Is it Worth it to Upgrade from lp 95 to hp 100?

[Colliam7]

I've got a line on a worthington hp 100, relatively recently made, in hydro and vis for $300 or maybe a bit under. Seems like a low-risk buy since they are popular and I can always resell, but I'm curious if those with more experience would have any thoughts on this, and whether the differences between 100's and 95's are pronounced enough to warrant the expense of switching.

I don't think the differences are that pronounced. Sounds like you LP95 works for you, and it is hard to see an advantage of changing, other than to try a different cylinder.

I personally prefer HP cylinders to LP cylinders, but there are many, including posters in this thread, who favor LPs. It isn't a big deal. There are some difference in trim characteristics, but can be true even for a single type of cylinder (e.g. a HP 100) made by different manufacturers.

For $300 I would not bother. For $200 I would think about it.

Another ditto. I have purchased 4 HP100 cylinders at different times over the past 5 years. Paid $200 each for them. Would have walked away at $210.

I love HP 100s, they have great buoyancy / trim characteristics - for me - and they are my favorite cylinder for either single tank or doubles diving. But, I also believe in being disciplined in buying gear - I buy what I want, at the price that I want to pay, or I don't buy. For me $300 is way too high for a HP100.

 

[Locus]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

FWIW, the going price up here in (not-so-rainy) Portland is about $200. . . (recent hydro and new visual)

$300 is not a deal for a used HP100.

I have purchased 4 HP100 cylinders at different times over the past 5 years. Paid $200 each for them. Would have walked away at $210.

Is there someone from Canada who would like to weigh in on this? I know a few experienced local divers who consider $300 or less for a hp 100 born in 2012 to be an excellent deal.

I've kept a regular eye on my local craigslist since I started diving last April. In that time I've only seen hp100's for sale maybe three times. Once was a doubles set. Usually, asking price is $350+ each. The lp 95's I now own are the only ones I've ever seen for sale in my area.

From posts I've seen on the SB marketplace and comments in threads, it seems as though the used gear market in the USA has much lower prices than here. I suppose more diveable water and more population means more divers and much more gear changing hands, hence a better buyer's market?

LP95 filled to 2800psi has 100ft3 of gas, and generally banks are at 3500 so overfills on HP tanks are not nearly as common as underfills. However, if the place you fill your tanks won't do overfills, then the HP100s are a few pounds lighter when carrying them around on dry land and will of course have a little more gas when filled to rated capacity, but these advantages (IMHO) fall a little short of being an "upgrade"

My LDS doesn't overfill steel tanks. I'm lucky if I get 2640psi and not a mere 2400. My air consumption is improving greatly but I'm often diving with much more experienced buddies. I would hate to make them turn their dives on my account, so I like to have a gas advantage. I hear that on neighbouring Vancouver Island it's hard to get HP fills, but here on the mainland my LDS can deliver them reliably.

Dive both and see if you notice a difference. Some of us dwarfs like shorter tanks. Prefer my HP100 to other longer tanks I have tried.

I believe those two tanks are the same height (24") but differ in diameter. At first I had some problems with my 95's because they are so short (I am just a hair under 6' and use a weighted ss backplate with my dry suit), so I was going head-heavy, but with practice and some tinkering it seems to be pretty much under control. That said, I am curious to try a 100 as they seem very popular.

 

[TSandM]

I own Worthington 95s and HP100s. The 100s are smaller in diameter and noticeably lighter on land, but require no more weight. The 95s have as much or more gas in them if you can get a bit of an overfill. Gas content-wise, I think it's really a wash. Although I preferentially dive the 100s, I'm not sure I'd spend $300 to do so.