Its like the industry knows bp/w is the optimal setup for every diver from novice to pro but the suits in the board room know there's no money in just rebranding a piece of steel and some seatbelt webbing.

Great video, thanks for the info. This is on my wish list but probably the grey version.

Would be very interested in a comparison video between this and the scubapro hydros pro? As they both seem pitched at same position/ market.

They should have made it AquaLung and kept Apeks technical gear only.

I love mine.

You should put the bcd on so we can see the actual size in a person. Love your reviews.

I remember when I started diving thinking how nice it would be having a system like rucksacks have similar to this. Particularly for shore dives with a bit of walk in.

I have had one for about 1,5 years now and would like to share an experience I encoutered on a recent dive holiday which I've never had with other BDCs: during the dive I was floating above some others in the group now and again. I found out that their air bubbles got trapped in the folds underneath the bladder and accumulated to the point that it was trying to roll me over. At first I didn't realise this was going on and I was just very annoyed having to counteract an unexpected roll force, until I rolled onto my side to look at a wall and suddenly a whole load of air escaped from underneath the BCD. I'm not sure if anyone at Apeks encountered this during their testing phase but it's pretty annoying.

That one looks nice

Would have been nice to have a second (main) tank strap higher up with a couple of trim weight pocket options to distribute some of your weight to the back if you need to work on your trim.

If they made a stainless backplate in that color I would buy it for my BP/W setup!

I like how the tank strap is quite low. The Camband on my Oceanic Biolite is really high and I can't mount the cylinder low enough, which means I'm always banging my head on my reg.

The elastic straps around the bladder don't increase streamlining as you suggested. In fact, they do the exact opposite, and have a few other negatives that need to be considered: 1) The bungees create folds in the wing which trap air and prevent it from properly finding its way to the high point to vent as you change orientation. 2) The bungees themselves present an entrapment hazard should they become hooked on anything. 3) The bungees act to keep the bladder constrained close to the diver, instead of allowing the wing to float up and cradle the cylinder(s) where that gas confers the greatest attitude stability, because the center of buoyancy is then maximally higher than the center of mass. By holding the bladder close to the center of mass, it is easy to roll, but more difficult to hold steady at any desired angle of roll. 4) The aforementioned folds in the wing created by the bungees defeat the flattened streamlined shape that is otherwise assumed by an unconstrained wing, increasing relative drag. 5) The bungees create positive pressure within the bladder when it is inflated, which will act to forcefully dump the wing in the event of a tear in the bladder or failed corrugated hose fitting, exascerbating the problem and potentially causing a complete loss of buoyancy in an emergency. 6) The positive pressure acts to create a lung loading problem, even when the wing is functioning properly, acting against oral inflation. 7) The positive pressure complicates the potential use of the BC inflator as a tertiary backup regulator by inhaling from the oral inflator while depressing both the inflate and deflate buttons simultaneously.

I have the Exotec, and I must say that I am not satisfied to date. The reason is that during diving, it keeps turning me either to the right or to the left constantly. I've talked to people who also have it, and they face the same problem. I think the issue lies in the rotating hip belt. If it were fixed in place, this problem wouldn't occur. I'm wondering what can be done. Is there a way to make the belt not rotate? Considering the Apeks Exotec is not cheap, such an issue shouldn't be present, and I believe it might not have been thoroughly thought out.

How does this compare to the scubapro hydros pro

Can i use it with twinnset 2x7L 300bar ?

I like this bcd. i am in the prccess of buying one. I am not sure what to get. It is either this apex or a xdeep zen deluxe. What is your honest suggestion for me?

So it’s a black ice with a less comfortable looking back plate🤔 I’ve got a black ice and I love it for my single cylinder stuff, I also have the twinset kit but wouldn’t use it as such. Not sure if this really brings anything to the party other than shiny orange bits.

Is this the thing you were talking about having an embargo on until 1st May? That’s weird because my dive centre has had these on display in the shop since early March!!

So you can't replace the single wing for a double down the road?

Is it possible to use double scuba tanks for diving in Apeks Exotec?

but what about the exotec-s

I bought one- sold it after 20 dives. No likey

Looks sexy but I don't see any advantage over one of their classic BP&Wing rigs, and a lot of extra dangly straps.

Black Diamond? Is that the Black ice one?

Does anyone know if exotec support bi-cylinder mount as black ice? Thanks.

Does a dumpy cylinder sit ok on this bcd?

#askmark what on earth happened to AP Valves? their BCDs used to be everywhere! now they have vanished

For 999$. You can literally buy a BP/W for a third of this price and you'll be much better off.

Hard pass. Just another high end price tag for something thats comparable to a cheaper alternative. Give me a comfy jacket style BCD with all the metal parts and a crotch strap and i will be sold. I cant even tell you how bad the industry needs a single tank bullet proof jacket style bcd with a crotch strap that will not only make the bcd more secure allowing your trim weights to actually do their job, but it will also allow the use of a dpv. Watch a sidemount diver with a dpv get into the water from shore...and a bcd diver with a dpv get into the water from shore....youll understand my desire!

What a monstrosity, not sure Apeks is heading in right direction

i like your hoddie