Today we received the Apeks WSX 25 Sidemount kit for testing, thanks to Wolf Lambsdorff and the team at Aquaventure Whitetip for the loaner. At a glance it looks absolutely great, the quality of build and the materials used make it unmistakably Apeks, designed to extract your credit card from your wallet.
Apeks WSX 25 Sidemount Set, isn’t she pretty!
We decided to test it from three different perspectives, Sidemount Instructor Trainer Lee Butler, Sidemount Instructor Martins Slisans and Sidemount diver Phil Jennings will unpack it together then take it in turns for a dive.
Getting the kit out of its box the guys were impressed by the thought that had gone into the design, influences seem to have come from the very successful Razor and Xdeep, but Apeks have clearly made something quite special of their own.
The first thing we latched onto was the integrated central weight system on the spine strap, this worked really well for the Xdeep. Apeks have improved on the model by adding bungees inside each weight pocket to stop the lead moving around during the dive, the material used by Apeks is also a big improvement.
Apeks central weight system
If comparing the two one criticism from us would be the rigidity of the design. Xdeeps central weight pocket allows the bottom portion to twist left and right, moving with the body, this is made possible by the lowest attachment being around 6 inches above the bottom of the weight pocket. A minor detail that provides a big advantage when turning through some tight passages.
Xdeeps central weight system
The wing and weight pockets are constructed from Armoguard which, in addition to looking great, is said to be ten times more abrasion resistant than standard Cordura (the material used on most other sidemount harness bladders), a big plus for those who dive through tight restrictions. I would anticipate this looking very similar to its current state a few months down the road after some very challenging dives.
Apeks WSX 25, the Armoguard material is 10% more abrasion resistant than Cordura
Like many sidemount kits on the market the wing shape and design is reminiscent of the Razor, although with one notable exception, no redundant bladder. This is fine for most if diving dry, potentially a problem for those diving wetsuits. The lift is a fair bit less than the Razor (but some would see this as a good thing) It is rated for 27lbs. All three of us were comfortable diving it with x4 11 litre aluminium cylinders.
The LPI and side dump-valve are interchangeable and can be mounted on either the left or right side. Sure to come up in any conversation about this wing is the additional central dump valve.
WSX 25 central dump valve, very low profile and protected by a layer of Armoguard.
The central dump valve is easy to reach with or without the wing inflated, its position remains constant throughout the dive, you can use it with your left or right hand. Some will say it represents another point of failure that is just unnecessary, and its position means it is quite vulnerable to being torn off in an overhead environment. I would suggest if you get a good look at the design of this setup you might be swayed from such arguments. The valve itself is very low profile, almost flat to the material, and it is thoughtfully covered up by an additional layer of Armogaurd, which is there purely to provide more abrasion protection to the bladder and valve.
The unique design has the attachment sit away from the divers body
The harness is standard 2 inch webbing, it would be nice if on the next model Apeks swap out the standard webbing on the crotch strap for something a bit softer, the gents will appreciate it, for now that’s an easy modification.
The buckle is a disappointing traditional snap shut, there have been a few great examples of low profile buckles more suited to the central position under the crotch strap loop (made necessary by the proximity of the D rings on a sidemount setup), a pity Apeks didn’t come up with something here.
What did impress was the inclusion of sliding D rings out of the box, this is a very common upgrade for sidemount kits and it’s good to see Apeks paying attention. Even better these may well be the best example of a sliding D ring we have seen to date, simple in design but works really well.
Apeks Sliding D Ring
As mentioned, it seems pretty clear there have been some influences from the Razor, a good thing too as it’s an excellent piece of kit. However one of the things that has always been bothersome with the Razor is the difficulty in setting up and adjusting it.
Apeks have made a great move with the design of their lower plate, it separates the shoulder straps from the waist straps. Anyone who has tried to fit a razor to themselves will understand how happy this made us, anyone who has tried to adjust several razors to a class full of students will love it.
Apeks lower harness plate makes waist and shoulder adjustment very easy
The upper plate gives the diver a choice in bungee configuration, with holes machined into the plate allowing for two independent loop bungees. You are provided with a continuous loop bungee as well, there are several options as to where you might anchor it on the harness.
Apeks upper harness plate allows for different bungee configurations
More configuration options come from the inclusion of grommet straps that allow you to tailor the unit for much taller or shorter divers and to dictate where the central weight pocket will sit.
The Grommets allow adjustment for height and trim
Another thing included in the box that owners of different kit may have purchased themselves separately is a bellowed utility pouch and stainless steel double ended attachment clips. The pouch collapses down pretty well for less challenging dives, but opens up sufficiently for lots of extra kit when needed.
Lee Butler Tec & Recreational Sidemount Instructor Trainer
Lee Butler To be honest I was in love at first sight, a beautifully made sidemount kit that can only be Apeks, everything is really well thought out and presented, I couldn’t wait to dive it.
After gearing up it was clear that there is nothing really new about this setup, but they have improved on some existing models by quite a bit.
The kit felt very familiar, and comfortable, which after spending just 20-30 minutes fiddling with it before the dive is impressive. It took quite a few retakes before I got my other sidemount sets that comfy.
The Armoguard material is really promising, my kit suffers a lot from working through restrictions with sharp edges and ages quickly, I think this will hold up a lot better and last a lot longer.
I would have liked to have seen a changeable inner bladder, with this material I suspect the exterior will outlast the interior by quite a bit, the ability to swap that out would have been good.
It’s a pity there isn’t an option for a redundant bladder, I live and dive in the tropics, no drysuits for me. Something to keep me hovering if the primary bladder fails would be reassuring. A redundant bladder being a requirement for PADI Tec programs also makes it a bit more challenging to use them in these courses.
The sliding D rings are an excellent inclusion, I had to go out and find my own for my other sidemount kits. These sliding D rings in particular are really well thought out and made, great job Apeks! Overall I think this is a quality sidemount set and giving this one back upset me so much I had to order my own.
Phil Jennings MSDT & Sidemount Diver
Phil Jennings I came back from the dive with a smile on my face, it’s a very nice unit to dive with and I found it for the most part very comfortable.
An exception to this would have been the lower plate, I had trouble finding a position for that which felt good, it was digging in to my back for most of the dive. I’m sure with a few tweeks we could have worked that one out, unfortunately we have to give this one back today so no time for experimenting.
I am a fan of the central dump valve, it was very easy to access and made adjustments a lot more fluid. I understand the arguments against them but I honestly do not think they apply to this design, it’s very well protected.
All considered it’s a very nice unit and looking odds on favorite as a replacement for my current kit when the time comes.
Martin Slisans Tec and Recreational Sidemount Instructor
Martin Slisans A familiar setup, not much new but some things have definitely been refined, Apeks design team have proven themselves again with this.
The sliding D rings were my favorite feature, so much easier to get your tanks exactly where you need them, not a new concept but the design is a marked improvement on what I have seen available so far.
The Armoguard material looks solid, I think these will outlast a lot of the other wings available, very tough and looks good for tolerating a great deal of abuse, time will tell.
I think the setup time is going to prove popular, particularly for rental units and kits used on courses, set to save a lot of time and energy, I would definitely recommend this.
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Where can I get Apeks WSX 25 and be trained to use it?
Savedra Dive Center in Moalboal has dive-able conditions all year round and offers Tec and Recreational sidemount training every day. We have wrecks, caves and caverns in our locality and can provide training and guided dives to all.
We can provide Apeks WSX sidemount kits for below SRP prices, all units purchased from us come with a free check dive to try out your new kit and a workshop with one of our instructors to get it set up properly.
Sidemount training is available from 11,000 PHP and we can take you from complete beginner through to instructor, all of our open circuit technical courses can be taught in sidemount configuration, drop us a line for more information
Setting up your Apeks WSX 25
When you finally get your hands on one take a moment to watch this excellent video from Simply Scuba on how to set it up.
Don’t forget to visit the Apeks website for the WSX 25’s full specifications and some more images www.apeksdiving.com
