SI Tech vs Viking ring systems?

anndornfeld · Post by **anndornfeld** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:39 pm

I'm choosing between SI Tech and Viking for my first dry glove ring systems (now that my Northern Diver wet gloves have been compressed down to 1 mm and are shredded enough to resemble something a Dickensian street urchin might wear).

Any votes on which are easiest to don and most reliable?

Thanks!

-Ann

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:24 pm

I'm now using the new Si Tech ring system and I really like it. In the past I had been using the Diving Concepts set up, which I also liked. The one thing that made me switch was the ease with which you can switch out a glove with the Si Tech rings. It takes maybe a minute or so with my new gloves and it was quite an ordeal with the old.....

Rockfish · Post by **Rockfish** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:59 pm

I have been using the "old" style viking rings (inner hard plastic ring and rubber outer ring) for years and they have worked great. A few years back my buddy broke his inner ring and I was able to make a replacement out of PVC. I found a great place online (Magid gloves) to buy the gloves.

They are very easy to put on you just pull the glove up and over the ring. In all honesty I will say that it does take some time to get used to putting on the gloves and but once you get used to them they go on pretty quick. The gloves are not as robust as the "blue" gloves but if you are careful you can get a lot of dives out of them.

If you go with the viking gloves there is a guy on Scubaboard (Bob3) who sells the viking rings at a good price. If you want I can send you his website.

Either way dry gloves really made a difference in my comfort level especially in the winter.

Mike

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:19 pm

I use the SItech rings and really like them. A few of my friends use the Viking system and like those too. Both are really good and you won't be disappointed with whichever you choose.

airsix · Post by **airsix** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:32 pm

Since you asked about reliability I'll mention that recently my Sci-tec system started flooding. I made sure nothing was dirty or out of place. More floods. By now both sides were flooding. I put a thin coat of silicone grease around the surface opposite the o-rings and 10 dives on there've been no more floods or when a hint of a leak. So if you have these keep that surface greased or expect trouble.

loanwolf · Post by **loanwolf** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:51 pm

Si Tech has the same rings as Viking. They call them Cuffs DUI calls them the SI-5. These are nice as you can just stretch a $6 rubber glove over them.

anndornfeld · Post by **anndornfeld** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:57 pm

Thanks, y'all!

Also - for dexterity, can you recommend a particular glove? I need to be able to fiddle with camera controls, but don't want something that'll tear if I look at it wrong.

Rockfish · Post by **Rockfish** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:19 pm

As far as dexterity the gloves are going to "shrink" at depth due to increased pressure and some ring systems do not have a method for equalizing. It also depends on how thick the liner glove is that you use. I wear a size 11 rubber glove with a thick wool liner glove in the colder water months. In the summer I can wear a size 10 glove with a thin pair of liners. It all depends on how deep and how long you are diving and your tolerance for cold.

Here is the link for the gloves,

http://www.magidglove.com/Magid-MultiMa ... mentId=229

Here is the link for the viking rings,

http://comdive.com/

Mike

loanwolf · Post by **loanwolf** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:34 pm

If you use cuff rings many of us are using "Best 55" rubber gloves. You can buy them at Work n More or just about any other work wear shop for around $6. Just cut them down to a length that works for you. They are very hearty and still give great dexterity.

http://www.showabestglove.com/site/prod ... x?style=55

Looks like you can get a free sample pair from Best off their website.

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 10:20 pm

Rubber sand blasting gloves from Harbor Freight fit the Viking rings like they were custom designed. They are tough enough to not tear during normal use, but with plenty of dexterity for camera buttons. Oh, and they cost six bucks.

Everyone has their preferences - see if you can try both or at least look them over closely.

My reasons for preferring the Viking ring system with a pull over sandblasting glove - utter simplicity, no o-rings to lubricate, no twistie lockie thingies to get right. Just choose an appropriate glove liner, pull the rubber glove over and voila! Diving dry.

Key is getting the right outer and inner glove, but that's pretty easy and these things are pretty much bulletproof.

Good luck!

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:47 pm

I use the Viking bayonet ring system. It was designed for hazmat diving, so it is a positive lock system. This means that, once you get the rings mated, they CANNOT pop off (I've had bubbles fizzing out of the rings at the end of a dive, but they stay in place.) They install on your existing seals, without tools, in about two minutes; gloves can be changed out at the dive site, again without tools, in a few minutes as well.

I like them well enough that I have installed them on all my suits, and Peter has them on his, too. They also work with the SiTech pseudo-Zip-seal system.

jtaylor23 · Post by **jtaylor23** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:17 pm

If you decide on the SI system, I'm selling mine. My hands are just a little too big and don't fit thru the ring without a struggle that sometimes pops the ring off. It has all the rings and yellow liners and orange gloves. I paid $80 plus shipping off eBay. You can have'em for $70. PM me. Jon

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:43 pm

I had the same problem with dry gloves until the SiTec XL rings came out.....

anndornfeld · Post by **anndornfeld** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:31 am

I ended up with the SI Tech rings and the Atlas 660 gloves with wool liners (just some thin gloves I've had for ages). Several dives later, I'm quite happy with my decision.

Thanks, all, for the recommendations!

Northwest Dive Club