Travel Pony Regs and Setup

[galvanni]

I am looking for some suggestions on a pony setup that is suitable for travel. I'm thinking 13 is a good size for the bottle for mostly 50-60ft and occasional 80-100 when I get AOW. I am actually looking for a whole setup and not just regs, but the regs are primary focus. I was figuring I'd go with the Zeagle straps to mount it, a small button SPG. I like the Zeagle Razor reg set up but I want to be able to hook my primary regs to it when soaking and rinsing them and that integrated valve/first stage doesn't work for that. I've read some suggestions on SP MKII first stage - just wondering if there were better options. I'd like to keep the cost low, but don't mind spending for a decent setup. Looking for second stage options too.

I keep reading stuff like "The ocean is littered with dead folks who didn't figure out what SpareAir could do for them" or "SpareAir - so you can run out of air twice" - so I'm opting not to go down that road.

 

[FritzCat66]

I have a 19cf with the Razor and have travelled with it a couple of times, but mostly use it right here in Florida. The 13cf bottle would be a bit easier, but with either one you'll be probably be removing the valve and putting the cylinder in checked bag while keeping your reg (or reg/valve in the Razor's case) with you in carryon. That being the case, the 19 still fits in a checked bag, but for the depths you're talking the 13 should be fine and yes certainly much better than a 6cf SpareAir.

Button SPG is fine. With either the Razor or a standard valve you should seriosly consider a transfill adaptor/hose so you can simply fill the pony from your rental tanks.

Are you planning to necklace the reg, hang it like an octo, or strap it to the pony? While I backmount mine, I think for travelling it might be much easier to sling the 13. It's small enough to attach from your front D-rings, keeping the reg bungeed to the pony, that configuration would make for much quicker and easier setup than backmount.

I necklace mine, and since I carry it left backmount, I needed a reg with the hose connector coming from the opposite side of the reg compared to typical models. I decided on an XS Scuba Airwave because it fit the bill nicely and also happens to lay flat (I'm using a 3' Miflex hose and XS right-angle adaptor to connect to the pony). I have since tested it many times and besides breathing a little wet, seems to be a fine pony reg.

If your reg is bungeed, you won't need those limitations and can get a more standard reg.

Keep in mind, without the Razor, whatever valve/first stage rig you do, it's going to be awfully bulky in proportion to the overall size of the pony. Yoke will exaggerate that even more - I would highly recommend DIN instead if you're going to go with a more standard connection, but if your primary regset is yoke then that might not be practical.

Oh, and while the Zeagle straps are good, it's also worth considering the pony "bags" that Akona and XS make. They use a large velcro flap with a "latching" piece of velcro to attach to your camband instead of the main cylinder. When I was using a 13 and an Akona bag, I found I could simply leave the pony attached to my BC's cam band as I switched tanks. This reduces a lot of tank-switching hassle, but I found the 19 was a bit too awkward to do the same thing and had to remove it every time (I switched to the Innovative EZ-On pony bracket for that reason).

An advantage to having the pony on the cam band is it will typically stay close and handy even if your main cylinder gets loose and starts slipping on you.

 

[halocline]

What's wrong with using a MK2? It's an ideal pony reg; bulletproof, dirt simple, cheap, and if you use an unbalanced 2nd stage it will give you a little warning before it's empty. If you're thinking of attaching it to the tank, and using a button SPG, you do realize you will not be able to check pressure in the water unless you remove your BC. Given that, the unbalanced MK2 is a definite advantage IMO.

I have a closet full of regs and I use a MK2 for my 13 cft pony. BTW, if I was starting over I'd get a 19cft. I don't think it's much more to carry, and usually the cost is about the same. I got the 13 because I got a deal on it. It's sufficient for my needs, which are to allow for leisurely travel to the surface from recreational depths in the event of a reg failure. I rarely use it, to be honest.

As far as carrying it, I sling it with stage rigging, and I would suggest that as well. That way you can hand it off, easily deal with the valve, and read your button gauge.

 

[Hatul]

I am looking for some suggestions on a pony setup that is suitable for travel. I'm thinking 13 is a good size for the bottle for mostly 50-60ft and occasional 80-100 when I get AOW. I am actually looking for a whole setup and not just regs, but the regs are primary focus. I was figuring I'd go with the Zeagle straps to mount it, a small button SPG. I like the Zeagle Razor reg set up but I want to be able to hook my primary regs to it when soaking and rinsing them and that integrated valve/first stage doesn't work for that. I've read some suggestions on SP MKII first stage - just wondering if there were better options. I'd like to keep the cost low, but don't mind spending for a decent setup. Looking for second stage options too.

I keep reading stuff like "The ocean is littered with dead folks who didn't figure out what SpareAir could do for them" or "SpareAir - so you can run out of air twice" - so I'm opting not to go down that road.

I tried the Zeagle straps with a 19 pony and did not like it. I felt it torquing me with surge and there seemed more resistance when swimming. Also I use the pony mostly for solo diving and I like the reassurance of seeing the pony in front of me when slung. When the pony is on the back I have no idea what's going on with it and I only have a plug gauge which can't be seen. There is also the chance of getting caught on kelp here in Cal. The slung pony feels much better.

Adam

 

[DevonDiver]

For travel purposes, I would recommend:

Cylinder - 13 Cuft. You will have to empty this and leave the valve open for commercial flights.

Regulator - Any lightweight, economy reg. I used to use a Dacor Viper (aka Mares MV) as it was exceptionally lightweight and the side-exhaust meant it was very easy to share/donate. A button gauge is fine. These often come up cheap secondhand (check Ebay and Craigslist).

Attachment - For travel (and other reasons) I would recommend that you carried the pony in side-slung configuration. This has a number of major advantages; such as:
1) The ability to 'give away' the pony if another diver needs it.
2) Easy checking of the button gauge.
3) Can dive with it primed & shut-off..and turn it on when needed (no chance of unexpected lost air)
4) Streamlined in the water and less chance of entanglement behind you.
5) Cylinder can be ditched during the dive, if essential.
6) Cylinder can be passed to you and attached, once you are in the water (less exertion).
7) Cylinder can be detatched and passed to the boat/shore before you exit (less exertion).
8) Very lightweight attachment method - better for flying (baggage allowances).

All you will need for this attachment is a cam band or metal hoop and a strap with a snaprelease at each end (these are commonly sold as kits).

If you really must back-mount your pony...then a good (lightweight) option for travelling is the pony 'bag' or 'sleeve' configuration, that holds the pony and threads easily onto a camband.

and finally....

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

 

[galvanni]

>> What's wrong with using a MK2?

Nothing that I can see really - except that it's not a cold water reg. I have a sealed diaphragm primary set (AL Legend LX Supreme ACD) so I figured if I'm going to get a pony then I should match a cold water 1st stage to it.

Some good information here - I think I might just sling instead of tank/cam mount.

 

[halocline]

You're wrong about the cold water; the MK2 has a great cold water reputation. It's a flow-by piston design, not flow through. This lowers the flow and keeps the piston shaft out of the HP area. I'm kind of guessing on the specifics here, but it makes sense that having the air expand at the orifice, some distance away from the piston, rather than at the piston edge itself (as in the flow-through balanced piston design) lessens the adiabatic cooling on the piston shaft itself. Anyhow, it's probably more a flow issue, but definitely the MK2 has excellent freeze resistance.

But, if you want a sealed diaphragm for this purpose, it'll certainly work fine. I would consider a "real" SPG on a 6" hose, though, if you're using a balanced 1st stage. At least with my button gauge, it's pretty tough to see what the pressure is as it gets low.

Oh, one thing, I disagree with the dacor viper recommendation. I had one once, it was so piss-poor I gave it away, then I took it back because I felt guilty giving my friend such a crummy reg. (I gave him a 109) I'm talking about 2nd stage only, I have no experience with the viper 1st stage.

 

[MC]

If I was reading correctly the spare air's are 3.0 or 1.7 cf of air not 6.0.

We do mostly shallow water diving as well. I went with th 6.0cu pony's for our set up, using stanadard regulators and octos (one set up has a sea elite 1st stage with a US divers Octo, another has a Dacor Sportser 1st stage and a slim line Octo).

If I were doing deeper dives over 60ft, then I'd lean towards the 13cu units.

We attach our ponys not to the tank but to the back of the BC via a sleeve, bascially like a fanny pack. Seems to be the ideal location, but we've yet to have to use it under an "emergency" situation- and hope not to have to to it.

Any comments on the 6.0 cu size?

 

[galvanni]

If I were to mount the 13 on the tank band how would I do that? I only have one tank band by the way? I'm assuming that all BC mounts happen on the band - unless there's another way to BC mount. But I do think the 13 is nice and short and does kind of make more sense on a sling - at least to me. I've seen some of these slings and I can see that most connect to a D-ring on the valve end but what does the bolt on the bottom end connect to?

 

[ronscuba]

If I were to mount the 13 on the tank band how would I do that? I only have one tank band by the way? I'm assuming that all BC mounts happen on the band - unless there's another way to BC mount. But I do think the 13 is nice and short and does kind of make more sense on a sling - at least to me. I've seen some of these slings and I can see that most connect to a D-ring on the valve end but what does the bolt on the bottom end connect to?

D-ring at the valve end clips to your BC chest D-ring.

D-ring at the bottom end clips to your BC waist D-ring.