5ft vs. 6ft vs. 7ft Regulator hose (recreational diver transitioning equipment)

[tbone1004]

I much prefer this for a compass. Consoles are impossible to use and get where you want to go, and I hate wrist compasses. This is cheaper than either option and much more versatile. Can go in your pocket or I usually leave mine clipped to a hip D-ring and call it good for open water

[video=youtube;x0z4T_3KjFM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0z4T_3KjFM[/video]

 

[Frosty]

My vote is to do nothing at all.A properly stowed 5,6 or 7 footer will work the same as what you are currently using.
My reasoning being that likely you will be upgrading gear as you move more into the tec dive area and will spec your gear to suit the diving you will be doing.
Thing is that the hose is the least expensive component

 

[MaxBottomtime]

A long hose is not just for single file penetration. I've used it to share air with a buddy when one of us was getting low but wanted to continue working our way to the exit underwater. Seven feet works great when swimming side by side.

 

[DJ457]

so I actually really like the streamlined OW setup that DGX and Dive Rite are marketing, I've been using it since 2009 and love it, but it does add the "failure point" of the swivel so it's not for everyone. Personally I'd recommend going straight to a 7' if you're planning on doing any overhead, if you're not, then 5' is perfectly fine.

regarding what to use to hold it in
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=1335
these work very well and are very cheap. I prefer knife on the left, no pockets on my BC, and if I'm not diving with a can, I throw one of these on to keep the long hose hooked in. That said, when I'm in OW, I don't use a long hose, so it is only for wreck penetration

WOW!! Thanks for posting this link tbone. I don't use a can light and this is perfect for routing my long hose.

 

[Patoux01]

A properly stowed 5,6 or 7 footer will work the same as what you are currently using.

It does not work the same.

There's reasons the long hose is a primary give. Those reasons still apply in open water. I can give you MANY examples of people having no clue where the octopus went, because the occy-holder got a bit loose, etc. Or those idiots with the "let me fold the hose and push it through a d-ring" that weren't able to give it afterwards. That CANNOT happen when using a proper LH.

If you dive using a primary give, you kind of set your buddy at a higher priority than yourself. If you screw up on the back-up reg, you've put yourself in trouble. On a "classic" rigging, you've put your buddy in trouble if you can't find your octopus.
Plus, it's much easier to make a setup that will not let go (the necklace) than a "it has to come loose at this time, but not at this other time", so you're unlikely to screw up your back-up reg when it's on a fixed necklace.


As for the initial question: 7ft for me, don't see why I'd take anything else.