Answer me this:
1. 5' or 7' on the long hose? I'm going to be doing open water only I recommend 7'
2. I've seen 18"-28" for the backup second stage...would 22" be adequate? Yes (probably)
3. 24" or 26" for SPG? (I'm 5'10" if that matters) 24"
rickthompson:
Finally, what do people think about braided versus rubber?
I have only used braided hoses for very short (6") HP hose needs. I find rubber to be adequate for virtually all hoses. I have dive buddies who swear by braided hoses, I have dive buddies who complain that the longer second stage braided hoses are too 'floaty', I have dive buddies who say they use braided hoses because they are more streamlined, I have dive buddies who say they won't use them because they are not as reliable (after the HP recall) as rubber hoses. Personally, I don't see a need for the extra expense. I set up a couple of sidemount regs with braided 6" HP hoses as an experiment. They work fine, but I don't see any advantage.
As others have said, there is a considerble element of
personal preference in the primary second stage length (and a number of 'vigorous' threads on SB on the subject). I happen to dive a 7', on all regs - single and double cylinder configurations - except for one reg that has 'standard' hose lengths, which I use for Confined Water teaching. I am 5'11" and the 7' length works for me. My wife also dives 7' for recreational open water diving (she is 5'6" and the length also works for her).
Also, continuing in the vein of personal preferences, I find 22" to work for MY bungeed second stage. You may have to go through some trial and error to find what works for you. It is less likely that a shorter (20") or longer (26") will be necessary, but . . . For the HP hose, shorter is better than longer.
However, others find that different approaches work well for them. As an illustration, in the picture previously posted, I would find the HP hose to be too long, AND the bungeed second stage hose (and the bungee) to be too long, but that is just me. That is not a criticism of the poster in the picture, merely a re-statement of the point about personal preferences.