Kubi vs. Rolock 90: A Dry Glove Ring System Comparison for Cold Water Divers

Cold hands aren’t just uncomfortable — they’re a safety issue. Lose dexterity, and you lose the ability to manage your gear. Dry gloves solve this, but the ring systems that attach them to your drysuit are not all created equal. I’ve dived both the Kubi and the Rolock 90 in PNW cold water and Tulum cave environments, and here’s what actually matters.

>> Read more: what cold water diving in the PNW is actually like on “Cold, Miserable, but Lively: Cold Water Diving in the Pacific Northwest“

>> Read more: where the Rolock 90 came off for the first time on “The Ultimate Guide to Diving Tulum: Cenotes, Caverns & Caves“

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The Comparison at a Glance

Feature	Kubi	Rolock 90
Price	£192 incl. VAT (official)	£164 incl. VAT (official) / £137 excl. VAT via drysuitspareparts.com
Drysuit Compatibility	Most drysuits (professional install)	Si Tech PU ring suits only (Si Tech QCS, Si Tech Antares, etc.)
Ring Sizes	70 / 80 / 90 / 100mm	One size only
Cuff-Side Design	Permanently attached — exposed O-ring stays on suit	Removable — swap back to oval ring to protect O-ring
Material	Anodized aluminum	High-grade plastic
Mechanism	Press-fit	Twist-lock (bayonet)
Profile	Ultra-slim	Slightly bulkier
Introvert Score	⭐ 4/5 — maneuver required	⭐ 5/5 — precision click

Official links:

• Kubi Standard Range
• Rolock 90
• Si Tech QCS Oval Wrist System

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Why Dry Gloves at All?

Extremities lose heat faster than your core. Wet gloves help; dry gloves are another level — they seal against your drysuit and keep your hands in a warm, dry environment throughout the dive. Bulkier than 7mm neoprene mittens? Yes. Easier to use once dialed in? Also yes. (At least for one of these systems.)

>> Read more: whether a drysuit is worth it before worrying about dry gloves on “Shivering is Optional: Diving in Wetsuit or Drysuit in the PNW“

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How I ended up with Dry Glove

After we purchased our first drysuits (a Seaskin Nova made-to-measure equipped with Si Tech QCS wrist system), we dove a few with 5mm gloves. And our hands came out blue… K made executive decision to purchase Rolock 90 from Drysuitsparepart (and have them sent to US) and installed them for the next dives. And there is not going back and i quickly also install mine. It was an easy and cheap upgrade.

And then when we upgraded our suits to O’three, we know we still need dry gloves. Luckily (or not) the suit’s standard offering include Kubi dry glove systems. So that’s how I end up able to try the two different system with different suits! 

>> Up Next: comparison of the two drysuits to come! 

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The Deep Dive: Kubi

The Kubi is the minimalist choice. Anodized aluminum rings are incredibly thin — the lowest-profile option on the market.

The “Small Hand” Factor

My suit came defaulted to 70mm rings. On paper, a smaller diameter is great for small wrists — you won’t feel like you’re wearing hula hoops. In practice, 70mm is too small to fit my Fourth Element wrist warmers, and my undergarment layers bunched at the wrist. Go straight to 80mm. Give yourself some room.

The Simplicity

The O-ring stays permanently on the suit side without exposed O-rings — no need to remove the dry glove system when you don’t need dry gloves. One less thing to manage between trips.

The Reality

Kubi relies on friction. If the O-ring is dry or there’s a grain of sand in the track, getting them apart at the end of a dive can be a workout. My first few dives had minor leaks — traced back to bunched-up layers pulling at the seal, compounded by a drysuit sleeve that runs a hair short. Fix: a short bungee cord to break the seal instead of relying on undergarment pressure. Learned that trick from the Pacific Northwest Women Divers facebook group after some frustrating troubleshooting.

The other reality: donning solo is manageable; doffing solo is an event (for me, at least). I can get them on myself. Getting them off sometimes requires a second person. Still working on this.

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The Deep Dive: Rolock 90

The Rolock 90 is Swiss-engineered and it shows.

The “Solo” Factor

The bayonet mount is significantly easier for self-donning. Align the marks, push, twist. I marked my aligning marks pink — you see the alignment and feel the click. Even partially misaligned, it doesn’t leak mid-way. That confidence matters when you’re gearing up on a rocking boat or a cold muddy beach.

The Reality

It’s a plastic system and inherently thicker than the Kubi aluminum rings. The rings are also removable — which is a feature, not a flaw. We swap back to the original oval rings for cave diving in Mexico where we don’t need dry gloves, specifically to protect the exposed O-ring from damage. Worth the extra step and it is more streamlining for cave environments. 

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Glove Compatibility: What We Actually Dive With

Both systems work with the same outer gloves in our kit — but the installation process differs.

Outer Gloves

We use Showa ChemRest CS720 (approximately $7/pair) with both systems. Heavy duty, some thermal protection, and they hold up well.

• Installing on Rolock 90: Straightforward — follow the manufacturer’s video.
• Installing on Kubi: Install backward since the CS720 has a lining. If the lining contacts the O-ring directly, it leaks. Not obvious, not documented prominently. Worth knowing before your first dive.

Once correctly installed, these gloves are far more durable than Kubi’s default Ansell AlphaTec 87-118 latex option (approximately $5/pair). I haven’t had to replace a Showa pair since switching and it has been about 40 dives.

Inner Gloves

I wear two pairs ofIcebreaker merino gloves underneath. K uses a pair of Spyder winter gloves from Costco (~$10). Some divers opt for 2mm neoprene liners as a backup in case of a small leak — reasonable call. Kubi did come with inner gloves and outer gloves as a set.

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The Data Nerd Verdict

Choose Kubi if:

• Your suit manufacturer includes it as part of the drysuit package 
• You have larger hands or thick wrists and benefit from larger ring size options
• You want the lowest-profile, metal-construction system that will likely outlive your suit
• You don’t need to frequently swap dry gloves in and out

Choose Rolock 90 if:

• Your suit already has Si Tech PU rings
• Ease of self-donning are priorities
• You prefer a mechanical click confirmation over a friction seal
• You regularly swap between dry gloves and standard rings (e.g., warm-water trips)

Price-to-Value: for retrofitting yourself, Rolock 90’s value is hard to beat since a pair of high-end 7mm neoprene gloves can run up to $80! But consider you would have to get the Sitech oval ring system fitted (also about $80). I would say both system are priced comparably. 

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Who should not buy Kubi

• No one should buy 70mm rings! Even you are size 7 hands like me. Give yourself some more room for thicker undergarments and gloves
• Anyone who dislikes troubleshooting a press-fit O-ring seal (common problem seen on forums with first few dives)

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Who should not buy Rolock 90

• Anyone whose suit doesn’t have Si Tech PU rings
• Anyone bothered by an exposed O-ring when dry gloves aren’t installed

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Final Thoughts

I’m currently diving Kubi. I’ve made it work — the bungee trick solved the seal issue, and I’ve accepted that doffing is a two-person job — for now. But if I were retrofitting a Si Tech-compatible suit from scratch, I’d choose Rolock 90 for the independent donning alone.

Neither system is wrong nor perfect. They solve the same problem differently. Know your suit, know your dive style, and pick accordingly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Editorial disclaimer

Please be aware that scuba diving is an inherently risky activity, even with certification and experience. The content on this blog reflects my personal opinions and experiences and should not be considered instructional. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance and certification from qualified diving professionals, and carefully consider the risks involved in any dives.