At the end of last week I purchased a Palm Equipment APC Ring. The APC Ring is a fat anodised aluminium O-ring for your PFD chest harness providing an easy to recognise attachment point.

At the time of ordering there wasn’t any detail on the how strong this ring actually was. But it seems that either the Palm website has been updated with more detail or I missed it in the first place.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

The first time I knew its rating was when I noticed it etched onto the side of the ring itself.

So for clarity the Palm APC Ring specifications are:

  • Anodised blue
  • 7075 aluminium
  • 31 g
  • 12 kN maximum breaking strength
  • 48 mm internal diameter (id)
  • 9 mm bar diameter

I have since looked at a number of online retailers who have this relatively new item listed. Most do not have the the breaking strength listed and at least one has it listed as 21kN. This is incorrect.

For reference the Whetman Equipment Bait Ring has a minimum break strength of 25kN and the Petzl Ring has a breaking strength of 23kN.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

In the image above the original Astral ring is sat next to the APC Ring. The original can almost sit inside of the APC Ring.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

DMM also produce an Anchor ring that has an internal diameter of 40mm. That one has a breaking strength of 30kN.

Most QR rescue harness belts are 38mm in width.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

The locking carabiners we like the most here at Unsponsored are the DMM Boa and Petzl Vertigo Wire-Lock. The DMM Boa and Petzl Vertigo Wire-Lock have a gate closed breaking strengths of 25kN.

Most throw line ropes have a breaking strength of around 8kN to 10kN.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

Similar ring systems have been used in the climbing and arborist world for some time as an easy way to clip into and as part of rope setups.

Although many PFDs with rescue belts come supplied with a steel welded ring the APC is bigger, easier to see and as a result will be easier to clip into. 

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

My main interest in the this ring is the fact it won’t truly sit flat against the back of the PFD. Due to its larger size it should be easier to clip in to and the bright colour should also make it easier to locate.

The APC can be found online for around £10.