Today, the main operational difference between a modern handheld backup and primary canister light is the burn time. With advancements in LED and battery technologies, divers are beginning to forego the traditional rechargeable battery canister with corded light head primary plus alkaline battery handheld backups in favor of three modern handhelds that can each serve as primary. The multiple handheld primary approach is much lower cost with better reliability and redundancy.

As handheld primary lights are becoming increasingly popular, it begs the question of how to manage the hogarthian regulator configuration if there is no waistbelt mounted battery canister under which to tuck the long hose. The Apeks Long Hose Retainer Bar is used to hold the long hose in position when diving in a hogarthian regulator configuration without a light battery canister on the harness waistband. Machined from a single piece of Delrin with a laser etched Apeks logo, the long hose retainer slides on to the standard {2 in | 5 cm} wide harness waist strap webbing and is { 6 in | 150 mm} long.