I’ve had an Apex Buddy Commando for ten years to date and it’s still going strong. They are a British made product and available from nearly all diveshops in the UK.
The best thing about them is their toughness, though mine’s faded a bit the material is showing no signs of wear and tear. The emergency inflation cylinder had to be replaced a few years ago as it became badly corroded, and the inflator fell apart eventually, but these were easily replaced.
The only bad point about them is their bulkiness. The chest area is cluttered and the weight belt often seems obscured. If carrying an SMB, a couple of torches and a stage, things start to get a bit difficult. For ordinary diving though, this is an ideal, and long-lasting, piece of kit.
There is plenty of stowage space in the four front pockets, two on each side. One velcro sealed and one open. For a long time this BC seemed to be the de rigeur of the UK club diver, and the longevity of mine certainly backs up that pedigree.
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