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If the AL80s were good for you from a size perspective, I'd look at Steel 100s. Those will be a lot closer in overall size to the AL80s. Steel 80s are often too short for people that aren't on the shorter side. Plus, you'll get more capacity.I want to buy two tanks, past tanks I have owned and rented were Alum 80's and now I'm thinking steel 80's. Is this the right path?
If the AL80s were good for you from a size perspective, I'd look at Steel 100s. Those will be a lot closer in overall size to the AL80s. Steel 80s are often too short for people that aren't on the shorter side. Plus, you'll get more capacity.
I see lots of 100s in the used market, but don't see steel 80s very often.
100s are essentially the go to for any cold water diving unless you're quite short. I have 2 HP 80s that my wife uses and are my backup tanks for when I haven't taken or picked up my 100s from the shop.Good point on the 80's being short, I'm 5'11" so the AL80's were fine. I did come across a picture of ALUM and Steel for size comparison and the Steel 100 looks ok.
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Yep. 100s are great. A little shorter than AL80s, but you can shed some weight as they remain negatively buoyant when empty. Here's another comparison from my garage. AL80s on the left, HP120s in the center, and HP100s on the right, AL19 up front.Good point on the 80's being short, I'm 5'11" so the AL80's were fine. I did come across a picture of ALUM and Steel for size comparison and the Steel 100 looks ok.
Yeah. We don't do a lot of cold water diving in FL. At least not what most consider cold. Even here, the steel HP100s are highly sought after. You should definitely be able to shed some weight with the steels.Well I don't see myself doing any cold-water diving but would like to shed some lead weight hence the steel tanks. If I have to buy new tanks my thoughts were to just so steel.