Mares HUB Avantgarde

[Want2DiveMore]

I'm looking to buy a BC and I like the concept behind the Mares HUB. With limited dive experience and equipment knowledge would anyone recomend going with this or an alternative?

Diving: I live in Texas so alot of my short trips are going to be Lake Dives with one to two warm water ocean dives a year with maybe a cold water ocean dive (Seattle area) every other year.

Help over whelmed and swimming in a sea of equipment confusion.

 

[oscar_2424]

Stay away from the HUB, just my 2 cents

 

[D_O_H]

This is a topic that has been beaten to death around here. It's hard to do a search on the HUB because the search function doesn't like 3 letter words. If you do a search for mares hub*, that should get you a few threads.

In the meantime, try giving this thread a read.

If you're really new to the sport, I suggest renting your gear for awhile. Figure out what you like and don't like, then spend a bunch of money on equipment.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Don't get a HUB. Once you learn a bit more about diving, you'll realize you don't think much of the idea at all. It's a bad approach to diving gear.

 

[Cuda_72]

I do not have any experience with the HUB nor have I ever seen one in person. That being said I would shy away from it only because it's an all in one package. I would prefer to piece together a complete kit without being constrained to one manufacturer. Also, I don't know how easy it would be to later upgrade regs with such a system. I have also heard that the system is rather heavy.

That's my .02

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I would not suggest you go with the HUB. Think simplified gear.

 

[Want2DiveMore]

Thanks everyone. I have crossed this off my list. The search goes on.

 

[HowardE]

At the risk of getting flamed - I have a dacor HUB. It was my first major gear purchase almost 2.5 years ago.

I am still diving with the Jacket as a BCD, but in the past year, I have removed all of the hoses, manifolds, and dacor regulator, and I now use a ScubaPro Mk25/S600 for my reg.

When I bought mine (about 175 dives ago) - I got the whole setup for $500 with gauges. For a budget, it worked perfectly.

Any of the negative comments about the HUB are probably from people who are too macho to dive it, because of the other negative comments.

One of the things that I still like the best about it is the inflation system, which doesn't have a hose. I shoot video, and a standard inflator hose would get in the way.

Sure it's a little heavier than a standard BCD. It has the regs attached, and there are two additional manifolds inside the back plate.

I've had people snicker at me on boats, but I could really care less what other people think... It works well, and as I've told many people... I'll keep the jacket until it needs to be replaced. I don't need to buy gear to impress other people... I get gear that works for me.

I will say that the one thing that I didn't like about the HUB was the reg that came with it. I did use it for over 100 dives, but once I tried the ScubaPro reg, there was no turning back.

So - If you like it... get it.

Let me add that my wife liked the idea of mine so much that she got a Mares HUB around the same time. She has recently switched to a Dive Rite BP/W setup, but again... that was 2.5 years ago and 175 dives ago.

 

[Walter]

Any of the negative comments about the HUB are probably from people who are too macho to dive it, because of the other negative comments.

Sorry Howard, but this is circular logic. Everyone who says negative things about it only do so because of the negative comments?

I examined the first HUB shortly after it came out at a dive show. I didn't care for the way it fit nor for the concept. I'm glad you enjoy yours, but you'd have to pay me a ton of money to get me to dive one.

 

[HowardE]

Sorry Howard, but this is circular logic. Everyone who says negative things about it only do so because of the negative comments?

I think people just put it down because it's a totally different concept, without really trying it. Does that make more sense? People jump on the bandwagon to bash it only becuase it's an alien concept, and from what I've seen - divers are reluctant with things that are "outside the box" - just look at the BP/W vs. Jacket arguments...

I mean - if I were to start over again today, would I get one? Probably not. Why? Becuase I would probably go with something more suited to the way I dive. I don't like the pockets in the HUB - 1 of them isn't really a pocket. I like having pockets. There's a few other quirky things that are both good and bad, but for now... It works fine for me, and now that I've added ScubaPro regs to it, it's great... If you look at mine now... it's just like a regular Jacket style BCD

I'm not suggesting that everyone run out and get one. Or even the person who asked.
I just thought that it was about time that 1 person stood up for the HUB.