good idea or a mistake waiting to happen. I searched to see if anyone has posed the question before but my google-fu is weak today...

Here is what I am thinking. I have a HOG SS BP with a 32lb wing and making a one piece harness. I am still gathering all the parts, and here is where I am. The plate has slots for 2 bands and I was planning on using a standard cam band for the top and a quick release for the bottom. My thinking is I slide the top band down and then once it is where it needs to be and tight I just have to hook and snap the second band. Using both standard bands I had to shimmy both down a little at a time. Using two quick release bands seems like you will have to hold the plate and any weight added to the plate up in position while you hook up one band and snap it down.

Some details. I am not planning to use a STA. I am not going to be using doubles. My exposure is a 7mm wetsuit that I rent. I do not do tech and if I do start going that route I will adjust my gear to suit. I mainly do shore and boat dives in CA at the moment and plan on getting back to the southeast and warmer waters. I rent tanks which are mostly AL80s. I hope these help. Thank you in advance.

 

[buddhasummer]

Yes, it will work, you'll be fine.

 

[gcarter]

It is what I do.

My rig came with 2 Highland bands. Too awkward, especially on a boat, so I switched the top one to a standard cam band. Works nicely.

 

[Dave616]

What type of QR cam bands do you plan to use?

I ordered 2 sets of Highland SS 2-piece Cam Bands and absolutely hated them; I don't think either set ever made it in the water. I ended up going back to a standard SS design.

Edit:
I put the DGX version on my wife's Zeagle Lazer (working on getting her over to the dark side) because her BC was so heavy to lift over a new tank. She likes them an they work well.

 

[tbone1004]

will work just fine, though once the bands are wet which you should be doing before you put them on anyway there is really not that much difficulty in shimmying them down unless you are not strong enough to hold the rig up for the 15 seconds to do it, probably shouldn't be diving at that point really *Exception would be a DSS plate with the weight plates attached, or the extra thick custom plates etc, or bc's with a sh1t-ton of lead in integrated pockets*, or too short to get it up and over an AL80, though you probably shouldn't be diving that tank.

My solution is the much easier but not quite as cheap route, but for the limited single tank diving that I do, vs the lot that I used to do off of boats, was to have a second STA, and just leave an STA on each tank and use the delrin thumb wheels to swap the plate over from one bottle to the other. Made the whole thing pack much better as well. Just left the STA's on my tanks the whole time, almost never took them off.

 

[AdivingBel]

Works like a champ. I first did it on the wife's Stiletto and it worked so well I did the same on my Express Tech. I have a Scuba Pro on hers (had it laying around). I put a DGX band on mine. Both work fine.

 

[lostlugnut]

Thanks everyone. I was going to go with these from DGX.

Top band... DGX Tank Strap, Standard with S/S Cam Buckle

bottom band...Tank Strap, Quick Release with S/S Hinge Buckle

Now I just need to get an

 

[Akimbo]

Here is a modification that significantly improves the ease of swapping Highland Cam bands (two posts in a row).

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...ave-either-these-tank-straps.html#post5770196

You might find the whole thread useful.

 

[ams511]

One advantage of having two quick releases is that you can remove the wing from the plate without needing to undo the cam straps. Also I remember there being a new version of the Highland bands a couple years back, I am not sure what the change was.

 

[divad]

What type of QR cam bands do you plan to use?

I put the DGX version on my wife's Zeagle Lazer (working on getting her over to the dark side)

Dark side of what?