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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on September 22, 2008 at 7:17pm

I've used both on real calls, and used both in trench rescue and structural collapse training. My opinion is that either will get the job done, but Paratechs are much more versatile, particularly the Acme threaded version.

The Acme-thread Paratechs give you the option to do a remote "hard set" (i.e. using air pressure) for a trench and a "soft set" (i.e. set manually without using the air) for structural collapses. That versatility is unmatched by either the Air Shores or by the Lock-Stroke version of the Paratechs.

Paratech also makes additional kits that let you build more strut configurations (tripods, lazy leg tripods, tensioned buttress systems, and pneumatic raker shores) than what Air Shore currently has available.

That said, if you have a partial Air Shore kit and need to add a few shores, it's more cost-effective to just buy more Air Shores.

You have to get waist-deep into a trench to pin the Air Shore locking collars. Either version of the Paratechs can be set without putting a rescuer into the trench, which adds a safety margin that I really like.

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Permalink Reply by FatUglyFireman on September 22, 2008 at 8:52pm

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on September 24, 2008 at 8:30am

What application are you intending to use them for? They are not all meant/rated for both trench and/or collapse. Some are better suited for different situations.

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