What's the difference between these two spools?

[Tug]

For technical diving in overhead environments...yes. There are specific safety critical issues involved with that.

But for an open-water diver?

Who can buy 2-3 non-Delrin spools for the same cost?

but you end up buying 2-3 of them because they crack or break

 

[gsk3]

Piranha sometimes has Delrin spools available for $15 or so.

 

[Tug]

Piranha sometimes has Delrin spools available for $15 or so.

yup, Piranha has 100' spools for $16.99 with no double ender ($20.48 with a stainless double ender)
http://www.piranhadivemfg.com/search/delrin finger spool spool

scuba.com has a 150' spool for $19.95 with a brass double ender
Buy H2O 150 finger spool PDR-4 with reviews at scuba.com

if you don't want to spend the money for the H you can get a delrin one for a little more than a plastic one, sometimes cheaper

 

[Jax]

Devon, you're on a roll! Thanks for the laughs! :lol:

*Ahem* Who needs gold-plated?

https://www.techdivinglimited.com/tdl-high-visiblity-spool-120-neon-pink-p-102086.html

 

[DevonDiver]

but you end up buying 2-3 of them because they crack or break

How many have you broken? and how?

In the last 3000 dives, I've never broken one... and I carry them (2) on every dive. The only failures I have ever encountered were with the line itself...and those were predictable upon inspection of the line wear and tear.

If broken spools is such a big issue, worthy of such expense, then perhaps the real fault lies in the chosen stowage position?

From personal experience, I'd rather pay more money for a finger reel that contained higher quality/reinforced line, than for a spool which had super-power indestructibility.

 

[Tug]

How many have you broken? and how?

In the last 3000 dives, I've never broken one... and I carry them (2) on every dive.

If this is such a big issue, worthy of such expense, then perhaps the real fault lies in the chosen stowage position?

I have broken one, but it was entirely my fault. I had it clipped to my but d ring before I glued pockets onto my travel wetsuit and set the tank down on it. After that I upgraded to the Halcyon coldwater spool, which is good for my local diving. Do you need to spend the extra $30 on a Halcyon one if you're just getting a normal spool? I wouldn't as there are plenty of cheaper ones elsewhere, n fact, sometimes even cheaper than a plastic spool.