Miflex -- Buy It Now

[Vercingetorix]

I recently went to ST and replaced the rubber hose on my reg (Aeris Atmos Pro) with a 40-inch Miflex hose. Even though the Aeris Pro has a swivel on the first stage to reduce pulling, I still felt that the reg was being yanked from my mouth. I had to clench-down hard to prevent losing it.

[sidebar]
After reading CompuDude's discussion of Miflex, I decided to try it. Wheile lookin at the various lengths (and pretty colors) with one of the guys there, Joe looked out from his office and inquired as to what we were looking for. (The Miflex hoses are outside his office...probably to prevent theft). I mention I was looking a a 60-inch hose. He asks if I'm going tech, to which I reply "No, it's to easily donate the primary to OOA diver." Joes's advice: "Don't dive with anybody stupid enough to run out of air." I've recorded this in my log book to ensure I do not forget.
[/sidebar]

I went diving with the new hose yesterday and today (5 dives). What a pleasure. No pulling. Not only did I not need to clench my jaw,, I could actually loosely hold it with just my lips (should I choose to be that dumb).

The hose is lighter and more flexible than rubber. The hose diameter is also smaller. I did not notice any effect on breathing, though. The additional 8 inches of hose (my previous hose was 32 inches) did not get in the way either.

Recommendation: Next time you send your reg in for servicing, replace with Miflex; I changed only primary hose, not octo. Second, if you buy a new reg from ST, request that the hose be replaced with Miflex. Perhaps, you can sweet-talk Joe into upgrading for less than the retail price of the Miflex if he keeps (and resells) the rubber hose.

[mm_dm]

[quote=Vercingetorix;192931][sidebar]I mention I was looking a a 60-inch hose. He asks if I'm going tech, to which I reply "No, it's to easily donate the primary to OOA diver." Joes's advice: "Don't dive with anybody stupid enough to run out of air." I've recorded this in my log book to ensure I do not forget.[/sidebar]


I'm recording that one as well.

[cleansweep13]

Great advise, you can tell that Joe is an experienced diver!

[rumblefish]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

I recently went to ST and replaced the rubber hose on my reg (Aeris Atmos Pro) with a 40-inch Miflex hose. Even though the Aeris Pro has a swivel on the first stage to reduce pulling, I still felt that the reg was being yanked from my mouth. I had to clench-down hard to prevent losing it.

[sidebar]
After reading CompuDude's discussion of Miflex, I decided to try it. Wheile lookin at the various lengths (and pretty colors) with one of the guys there, Joe looked out from his office and inquired as to what we were looking for. (The Miflex hoses are outside his office...probably to prevent theft). I mention I was looking a a 60-inch hose. He asks if I'm going tech, to which I reply "No, it's to easily donate the primary to OOA diver." Joes's advice: "Don't dive with anybody stupid enough to run out of air." I've recorded this in my log book to ensure I do not forget.
[/sidebar]

I went diving with the new hose yesterday and today (5 dives). What a pleasure. No pulling. Not only did I not need to clench my jaw,, I could actually loosely hold it with just my lips (should I choose to be that dumb).

The hose is lighter and more flexible than rubber. The hose diameter is also smaller. I did not notice any effect on breathing, though. The additional 8 inches of hose (my previous hose was 32 inches) did not get in the way either.

Recommendation: Next time you send your reg in for servicing, replace with Miflex; I changed only primary hose, not octo. Second, if you buy a new reg from ST, request that the hose be replaced with Miflex. Perhaps, you can sweet-talk Joe into upgrading for less than the retail price of the Miflex if he keeps (and resells) the rubber hose.

Why did you decide to go with a 40" as opposed to another 32" or 60" that you were looking for? Are you routing the hose any differently with the extra length?

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by rumblefish

Why did you decide to go with a 40" as opposed to another 32" or 60" that you were looking for? Are you routing the hose any differently with the extra length?

With a 40", there is no routing. As I thought about the length, I decided that if/when I go the technical route, then I upgrade to the 5-foot or 7-foot length. For the kind of diving I do, the long hose is not necessary. I chose the 40-inch just to make donation of the main to the OOA diver a bit easier. I'm also thinking (and, perhaps this is invalid), that the 40-inch hose would pull even less, given the larger loop from tank to mouth. I probably could have gone with the 32-inch hose with little appreciable pull.

[Rainer]

Before I went to a 7' hose, I had a 40" hose. I ran it down, under my right arm, up, and into my mouth. It was quite stream-lined (I can't imagine the loop a 40" hose would create if you weren't routing it this way). It does provide for an easier air-share than a standard shorter hose. That said, I saw no benefits over the 7' hose (which had many), so changed after a few months.

[Rainer]

Also, are people really having such reg "pulling" issues that they feel a new hose is needed? I've never experienced this.

[Vercingetorix]

Yes, the pulling is unpleasant. I tried routing the 40-inch hose under the right arm. I'll try it both ways to see which I prefer. I wear my octo (regular rubber hose) on a necklace, which is also routed under the right arm.

[Rainer]

Under the arm worked fine for me. YMMV. In any case, it offers MUCH better streamlining than having a big 2' loop off the side of your head. Not sure I understand how you have your "octo". What are you donating in an OOG? If the primary, why not put the secondary on a short hose and necklace. Not seeing why you have it coming under your right arm. Clearly being willing to spend money on new hoses isn't the issue.

[Splitlip]

The 40 has to be run under the arm. Or as Rainer said you will have a monster halo which (IMO) can be dangerous. Even with the miflex, you will still need a swivel I would think.
As for the necklace, I would imagine that it puts the second at an awkward angle running under the arm. You look to be about the same size as I, so would say get the 22" hose for singles and run it directly from the first stage.