A much improved pony clamp system, says Charles Hood  |
Aqua Angel, £45
In the December 2007 issue of DIVE, we reported on a new pony clamp system manufactured by Hexham Developments. While we liked the product generally, we did have a few criticisms. We reported at the time: ‘The not-so-good aspect was that it didn’t feel as secure as some of the metal clamps we have previously tested and, although it never parted company, waggled around a bit. Also, the inner handle used to release the clamp was a bit fiddly when wearing gloves.’
Two years later, we received the mark two version and we can inform you that things have improved. The main criticism addressed is the handle that operates the locking mechanism. It is larger and, combined with the better internal clearance, can easily be used when wearing gloved hands, making fitting and parting a doddle. The mould appears to be even smoother – making it what I call ‘RIB friendly’, with no sharp metal bits often found on other pony clamps that could potentially puncture a RIB’s tubes.
A new cam band improves the wobble to some extent, but some movement is still apparent when compared with, say, a twin stainless-steel Jubilee clip system. The polymer that it is made from is also new, and according to Hexham is virtually unbreakable. They’ve thrown in a goodie bag and added a tenner to its price, but at under £50 it represents great value.
DIVE SAYS…
Much-improved model
Value 9 Performance 9
Contact
Hexham Developments • 01434 606234 •
www.aqua-innovation.com