Welcome to our forum.
I have a Cover Mate III and it has both the bar across the top of the spa cover and gas shocks. My tub is approx 8'x8' and it works great... My 11 YO can open up the tub and close it without ay problems. As far as cover straps breaking, my cover don't have any straps across the seam.But if you have a HS, don't they have their own lifting system?
I like the Covermate I, but if you have a HS I would go with the lift-n-glide
Dont forget the towel hooks on the arm they work great onthe cm III
Towel hooks???Crap, I've been telling folks they were gun racks... Terminator
I also like the Covermate I.Spa Tech, did you know there is actually a CM-I for larger spas?