question prefered SM hose lenghts

[Neptuno]

well, I started wrong assuming that regulator hose standard were 22' long, but I think I screwed it...

what hose lengts are you guys using for sidemount, and how do you route them?, so far I use the hoses behind my neck to my mouth, I guess now that should be about 26 inches??

some people I know is using the hoses not routing them around the neck, but not sure how, I think the hose is kinda in the way??

so, what lengths and which way is preferred by the mases and why?

[mdax]

22" on left routed directly up to reg.
7' on right around the neck

[saxplayer1004]

with non directional 2nds
22 inch on left, straight up to mouth, 22 inch on right straight up to mouth, or 7-9' long hose with mixed teams on right bottle. Both get clipped to the D-rings when not in use. Right angle adapters on both of them
With standard regs. 40" on the left bottle, with right angle adapter, over back of neck and in suicide strap. any length on right, although it's 7-9' standard long hose and looped behind neck a la backmount.

My preferred though is 40" with reversible 2nd stages crossed over the back of my neck with each clipped off to the D-ring when not in use. It's not preferred by most people though. In caves or penetration they run straight up to my mouth

[DA Aquamaster]

Boy, talk about a question that will get a lot of different answers.

I tried 22" hoses straight up with right angle adapters, and then with 120 degree adaptors, and both seemed to leave the hose slightly low when looking face down, but ok when looking forward. Still, the slightly low and potentially draggy-when-looking-down hose bothered me.

I also tried 29-30ish inch hoses around the back of the neck for the left tank with a right inlet fitting reg, and it worked Ok, but I got cleaner hose routing and less clutter around the left shoulder D-ring using a 40" hose under the arm, then across the neck and around to the right side of the head. And I found the hose tended to lay flatter across the back of the neck and was less prone to snagging on a low ceiling, but was still an issue in that regard. YMMV.

I decided however that, IMHO, there are times when it would not be convenient to share gas on a mixed team via swapping a bottle, so a long hose made sense. I started with a 7' hose on the right hand tank routed straight up the chest to a 120 degre adaptor, but I was not a real fan of the two loops and clutter on the tank caused by that long of a hose. However it was easy to adjust the length of hose up to your mouth to an optimum length for the average head position.

I then tried a 5' hose on the right tank and found it worked well with the same easy adjustment but with only one loop needed to stow the hose neatly, quickly and easily. I then tried another one on the left tank and found that it routes under the arm and around the neck very well, with just a small loop left under the tank band - and that loop makes the length easily adjustable so it will ride very nicely flat against the back and neck.

The downside is that 5' is the bare minimum (for us) for gas sharing in tandem in a tight restriction. If you go that short, be sure to try it out/practice with it to ensure it will work. In our case it is do-able, and while we would not want to do it several hundred feet, it will quickly get us to a wide spot to hand off a tank if needed.

My thoughts are that two 5' hoses work well for me as they don't create excess clutter on the tanks, they allow clean hose routing and they provide the ability to share gas from either tank in a pinch with a back mount or rebreather diver.

[Neptuno]

I got a 7' and is ok, but I want to replace for 2 short hoses, how did you routed the 22" ones? it might be a pain getting caught on the bottom everytime...

just now I measured what I really had as a left side that I was supposed to buy instead of the 22... it is 28-30".

going under your arm, does not expose too much of the hose to rub against the ceiling?

[RN]

well, I started wrong assuming that regulator hose standard were 22' long, but I think I screwed it...

what hose lengts are you guys using for sidemount, and how do you route them?, so far I use the hoses behind my neck to my mouth, I guess now that should be about 26 inches??

some people I know is using the hoses not routing them around the neck, but not sure how, I think the hose is kinda in the way??

so, what lengths and which way is preferred by the mases and why?

Proper hose lengths for routing both hoses around the neck and using a long hose - 7' on right, 31-32 inches on left (depends on whether you use a swivel or not), 15 inches for LP hoses, and 6 inches for HP hoses.

I prefer to route my hoses around my neck. I tried bringing them straight up to my mouth and the weight of the reg on my mouth gave me too much jaw fatigue. Maybe my 2nd stages are too big, but I've been using them for years and really like the way they breathe.

[Slüdge]

Boy, talk about a question that will get a lot of different answers.

What did the Line Squirrel say about asking ten different sidemounters?

(You'll get eleven different answers.)

[adam0321]

I have a 6 inch lp inflator hose on my right bottle. sound weird but it works great.. as for my right side reg hose...I am still working on it

[RN]

Okay, but you also have your dry suit inflator hose on your hip!

[Jay]

Hey Cristian!
I actually use a 28-30 on the left around my neck with a lanyard and directional second, pretty much like BM.
And the 7 footer on the right with two of the newer stretchy bands running directly to my mouth and clipped off when not in use.
If you are soloing a lot a standard hose on the right directly to the mouth is fine. A swivel or even better, an angle connector would put it where you want it with a directional reg and clip it off when not in use.
I wrote an article for the journal a number of years back about long hose vs swapping/donating tanks in Sidemount when in a team or a mixed team. Though there are a few scenarios where it may be better, donating a tank sucks and should be a last resort- just before buddy breathing!

[FW]

I have a silly question. I see several people with a 7' hose on the right, and a longer than normal hose on the left. Why not have the 7' hose on the left, and a standard hose on the right?

FWIW, I have non-handed regs, so I can use the same length for both, however I do have a 7' in case I am diving with someone in backmount.

[Slüdge]

Why a 7' hose in sidemount? If a cave is big enough for a buddy it's big enough for backmount!:rollguy

[Jay]

I have a silly question. I see several people with a 7' hose on the right, and a longer than normal hose on the left. Why not have the 7' hose on the left, and a standard hose on the right?

FWIW, I have non-handed regs, so I can use the same length for both, however I do have a 7' in case I am diving with someone in backmount.

I did mine just for the familiarity with BM.
I am right handed so it is a little easier to tuck it.
The first bottle I add goes on the left (actually, the first two counting O2) so there is less likely to have something else in the way.
The inflator is not in the way

And that's the way Jeff was doing it!!!!

[RN]

I have a silly question. I see several people with a 7' hose on the right, and a longer than normal hose on the left. Why not have the 7' hose on the left, and a standard hose on the right?

FWIW, I have non-handed regs, so I can use the same length for both, however I do have a 7' in case I am diving with someone in backmount.

I tried that for a few weeks. While it wasn't an issue routing the 7' hose on the left tank, I didn't like bringing the right side reg straight to my mouth. The jaw fatigue was significant and when I clipped that reg off it hung down too much. And, yes, my 2nd stages are big and heavy Aqualung Legends, but I love the way they breathe and they're easy to rebuild!




Why a 7' hose in sidemount? If a cave is big enough for a buddy it's big enough for backmount!

So, are you proposing I dive the first 3000' of JB in backmount, pull off that rig and pull on my sidemount rig to do the small stuff? ;)

[laphiloche]

Why a 7' hose in sidemount? If a cave is big enough for a buddy it's big enough for backmount!:rollguy

+1
I never understand this 7' discussions.

[Slüdge]

Do you have a buddy for the first 3,000 feet only?

[EEL]

Do you have a buddy for the first 3,000 feet only?

Yes, for many of the smaller passages a buddy will wait out in the main tunnel and let the other diver explore the small side tunnel solo.

[cavermatt]

I have tried several of hose routing, this is what I like best.

I use Apeks FST 1st Stages, so no swivel and TX100 2nds

Left Tank: 15" Inflater for wing, 9"HP straight down, 36" LP routed down, then runs up and around my neck w/ 70degree elbow on a bungee necklace.
Right Tank: 15" Inflater for Dry suit, 9"HP straight down, 7' LP stowed in rubber bands, pull out just what you need, run across chest and around neck, clips to shoulder d-ring.

I have tried running hoses straight up but never found that comfortable. I have never had an issue with a rubber hose chaffing the ceiling.

[RN]

Do you have a buddy for the first 3,000 feet only?

What Mark said.

[adam0321]

okay, but you also have your dry suit inflator hose on your hip!


jealous???? Ill trade you suits....and it was my left bottle that I have the 6"lp inflator hose for my wing

[RN]

No thanks! Your unintentional suit inflations don't appeal to me. ;)

[laphiloche]

When i dive side mount , i never use long hose.
If i'am with a budy and if he have a big problem, i give him a bottle.
for the hose lengt :
left : hp short hose, mp regulator 40" ( i think) hunder my nek, wings hose ?
right: hp hose short, mp regulator short hose with swivel(scuba or dive rite), dry suit short as possible

After, we don't dive sidemount in the same condition. For the majority of you, you put the two rear wheels of the truk in the water , put the bottles in the water and go.
And for me my weekend dive is this :3867

[whodunit68]

I'm currently using 7' right hose, 32" left, 14" inflators. I'm with a person in Mexico who follows what laphiloche does - hand a bottle if out of gas situation. His reg hoses are I believe 28".

[phillip1]

Unless you dive mixed team, a long hose is not really needed in SM. Although tucked away it is comfortable, in really tight caves it could become a hassle if it were to come undone.
I use a 22 inch hose on my left tank that goes behind my neck and has a bungee necklace, this reg has a 90degree elbow, I use a 40 inch hose on my right tank, hose crosses in front of my chest and around my neck, I clip this reg to my bungee necklace and have it always above the left side reg. I like this cause when i unclip my tank left tank (the one I unclip the most since it does not have the lp hose) I have a bit of extra room to push it around, I also find this configuration more comfortable than two 22 inch hoses and two necklaces. I could also share air in a cave that was big enough for two divers side by side I guess.
This is precisely one of the great aspects of SM, there is no one way of doing things and every diver can customize his or her rig to exactly the way they dive

[jlillest]

And for me my weekend dive is this :3867

Nice map! How long does it take to get to sump 10?

-Jon

[adam0321]

No thanks! Your unintentional suit inflations don't appeal to me. ;)

I changed out the inflator valve, not a problem anymore.

[laphiloche]

2200 meters, for pas the sump 10, climb an explore after it, we think 12/15 hours(5 hours for go to before the sump 10, we drop the bottle and help for explorations divers). The water isn't very cold 11/12°, but it's a long day.
nice pics of the cave here : http://celadons.free.fr/Album/Baumepecher/album/
normaly we have a very good visibility

[laphiloche]

I use a 22 inch hose on my left tank that goes behind my neck and has a bungee necklace, this reg has a 90degree elbow,
which first stage do you have ? (swivel?)

[saxplayer1004]

I was using swivel turrets for a while, but recently switched to my poseidon first stages. They seem to be working much better for me, and will likely be getting the HOG DS4 copies shortly. Would love it if they had a chance to copy a Tek3 design though, but I'm not complaining. I know the hoses get bent a bit, but for me it seemed like the swivel was causing more problems than it was worth. Couldn't find a position I liked for it...

[RN]

Unless you dive mixed team, a long hose is not really needed in SM. Although tucked away it is comfortable, in really tight caves it could become a hassle if it were to come undone.

True, but if you route it properly along your cylinder, there's very little chance of it becoming undone. I've gotten caught up in a few passages, but never because of my long hose.



I changed out the inflator valve, not a problem anymore.

Must be using a slide button now.

[phillip1]

which first stage do you have ? (swivel?)
Yes I have the DR swivels first stage

[Neptuno]

well, I bought 2x 22" and I think is no way to route them around the neck....


Unless you dive mixed team, a long hose is not really needed in SM. Although tucked away it is comfortable, in really tight caves it could become a hassle if it were to come undone.
I use a 22 inch hose on my left tank that goes behind my neck and has a bungee necklace, this reg has a 90degree elbow, I use a 40 inch hose on my right tank, hose crosses in front of my chest and around my neck, I clip this reg to my bungee necklace and have it always above the left side reg. I like this cause when i unclip my tank left tank (the one I unclip the most since it does not have the lp hose) I have a bit of extra room to push it around, I also find this configuration more comfortable than two 22 inch hoses and two necklaces. I could also share air in a cave that was big enough for two divers side by side I guess.
This is precisely one of the great aspects of SM, there is no one way of doing things and every diver can customize his or her rig to exactly the way they dive

[RN]

22" is too short to route around the neck. You need 32" without swivel, 31" with.

[FW]

22" is too short to route around the neck. You need 32" without swivel, 31" with.
Or non-handed 2nd stages :-)

[phillip1]

I have 60cm I think that is 22 inches, it goes behind the neck form the left and I have a 90degree elbow. You need a swivel first stage though

[laphiloche]

The problem for this discussion on sidemount diving is now sidemount is a generic word with lot of different practice. When i dive side mount with my nomad or my sms100 and when i dive side mount with a light weight harness without wings during a multisump exploration it's a completely different way to dive.Same for the size of the bottle , to 4 liters to 20 liters i haven't a standard regulator kit.
But often i use Cyklon 2 stage, they breath like a pig but they do the job.

[AB8CD]

I would add that body shape comes into the equation... as my 20 inch neck and the stocky build it is attached to needs a bit more lp hose than someone like Forrest does. Be nice now. ;)

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[FW]

The problem for this discussion on sidemount diving is now sidemount is a generic word with lot of different practice. When i dive side mount with my nomad or my sms100 and when i dive side mount with a light weight harness without wings during a multisump exploration it's a completely different way to dive.Same for the size of the bottle , to 4 liters to 20 liters i haven't a standard regulator kit.
But often i use Cyklon 2 stage, they breath like a pig but they do the job.

I agree with the different kits. The nice thing about Cyklons is they are less likely to stop working when filled with mud.

[argyris]

The nice thing about Cyklons is they are less likely to stop working when filled with mud.

Indeed!!!

[Neptuno]

22" is too short to route around the neck. You need 32" without swivel, 31" with.

I guess the right side is a bit longer? 30-31' is right, I got that length on my left side, I think is 30 and is a bit too short sometimes

[CaveBuddy95]

I'm currently using 7' right hose, 32" left, 14" inflators. I'm with a person in Mexico who follows what laphiloche does - hand a bottle if out of gas situation. His reg hoses are I believe 28".
In my opinion when diving mix team, mixed experience is similar to mix team, both divers should wear the same hose routing. It simplifies the work and remove stress situation where a tank get handed over in bad silty area or fragile cave. But again, that's my opinion.

which first stage do you have ? (swivel?)
In my experience, swivel/touret first stage, MK25 types are ideal for sidemount. Specially when partial removal and/or no mount cave. It allows for the hose to not pool on your mouth as you rotate tank in front. That's my opinion.


22" is too short to route around the neck. You need 32" without swivel, 31" with.
Depending on body size but I've seen 22s, 24s and also 26 being used. Personally I use 2 22s with elbow on both and route them behind neck. Very clean config. My opinion.

;)

[RN]

Depending on body size but I've seen 22s, 24s and also 26 being used. Personally I use 2 22s with elbow on both and route them behind neck. Very clean config. My opinion.

;)

You are either very small or position your cylinders with the 1st stage even with the top of your shoulder. I just measured from the corner of my mouth around my neck and 22 inches stops at the top of my shoulder.

[phillip1]

actually to be honest I never measured the hose on either of my tanks, the left one is very short and looks like 60cm with a 90degree elbow, the one on the right tank is I think 40 inches.