Miflex Hoses

[Skorpiov]

I have always heard that swivel/ 90's etc are serious fail points

I had two swivels fail and was dead set against them in overhead, but several friends recommended the OMNI swivels and said they are much better. They better be they are expensive (about $70 a peice). The main deal is they have an o-ring in them that needs to be serviced, and its a good idea to make sure the set screw is tight over time. With proper maintenance, I've been told these won't fail. I'm trying them with my sidemount rig and like them so far.

[FW]

I had two swivels fail and was dead set against them in overhead, but several friends recommended the OMNI swivels and said they are much better. They better be they are expensive (about $70 a peice). The main deal is they have an o-ring in them that needs to be serviced, and its a good idea to make sure the set screw is tight over time. With proper maintenance, I've been told these won't fail. I'm trying them with my sidemount rig and like them so far.

Rumor has it that Loctite on the screw helps. I still wouldn't trust them, though.

[RN]

I have never used braided hoses, but I've had several students come to me with them. Most of them have gone back to the good old rubber hoses for one reason or another. Here are the issues I've seen with them.

1. Failed crimping, on both HP and LP hoses. Initially, I saw it only with the HP hoses. Recently, I had a student who went through 3 or 4 LP hoses that failed on him within a month of buying them and finally decided to go back to rubber.
2. Positively buoyant. Not a big deal until you're doing an air share in zero visibility and the 7' hose gets caught up on a protrusion on the ceiling because it's floating above the divers. Never thought to check up there. They stopped moving and weren't making any progress. I kept taking peeks to see what was going on but didn't realize it was the braided 7' hose until I illuminated a little longer than a peek.
3. Worst, and most dangerous, issue I've seen is the LP hoses will bend enough to cut off the gas supply to a 2nd stage. Twist the hose 1/2 a rotation and pull it tight like could happen during an air share and try to breathe from the 2nd stage. Granted, this isn't common, but I've seen it happen once and that's enough for me not to use them. Fortunately, it was during a drill in class and not a real situation.

[FW]

.... Fortunately, it was during a drill in class and not a real situation.

That could get *real* in a big hurry

[Sludge]

My only experience with them is when regs come in for service and have them. I don't get it. What problem are they trying to solve?

I'll stick with plain old hoses.

[gasdiver]

What problem are they trying to solve?

They are transfer devices.

They transfer money from your pocket to someone else's.

The pistol shooting sports are so full of transfer devices you can't swing a dead cat around without hitting one.

[DA Aquamaster]

The one place I do really like a Miflex hose is on my transfill/equalizing whip - it is so much smaller and lighter than a regular HP hose and rolls up into a far lighter and more compact package.

[Atom]

My only experience with them is when regs come in for service and have them. I don't get it. What problem are they trying to solve?

I'll stick with plain old hoses.

I got a set of those to bring with me while traveling, they're pretty light compared to rubber and since I kept the hoses in my carry on it helped. They have their issues though.

[Squirrel Girl]

I don't live close enough to water to dive as often as you all. But I felt I was going through rubber hoses, too fast. I bought some Miflex and Phantom hoses, and other than the HP ones, it seems I haven't killed one of them. This is anything but a scientific analysis of the durability of them. But I haven't replaced the non-rubber hoses and they seem to work well for me.

[Kelly Jessop]

I don't live close enough to water to dive as often as you all. But I felt I was going through rubber hoses, too fast. I bought some Miflex and Phantom hoses, and other than the HP ones, it seems I haven't killed one of them. This is anything but a scientific analysis of the durability of them. But I haven't replaced the non-rubber hoses and they seem to work well for me.

You haven't been mistakening your 7' hose for your whip and that is why you've been wearing them out