The Mares Slide & Lock (SLS) Weight System for BCD

Mares Slide And Lock Weight Pocket System or Mares SLS, the new and revolutionary Mares integrated weight system for buoyancy compensators (BCs) — which appears on the Mares Quantum SLS, the Mares Pure SLS, the Mares Dragon SLS, the Kaila SLS and more Mares BCs. It is the fruit of years of studies towards developing a safer and easy to operate weight system. Let’s take a look why amidst its simplicity, it is considered innovative and powerful in the line of weight systems!

 

Mares SLS flawlessly executes two main task of a weight system

A weight system only has to perform only two functions, but it has to do them flawlessly and meticulously. First, it has to avoid accidental release of a weight pouch. Second, in case of an emergency, the diver must be able to ditch the weight pouches in a simple and intuitive way, even when stressed and panicking. The Mares SLS can precisely execute these both.

Additionally, the Mares SLS is easy to use, gives clear feedback on whether it is engaged or not. It doesn’t wobble on the jacket and has enough capacity for the intended use and even allows you to personalize the pouches by labeling them your name.

 

Mares SLS has outstanding locking mechanism

Now let’s take a closer look at the locking mechanism of the Mares SLS! The Mares SLS is based on mechanical movements and interference, instead of relying on elastic elements which when deformed will define the whole state of the system. At the core of the Mares SLS is a cursor which can slide within the handle; with its movement defines the position of the teeth on the male buckle. When the cursor is pushed inward, it pushes the teeth outward and keeps them securely locked against the corresponding teeth on the female buckle by placing itself in the return path. When the handle is pulled out, it drags the cursor along with it causing the teeth to be mechanically pulled inward and clear off the female buckle. With all these said, the Mares SLS is definitely a system that holds everything you throw at it, but releases easily without anything getting snagged, with just one pull on the handle.

The Mares SLS also guarantees ease of use with its large handle and by a tunnel on the Mares BC which guides the insertion of the weight pouch so that the male buckle arrives lined up with the female. While holding the handle against the female buckle, use one finger to push in the cursor and lock the pouch in place.

Additionally, the Mares SLS gives a nice audible feedback plus a visual indicator. It has a little window that shows an open padlock on a red background when unlocked, and a closed padlock on a green background when locked. This novelty in a weight system is definitely very useful for you can now immediately verify the proper or improper insertion of your weight system with just one look on this very simple visual guide.

 

Mares SLS has excellent handle and buckle system

The Mares SLS handle and buckle system is connected to the weight pouch by means of a semi-rigid, U-shaped element, secured in place by a pin — eliminating any potential relative movement between pouch and buckle and consequently between pouch and BC. This means no pouches will be dangling half out of the BC! Combined with the tunnel that holds the whole pouch safely and neatly in place, Mares SLS provides a very stable weight placement on the BC.

The Mares SLS has changed the game for weight systems. With its flawlessly ingenious design, outstanding locking mechanism, and excellent handle and buckle system, you can make sure that your weight loads are secured and will not accidentally drop during the dive. The Mares SLS is absolutely a great innovation in the world of weight systems!

Mares BCD