tank straps - cam vs bail and buckle

[jallen013]

it seems that the cam type tank strap is the overwhelming favorite in the scubaboard community...



... but i find myself wondering about the bail and buckle / quick release style strap.



being able to wrap the strap around a tank, engage the buckle and go seems to be quicker and easier than wiggling the straps down around a tank but maybe i'm missing something. thoughts?

 

[Drewpy]

The cam is the best..set it and forget it. (unless you change tank sizes)

 

[halocline]

I think you got that one backwards, Drewpy. The scubapro (wire bail) style are set-for-a-given-tank, while the cam bands you just loosen and tighten for all tanks. And there's the big difference. I have a buddy that likes the SP style, but he only dives with 7.25" tanks. I like the cam bands better because I'm constantly switching between 7.25 and 6.9" tanks.

 

[kelemvor]

I like the buckle style, in fact I just got some last night to go on my new diverite bp/w. I feel like it's easier to get the buckle style tightened on the tank real good so things don't slip. Also as you mentioned, I think the other style are more of a pain to slide over the top of a tank. Guys in the local shop don't stock them and call them "finger biters" for obvious reasons. I ended up having to order online.

The ones I got are these: Scubamax Extra Heavy Duty Cylinder / Tank Band TB-07 They have the metal clamp but also a velcro strip you can use to adjust the length pretty easily. I've got two lps 108's (8") and two al80's (7.25"), so I'll have to adjust on the occasions when I might dive the aluminum.

 

[Ernesto]

I use the Scubapro ones. All metal, no plastic. I leave the bottom one hooked and slide it over the tank until it's in the right spot and then cinch it. Then I put the top one around the tank, hook it in and cinch it tight. Only Scubapro gear I have. Love 'em.
(I had a cam band with a plastic cinch for a while...until the plastic shattered on a cold winter dive day.) Scubapro "steel" band on pony now.)

 

[merxlin]

And the ScubaPro (and now Aqualung) are not hard to adjust. Velcro on one side of the strap makes it easy. I go from an 8" tank to a 7.25" all the time. But the second style he is showing is really just a standard cam with a quick release feature. I had a set of these and found them hard to get to "release" (completely come apart from the buckle) if they were tight enough to keep the tank snug. Many people have cut away some of the "hook" side to make that easier.

 

[eelnoraa]

I start with cam stye, try quick release type for a while, and went back to cam type. You would think quick release type is easier for changing tank, it is only half true. It make it easier to take the tank off, but harder to put it back on, especially if you want to tank to be at a very specific location.

 

[Drewpy]

I stand corrected..the picture is confusing.I do prefer the SP type, my wife has the adjustable type and has had problems.

 

[Ernesto]

The other reason I use the ScubaPro type is that I attach the bottom band then my pony bottle goes next then the top tank band goes last. Pretty hard to do with the band that just slides over top.
(pic of Scubapro band "undone" attached.)

 

[phasechange]

I have one of both on my DSS rig.
The top one is a cam style that I use to position and hold the rig on the tank (slip it over the tank top and pull tight)

The bottom one is the scubapro style that locks the tank in place (I have seen and helped people at depth put their tank back into the staps that only used the cam style straps). The bottom one being the open type makes it easier to take the tank on and off (no trying to slid the tank out inches at a time).