Braided Hoses, Like Sandpaper?

[divinh]

I had a short, braided HP hose for my SPG and the braiding makes it feel rough, like sandpaper, compared to the smooth rubber hoses for my second stages. Now, I've replaced the HP hose for the SPG and one of the LP hoses for the primary second stage with MiFlex braided, which are also rough feeling. I'm a bit concerned that these hoses will act like sandpaper as they jostle inside the regulator bag. Anyone notice any wear caused by braided hoses rubbing against rubber or plastic gear?

 

[divad]

I've been using the same primary 7' rubber hose for almost 9 years. It's nice and supple and smooth AND it knows were it goes. The floppy, scratchy looking braided hoses give me the creeps AND they don't know where they're supposed to be. Since you don't seem to like the scratchy ones, why don't just get rid of them?

 

[PACKRMAN]

I haven't noticed any problems with abrasion. Occasionally the braid will grab a hair on the back of my neck. Other than that I like mine.

 

[divad]

I haven't noticed any problems with abrasion. Occasionally the braid will grab a hair on the back of my neck.

Abrasion is sneaky like that. That's how abrasion works.

 

[NatureLVR]

Would make for a nice poll, braided vs non-braided.

My unscientific experience has worked out better with smooth rubber vs braided. Have had failures of Miflex HP hoses. Never had rubber hoses break (been lucky). I also like the stiffness of rubber so I can easily place the stiff hose back in its deco bottle hose retainer.

 

[divinh]

I only started buying gear this year, which means I've been reading scubaboard and taking advice. I bought a back inflate because it seemed that that was what's been recommended over and over again. Of course, after a while, I realized that it's a preference and not the latest in dive gear. Similarly, for hoses, my new regulator came with rubber hoses, except for the HP hose, which was braided. I'm not sure why it was singled out. When I discovered that my HP hose wasn't long enough (I'm using single tank, not doubles), I bought a longer HP hose, in MiFlex, as that seems to be highly recommended. The primary LP hose was also too short, so again, I went with MiFlex. I don't have strong opinions on hoses yet. The only thing I've noticed was that the braided hoses seem more sandpaper-like than the rubber hoses, which makes me concerned for wear on other gear.

 

[gopbroek]

I tried a braided HP line for several years and then changed it back to rubber, I was not impressed. I found them very rigid and they stuck out and caused a snag hazard. The outer braid was abrasive and generally a PITA. Swapped back to rubber which were more flexible and easier to manage. I am not worried much about failure of any HP line as they all come with a flow limiting orifices at the fitting to the regulator.
With LP hoses it is just the opposite and I really like the flexibility of the braided hoses from either DGX or Miflex. I was able to get rid of a swivel on my 2nd stage line due to the flexibility of the braided lines which is one less possible failure point on the LP side, which is a failure to worry about as it can dump a bottle in less than a minute.

 

[АлександрД]

I used Miflex (original and chineese), with long hose - it chafing my neck. With normal 20" hose with tank on the back - it is good.

But now I use such hoses (it is original, from 2nd stage manufacturer, soviet scuba Ukraina-2)

it looks like water pipe for garden but it strong enough and very soft and comfortable.
IP for this demand valve is around 6-7 bar (85-100psi)

Braided hoses has another problem - after one-two years some of braiding wires became brocken and starts to prickling all around.