Yeah, that might be it, that and youtube probably adds to it.
The Faber LP85 are very close to the 12L tanks. The 12Ls are a bit lighter though.
Reasons for using aluminum tanks in cold water?
- Thread starter Bennno
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Mm.....if I was designing a system I would probably ensure that it performs best with the type of tank that is most prevalent in the diving world.....
Well, I dive mostly cold water and mostly aluminums, so here is my opinion on that:
I think the situation translates well from Germany to the rest of Europe:
Hollis recommended it when they started the first sidemount classes here.
Afterwards it has been repeated so often, that when people ask they always get the impression that 'everyone' thinks aluminum is best for sidemount generally.
It is also the typical recomendation of people comming back from the cenotes with only basic knowledge from seeing sidemount divers.
Another reason this recomendation still keeps being repeated is that most vacation locations have aluminums, so many people try to prepare at home with similar types.
You see them in most videos (since those come mainly from warm and salt water areas) and people think it is part of the concept or an explanation for the sometimes unbelievable ease shown in the videos.
There are also a lot of wrong ideas influencing people:
- People still tell you in Germany that aluminums need to be certified less often, even though that changed in 2013 or something.
- Many think aluminums weight less on land
- Many people fear rust (even with compressors here always being in good condition nowadays)
...
White paint is not attractive. Especially in Germany many think the tanks have to be painted white, according to some unknown law or something.
And it can be quite hard to find anyone to offer bargain prices for painting them another color, airbrush often would cost the same (meaning: cost to much).
Many like the dirty beast or mirror-finish design and both can be easily personalized with sanding paper.
Sidemount systems cost a lot of money. People affording something like that tent to try to get perfect sets of additional equipment.
Aluminums are 'attractive'.
There is also the convenience aspect of aluminums standing without a tank boot - much more comfortable with filling stations prepared only for backmount.
My personal reason is that it is a lot easier to have tanks that can be used as stages or sidemount tanks according to situation.
4 tanks is the ideal number to have at home. 4x 80cft stages can be used in any combination from one to four tanks and from one to four dives.
With steel tanks you can now add an extra pair of extra light tanks (owned 8liter 200bar - best sidemount tank ever) and a pair of extra heavy ones (I have a pair of 19liters).
Still, the aluminums will always be my 'allround tanks', the steels are for 'special occasions' and there is no dive I could not replace them with aluminums for an only slightly less optimal solution.
I think the situation translates well from Germany to the rest of Europe:
Hollis recommended it when they started the first sidemount classes here.
Afterwards it has been repeated so often, that when people ask they always get the impression that 'everyone' thinks aluminum is best for sidemount generally.
It is also the typical recomendation of people comming back from the cenotes with only basic knowledge from seeing sidemount divers.
Another reason this recomendation still keeps being repeated is that most vacation locations have aluminums, so many people try to prepare at home with similar types.
You see them in most videos (since those come mainly from warm and salt water areas) and people think it is part of the concept or an explanation for the sometimes unbelievable ease shown in the videos.
There are also a lot of wrong ideas influencing people:
- People still tell you in Germany that aluminums need to be certified less often, even though that changed in 2013 or something.
- Many think aluminums weight less on land
- Many people fear rust (even with compressors here always being in good condition nowadays)
...
White paint is not attractive. Especially in Germany many think the tanks have to be painted white, according to some unknown law or something.
And it can be quite hard to find anyone to offer bargain prices for painting them another color, airbrush often would cost the same (meaning: cost to much).
Many like the dirty beast or mirror-finish design and both can be easily personalized with sanding paper.
Sidemount systems cost a lot of money. People affording something like that tent to try to get perfect sets of additional equipment.
Aluminums are 'attractive'.
There is also the convenience aspect of aluminums standing without a tank boot - much more comfortable with filling stations prepared only for backmount.
My personal reason is that it is a lot easier to have tanks that can be used as stages or sidemount tanks according to situation.
4 tanks is the ideal number to have at home. 4x 80cft stages can be used in any combination from one to four tanks and from one to four dives.
With steel tanks you can now add an extra pair of extra light tanks (owned 8liter 200bar - best sidemount tank ever) and a pair of extra heavy ones (I have a pair of 19liters).
Still, the aluminums will always be my 'allround tanks', the steels are for 'special occasions' and there is no dive I could not replace them with aluminums for an only slightly less optimal solution.
Not what I have seen in the UK and Finland.
But one advantage of having Al on sidemount may be being easier to handle the cylinders in the water if they need to be unclipped and even passed to another person.
But one advantage of having Al on sidemount may be being easier to handle the cylinders in the water if they need to be unclipped and even passed to another person.
Amazingly that is impossible!
Any system can work perfectly with any type of tank if prepared for a certain range of tanks.
If a system can do heavy tanks, it can do any heavy tank, but is often bad with light tanks.
Systems for light tanks can be extremly streamlined but often require some small modifications to take a heavy load.
I am diving 19liters and aluminums with the same equipment without changing anything.
More of an 'allround-setup', not perfect for both, but adequate for any between those sizes.
Those special steel tanks may be light, but I can squeeze many kilograms of air into two of those, enough to need the wing to compensate during the dive.
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For unclipping aluminums are attractive in still water.
With moving water (current or tide) half-empty aluminums sometimes take a ride downslope on their own.
Passing the tank to another diver is a reason I forgot above.
Many people think that works only with aluminum.
Some want to have that ability even with longhose configs.
In reality it depends more on size than material.
There are 'light versions' of most steel tank sizes.
The total mass of even a heavy 8,5liters is manageable single handedly, up until around 12liter and 80cft size.
Even manipulating the lightest 15liter is no fun at all when competely full or completely empty though.
Not really, the Hollis SMS100 for instance just sucks for AL tanks and the harness style once suck for heavy loads unless you do some heavy modding.
I saw that video of you diving these 19s and I'm not trying to bash but it looks horrible, the tanks are way too low and seem very unstable... the Razor with the single bungee is not suited for heavy tanks. It 'beachballs' pretty badly to, as most of the razor copies do. I addition to that, most harness system don't have a proper weight system. The Razor just has a bit of webbing, not really comfortable if you have to strap 10 kg/22bls plus onto your back.
Ok, that's a sore point with me... personally I think the SMS100 sucks at anything but lying around in a shop.
I really hate it. (sorry, just my subjective opinion)
But !!
I have seen people do almost 'anything' with them.
Did not look very good generally, mind you, but worked flawlessly and sometimes even looked 'ok'.
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