APEX FRAME STRAP
The Occam Apex Frame Strap is a product that’s divided opinions every time I’ve rolled up to the trailhead. The two sides of the spectrum seem to be as follows:
1. ‘That’s the coolest frame strap I’ve seen, where can I get one?’
2. ‘That’s the silliest use of a BOA Dial I’ve seen, and it costs how much?’
When I first heard about the strap, I thought it was cool. Whilst I’ve used Backcountry Research straps to secure tubes and tyre levers to various frames for the last few years, I could see the appeal of the extra ease of use and compactness a BOA system may provide.
On my current personal bike (a Moustache Game 6 eMTB), the bottle cage is mounted to the underside of the top tube, and from the rear of the cage to the seat tube there isn’t a ton of room, but that’s the best place to store a spare tube.
I’d been using a Backcountry Research Mutherload Magnum Strap with a regular tube with no issues, but I did have to really reef on the Velcro strap to get it tight enough so it wasn’t pressing on the base of my water bottle.
The Occam Apex made this task much easier, as I simply tightened up the BOA strap, which uses their TX4 lace to secure the strap. One concern I had around this was whether it would dig into the paintwork on my frame, and I can report that after about six weeks of all-weather riding there’s no marks on my seat tube from the lace.
While the BOA L6 Fit System is cool, the strap material is also high tech, as it uses VX Diamond Ripstop. This is a very durable and abrasive resistant material, and it certainly feels tough when you try to stretch it, rip it, or even rub it on the ground like I did. This being said, the Backcountry Research Mutherload Magnum I’ve been using for some time is equally durable, so it’s a dead heat in that area.
Products like the Backcountry Research Mutherload, Mutherload Magnum, and the Occam Apex are used by cross-country racers to carry their spares, so weight is important for these consumers. Occam win in this category, with the Apex weighing in at 28 grams. The Backcountry Research Mutherload weighs in at 42 grams, and the Mutherload Magnum is 64 grams.
Overall, the Occam Apex might be an expensive frame strap at $65, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to pay a bit more for something that’s going to last the distance, it could be a good purchase. The BOA fitment might seem over the top, but if you’re riding a dual suspension or eMTB the ideal spot to put a tube and some tyre levers is often awkwardly tight, and the Occam Apex makes the task of getting a snug fit that bit easier. The Apex is available in seven colours and is available in bike shops Australia wide.