Are all braided regulator hoses created equal?

[flybigjet]

Ok, color me confused--

I'm looking to switch to a "streamlined openwater" setup, and I'm pricing out braided low-pressure hoses.

There's quite the difference in price; between the lds, online scuba vendors and Amazon, we're talking anywhere between $20 and $70 for the same length of hose.

Manufacturers are XS Scuba (Miflex), Metalsub, ScubaMax, Scuba Choice and DGX.

I'm not trying to risk my life by saving a few bucks on substandard hoses, but if a hose is a hose is a hose, I really don't need to pay up for the name.

So-- any difference?

Thanks!

R.

 

[halocline]

I've read enough failure reports that I would simply avoid any of the braided hoses. Rubber hoses are proven reliable, and the longer primary hose is more flexible anyway.

 

[stuartv]

What halocline said.

Search around here and read the stories of flex hoses that failed where it looked totally fine on the outside, but the clear vinyl tube on the inside started to come apart and pieces clogged the inlet on the diver's 2nd stage.

 

[flybigjet]

I've read enough failure reports that I would simply avoid any of the braided hoses. Rubber hoses are proven reliable, and the longer primary hose is more flexible anyway.

From researching them, it appears that was an issue with the earlier hoses (hp for catastrophic failure, lp for crystallization). From reading the articles in DAN, it seems that the problem has been solved.

Regardless, I've been using miflex regulator and bc hoses for several years now with no issues whatsoever.

Here's the excerpt from DAN:Divers Alert Network South Africa - Newsflash! Low Pressure Hose Deterioration

I think the meat (for this specific discussion) is this: "Prior to 2010, the stated service life of 5 years or 500 dives for braided hoses appears to be inaccurate; failures have occurred in hoses with less than 4 years of in-service life. After this date, the manufacturers appear to have made satisfactory changes."

 

[stuartv]

They may be better now. But, whether they're good for 3 years or 5 isn't what really concerns me. What concerns me is that the failure mode for the flex hose is such that you cannot tell there is anything wrong by looking at it.

I think, with rubber hoses, you can pretty much always tell from visual inspection if it's getting near to failing.

 

[stuartv]

That said, if I were buying flex hoses, I would trust the ones DGX sells. And I think they are reasonably priced.

 

[Doby45]

I have used the DGX braided for 2+yrs and over a 100 dives with no issues.

 

[halocline]

From researching them, it appears that was an issue with the earlier hoses (hp for catastrophic failure, lp for crystallization). From reading the articles in DAN, it seems that the problem has been solved.

There are certainly a lot of them in use. I just personally would not bother, as they don't really solve an existing problem for me. When you have a longer primary hose, there really is less push-pull on your regulator when you move your head. The only in-water advantage to the braided hoses is their increased flexibility. Since the long hose also provides that, to me there's just no reason to switch to braided. BTW, you might consider a 5ft primary in a modified hogarthian routing (under right arm, across chest, over left shoulder and around head) instead of the 40"-with-elbow routing. At least try it by connecting a couple of existing hoses. (The connectors are only a few $) It's much more comfortable to me.

 

[tbone1004]

call cave adventurers, buy theirs, be done with it. Should be a better price than DGX, and same quality on the hoses. I personally don't use them except on my O2 bottle, but Edd swears by them and dives them on all of his hoses except his long hose *they like to float, rip the hair off of your neck, and abrade the hell out of drysuit neck seals*

 

[stuartv]

BTW, you might consider a 5ft primary in a modified hogarthian routing (under right arm, across chest, over left shoulder and around head) instead of the 40"-with-elbow routing. At least try it by connecting a couple of existing hoses. (The connectors are only a few $) It's much more comfortable to me.

I bought a 5' hose to try. I replaced the 7' hose on my doubles reg set. The 5' hose ran right across my drysuit inflator and across the light that is clipped to my right side chest D-ring (which is my primary light). I dived it and, while the 7' hose is a little bit of a pain (mostly from occasionally pulling out of my waist belt), I thought the 5' was worse.

I use the "Streamlined OW" config on my single tank reg set. I want to try the 5' hose on that. The advantage I want to get (vs the 40" hose) is the ability to spit out my reg without having it drop all the way to the end of the 40" hose (possibly banging off a bench or railing). For single tank, I wouldn't probably be diving dry, but I would still want to figure out something to keep the hose from getting in the way of access to my light. I may end up going to a 7' hose on my single tank reg set, too, just for that reason.

TL;DR: You might also consider a 7' hose for the primary 2nd stage, instead of a 40" or 5'. Whatever works for you is all that matters.

Incidentally, FWIW, even with a 7' hose, I really like it better to have a 70 degree (aka 110 degree) swivel adapter between the 2nd stage and the hose. That lets the hose come almost straight back past my ear to go around my head instead of having to make a 180 degree bend from the reg to the back of my head. The result is a little more slack in the loop that tucks into your waist belt or loops around your can light. I'm big enough that the extra few inches of slack really help my hose stay tucked in better.