Tank setup

[Patoux01]

However, I do have a set of travel straps set up that use cam bands and the strap makes it easy to get the cam bands/lower clip in the same position every time I switch tanks.

I fixed that by travelling with a piece of cord, my jubilee bands, hose retainers and my swiss knife that always sits in my bag anyway. The cord has 2 knots in it that are the length that Andy presented here: How to locate the optimal height for sidemount cylinder bands although I've been using it since I started diving.

Didn't want to pay the price of those fancy straps.

 

[rick00001967]

I put a simple loop of 440 cord around the tank neck. IF/WHEN I need a load bearing connection, I'll use a double-ender snap. Once in-water I'll remove the double-ender and put it away.

when i was using heavier steel tanks and trying different techniques for entries, this is what i did as well. seemed simple enough. when i mentioned it here on the boards the idea was not well received however.
i did find leaving them attached during the dive def caused issues. and leaving them unattached and hanging did not seem like the best solution either.
i rarely sm now but when i do it is primarily in warmer water so it really is not an issue for me anymore. i think if i was doing the type of diving that required me to don both tanks before entering the water i would switch to bm doubles.

 

[Remy B.]

One thing that might be tripping you up: The top snap is NOT to hold the tank in place while diving, that's the job of the bungee.

I guess it depends on what Sidemount system you have.

 

[victorzamora]

I guess it depends on what Sidemount system you have.

Ring Bungees are really the only exception, but my statement was more of an in general statement. And, honestly, I'd argue that the top snap doesn't hold your tank in place even in the ring bungee system. The bungee holds it in place and the bolt snap holds it onto the bungee.

I see a lot of people new to SM (including me when I first started) thinking that the top clip helped hold the tank in the water, and it sounded like OP was thinking it did as well. For most SM systems, the top snap is simply not required once in the water.