Is there a way (aside from buying one of each) to tell which length would be ideal for my primary in a Hogarthian-style gear configuration modified for open water? I dive a dry suit with no can light. I'm about six feet tall and medium build.
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Yes the hose routing is the same.
The big difference between the 5' and the 7' in backmount setups is one has to find some way to hook the 7' hose somewhere to keep it from hanging loose. Worth pointing out that smaller frame people need use a 5' or 6' hose hooked off in the same way larger people use a 7' hose hooked off, and really tall people might need longer than 7'. This is both a routing issue (what do ya do with the length) and an airsharing issue (is the hose long enough to line up two divers.)
I am a huge fan of 5' hoses, and have only used 7' hoses when specifically required to for class requirements, and have fought to have those class requirements changed to allow 5' hoses, because some of my students, as mentioned, simply cannot safely use a 7' hose. Personally, I have only found people having problems with 7 foot hoses*, and thankfully never seen them be necessary.
Really, only in specific gear setups does the 7' hose not introduce its own unique hazards. While on the other hand, there is no gear setup that a 5' cannot easily just be thrown on to, and used without issue. So 5' unless
When switching to strictly OW (no tech), a 5' hose is practical except for really small people who sometimes need the 4' for the same no hook looping.
If you are thining about braided hoses (MiFlex and the like), be aware that they introduce some wildcards into the equation (floatiness, memory effect) that are exacerbated by long hoses, and with those you might have to find a way to hook off even the shorter hose lengths to keep them in tight. For me. that's not an issue because I mount my SPG over my right shoulder so the 5 footer braided hose hooks under it.
* Entenglement is the basic problem. Because a 7 footer requires hooking off into a blind spot, when it gets free, it is not noticed and then when the loop gets entangled and the reg is pulled from the mouth, that reg can be more than a body length away. That same length which might be useful/required in a lined-up OOA situation becomes an entanglement that can be more than a body length away.
Yes the hose routing is the same...
... and have fought to have those class requirements changed to allow 5' hoses, because some of my students, as mentioned, simply cannot safely use a 7' hose. Personally, I have only found people having problems with 7 foot hoses*, and thankfully never seen them be necessary.
Is the hose routing the same for a 5' hose? Under the right armpit, around the left side of the head, looping behind the neck and over the right side?
BJ....What are you talking about....when you say "one has to find some way to hook the 7' hose somewhere to keep it from hanging loose"????? The hose goes down, under either a can light, or under a knife, or under a pocket, then around in front of the chest and around the neck into the mouth...the necklace reg is the backup. Pretty much everyone on SB knows this....and pretty much all divers in South Florida have "seen this"....How can you make a comment like this?