Quote: (Originally Posted by
chunter)
There is nothing innovative about Cooper hoses. They have been used for many years.
While I agree that it is a good idea to be aware of this failure point, I still believe the benefit of the tough hose design and smooth inner bore (more for cleanliness issues than WOB) outweigh the downside. I've had regular hoses fail and leak on a few occasions...never had a problem with the Coopers (yet
).
Aloha,
Charlie
Cooper hoses are great. I prefer them in some ways. I was just not expecting/looking out for OR more importantly prepared (with a back up hose) for this failure
If I had been it would have been a non issue, as I wasnt I lost a good part of the trip. Not fun sidemount diving carrying 4 AL80s
When coopers fail on a dive you 'can' stay on the loop - when rubber hoses fail on a dive your screwed!
In the 'wild' rubber hoses can be patched, cut and bridged, shortened or in some way bodged to still be useable, coopers cant (I tried inserting several 'objects inside to keep open the hose end including a roled up part of a plastic bottle body - but they all migrated and it didnt pass my 'sphincter test'