Here are some thoughts on the Si-Tech Virgo dryglove system:
The Si-tech Virgo system comes in 2 version...an aftermarket version if you already have the QCS oval system installed, and a "complete" system that has the PU ring to glue into the suit like the one that comes with the QCS oval system, but this version does not come with the hard oval rings of the QCS oval system, it comes with the PU ring, the suit side rings, the glove side rings and the colored spanner rings for mounting the gloves.
The major benefit when Si-tech released the QCS oval system was its lower profile and less bulk compared with its still produced predecessor, the Si-Tech round Quick Cuff platform. The diameter and bulkiness of the round QC system posed a problem for folks who had smaller wrists/hands and for some it interfered with manipulating valves when reaching back on a set of double tanks. The smaller less bulky profile of the QCS ovals was a welcome design change for many.
Si-tech introduced the Antares dryglove system as an oval-shaped direct fit system to specifically match up with the QCS ovals. Great concept, but in reality the Antares system was fragile and many had issues with it leaking no matter what they did. Those that could get the system to work had complaints that they could not get it to work consistently from a "no leak" standpoint.
Si-tech eventually introduced the Virgo. Despite it hitting the market a few years ago it was not listed on their website until not too long ago.
The Virgo system renders the QCS oval system round because the hard oval rings of the QCS ovals used to hold the wrist seal in place are discarded, and the main part of the Virgo system (the blue piece) is used instead.
The Virgo system, in actuality, is very similar to the Si-tech Glove Lock dry glove system. And here is the rub...the Glove Lock system was designed for the Si-tech round cuff system....basically by adding the Virgo system you get a hella bulky system which is exactly the issue that si-tech was addressing when they created the oval system...
...Even worse, Si-tech chose to change the orientation of the parts between the Virgo and the Glove Lock system. With the glove lock the large diameter rubber coated locking ring is on the glove ring side. WIth the Virgo, Si-tech chose to position this on the wrist/suit side of the system. This means that one has to dive with this bulk no matter if they are diving with dry gloves, wet gloves, or bare handed.
All the parts for the Virgo system are otherwise identical to the Glove lock system except the blue piece that captures the wrist seal, along with the orientation difference noted above. It makes one wonder if Si-tech developed this as a Franken-System with a surplus of parts on hand from the Glove Lock System instead of investing in developing a well thought out product.
The added bulk/size causes interference with users wrists and hands and makes the system uncomfortable to wear and in the case of my wife has caused bruising around the base of her thumb and wrist.
Pros:
1. The Virgo System is easy to install.
2. The system is as dependable as the Si-Tech Glove Lock system if the gloves are installed properly (see Con #5).
3. Very easy to install gloves on the glove side ring.
4. Can be used with Silicon or latex wrist seals.
5. Slightly easier to take apart than the QCS oval hard ring when a seal change is necessary.
Cons:
1. Extremely bulky.
2. Locking ring on cuff side forcing the wearer to dive with it all the time or remove and change back to the oval hard ring of the QCS oval system (not an option if the Virgo is factory installed unless the hard oval rings are purchased as an aftermarket item).
3. The larger, bulkier profile negates the benefit of the lower profile oval system the Virgo was designed to integrate with.
4. Not only bulky with regard to diameter/circumference, the system adds significant length to the overall sleeve length of the suit.
5. Unlike the glove rings on the Si-tech Glove Lock system, the Virgo glove side rings do not have a positive stop for the "spanner" rings that hold the glove to the glove-side ring. This is not discussed in any of the literature and if unknown can cause the gloves to be incompletely/incorrectly installed and result in a leak.
While the Virgo system maintains the user's ability to quickly change damaged wrist seals in the field along with providing a direct fit dryglove platform for the QCS ovals, my opinion is this product is not well thought out and I would not recommend purchasing it. A better option for direct fit with the QVS ovals is the Waterproof Ultima DGS, and possibly the newly released 4th Element Ellipse system.
-Z
The Si-tech Virgo system comes in 2 version...an aftermarket version if you already have the QCS oval system installed, and a "complete" system that has the PU ring to glue into the suit like the one that comes with the QCS oval system, but this version does not come with the hard oval rings of the QCS oval system, it comes with the PU ring, the suit side rings, the glove side rings and the colored spanner rings for mounting the gloves.
The major benefit when Si-tech released the QCS oval system was its lower profile and less bulk compared with its still produced predecessor, the Si-Tech round Quick Cuff platform. The diameter and bulkiness of the round QC system posed a problem for folks who had smaller wrists/hands and for some it interfered with manipulating valves when reaching back on a set of double tanks. The smaller less bulky profile of the QCS ovals was a welcome design change for many.
Si-tech introduced the Antares dryglove system as an oval-shaped direct fit system to specifically match up with the QCS ovals. Great concept, but in reality the Antares system was fragile and many had issues with it leaking no matter what they did. Those that could get the system to work had complaints that they could not get it to work consistently from a "no leak" standpoint.
Si-tech eventually introduced the Virgo. Despite it hitting the market a few years ago it was not listed on their website until not too long ago.
The Virgo system renders the QCS oval system round because the hard oval rings of the QCS ovals used to hold the wrist seal in place are discarded, and the main part of the Virgo system (the blue piece) is used instead.
The Virgo system, in actuality, is very similar to the Si-tech Glove Lock dry glove system. And here is the rub...the Glove Lock system was designed for the Si-tech round cuff system....basically by adding the Virgo system you get a hella bulky system which is exactly the issue that si-tech was addressing when they created the oval system...
...Even worse, Si-tech chose to change the orientation of the parts between the Virgo and the Glove Lock system. With the glove lock the large diameter rubber coated locking ring is on the glove ring side. WIth the Virgo, Si-tech chose to position this on the wrist/suit side of the system. This means that one has to dive with this bulk no matter if they are diving with dry gloves, wet gloves, or bare handed.
All the parts for the Virgo system are otherwise identical to the Glove lock system except the blue piece that captures the wrist seal, along with the orientation difference noted above. It makes one wonder if Si-tech developed this as a Franken-System with a surplus of parts on hand from the Glove Lock System instead of investing in developing a well thought out product.
The added bulk/size causes interference with users wrists and hands and makes the system uncomfortable to wear and in the case of my wife has caused bruising around the base of her thumb and wrist.
Pros:
1. The Virgo System is easy to install.
2. The system is as dependable as the Si-Tech Glove Lock system if the gloves are installed properly (see Con #5).
3. Very easy to install gloves on the glove side ring.
4. Can be used with Silicon or latex wrist seals.
5. Slightly easier to take apart than the QCS oval hard ring when a seal change is necessary.
Cons:
1. Extremely bulky.
2. Locking ring on cuff side forcing the wearer to dive with it all the time or remove and change back to the oval hard ring of the QCS oval system (not an option if the Virgo is factory installed unless the hard oval rings are purchased as an aftermarket item).
3. The larger, bulkier profile negates the benefit of the lower profile oval system the Virgo was designed to integrate with.
4. Not only bulky with regard to diameter/circumference, the system adds significant length to the overall sleeve length of the suit.
5. Unlike the glove rings on the Si-tech Glove Lock system, the Virgo glove side rings do not have a positive stop for the "spanner" rings that hold the glove to the glove-side ring. This is not discussed in any of the literature and if unknown can cause the gloves to be incompletely/incorrectly installed and result in a leak.
While the Virgo system maintains the user's ability to quickly change damaged wrist seals in the field along with providing a direct fit dryglove platform for the QCS ovals, my opinion is this product is not well thought out and I would not recommend purchasing it. A better option for direct fit with the QVS ovals is the Waterproof Ultima DGS, and possibly the newly released 4th Element Ellipse system.
-Z
