Two tank Straps for BCD? Why not?

[DevilEyeDog]

I had a terrible incident where my tank slipped out of my current BCD that only has one tank strap. That took me down the rabbit hole don’t BCD have two?

Since it is not fun to not be able to secure a tank 30 minutes into a dive at 60 feet deep while trying to maintain buoyancy I’d like a BCD with two straps. In my current Mares jacket I was able to place a second strap.

Even if the BCD does not come with two, do you know of any that you can add a second one?

I was looking at Scubapro Hydros Pro but it’s not possible to add a second strap.

Scubapro tells me that one cannot be added to the Seahawk, but in looking online some people have?

Currently have a jacket and am looking at a back inflate. I am also a drysuit diver and do travel to warmer waters.
Thank you for your help.

 

[tursiops]

BP/W

 

[DevilEyeDog]

BP/W

Yeah…it’s the weight for travel I don’t want. They often do have two straps and that’s great but heavy AF for travel.

 

[rongoodman]

Yeah…it’s the weight for travel I don’t want. They often do have two straps and that’s great but heavy AF for travel.

If you’re worried about the weight, get an aluminum plate.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

a minimalist BP/w will be significantly lighter than any jacket style BCD.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

If you’re worried about the weight, get an aluminum plate.

rhymey.

 

[Boarderguy]

Yeah…it’s the weight for travel I don’t want. They often do have two straps and that’s great but heavy AF for travel.

AL plate, wing, and harness is far lighter than BCDs... You'll also require less lead to sink since it doesn't have all the extra floaty material and they dry faster, both are huge pluses for travel.

 

[BoltSnap]

I was looking at Scubapro Hydros Pro but it’s not possible to add a second strap.

Scubapro tells me that one cannot be added to the Seahawk

With Scubapro BC's, you don't need a second BC tank band since the Scubapro BC Tank band is very secure and will be most difficult to open or have the tank drop. In addition, these two BC's have a tank valve strap that would help in retaining the tank should the main tank strap break (VERY unlikely event that has never happened to me or anyone I know in over 30 years of diving with SP BC's).

P.S. The SeaHawk 2 BC has 3 straps, the main Tank band, a Velcro narrower tank band and the Tank valve strap.

The SeaHawk was FAR easier to put on the tank and take it off using the SP cinch strap than a two tank band BC (cam bands). I don't want to deal with trying to attach a BC with two standard cam bands to a tank compared with one Scubapro BC tank strap.

 

[BoltSnap]

AL plate, wing, and harness is far lighter than BCDs... You'll also require less lead to sink since it doesn't have all the extra floaty material and they dry faster, both are huge pluses for travel.

This is NOT true at all from experience. In my last trip to Hurghada in February I took my SeaHawk 2 and an AL BP/W bc. I used the AL BP/W for the first 4 days and I later switched to the SP SeaHawk 2 bc and I had less lead with the SeaHawk BC, only 1kg less I think. I never went back to the AL BP/W for the following two weeks of diving. The SeaHawk was more comfortable, easier to put on and far easier to attach to the tank and just more convenient than a your BP/W. It dried very fast, never had complaints about this matter. It is very easy to pack and take much less space and very light. They Hydros Pro is about the same but little more bulky (I have the SP weight pockets on it and love them).

 

[js1221]

Zeagle BCDs come with 2 tank straps; at least the Ranger and Stiletto do.