Hip inflater valve?

[BlueDolphin]

My LDS owner has suggested that I go with a hip located inflater valve.

If you have yours located here, let me know how you like it. Pros and Cons.

Thanks

[SubMariner]

My LDS owner has suggested that I go with a hip located inflater valve.

If you have yours located here, let me know how you like it. Pros and Cons.

Thanks

No offense, but that is a weird place to put it. What possible use could it be there? I can see HUGE problems with that location.

JMHO, of course.

[BlueDolphin]

I too thought it a bit strange but it was suggested to me. The location puts it out of the way, and apparently works very well. I had never heard of it, but apparently there are others who find the location to work very well. I'd like to hear if anyone else has seen or heard of this... and get some more input.

I am trying to find out some of the downside to having it there. I guess it could be a bit awkward trying to reach the location with gear on. This would put it just above the hip pocket. Thinking about it.... it might be a good thing having the hose routed away from the front of the body? The hose runs down along side the tank out to the inflater at the bottom of the wing.

[roturner]

My LDS owner has suggested that I go with a hip located inflater valve.

If you have yours located here, let me know how you like it. Pros and Cons.

Thanks

Well, I think there are a few problems with that idea.

First of all, the material on the hip gets more "movement" and working than on the middle of the chest so you'd probably have a lot of trouble with it leaking. In short I think on the hip it would take more abuse, which would be great for your LDS because they could ding you every time for fixing it but for you it would suck.

Secondly, it would inhibit you from hanging anything on the same side of your body as your inflator, like a stage bottle for example, because it would make reaching the inflator more difficult and the bottle might keep bumping it. With the inflator on the chest you don't have this problem.

And lastly in the case of a free flow and/or needing to remove and replace your inflator hose under water, the location could be troublesome because you'd have to do it all with one hand and possibly without being able to clearly see or feel (think thick gloves) what you're doing. One of the main advantages to the middle of the chest is that you can use both hands for dealing with the LP hose if necessary, and you can see the valve.

So basically I don't see any real advantage to putting the inflator there but I do see a couple of good reasons not to.

R..

[hardhat]

Besides what Roturner had to say I think that it would also be in the way if you wear a wieght belt. Either you would have to have your belt over the inflater hose ( so you can dump it if you have to, without it snagging the hose )or have a integrated weight system of some sort.

I could also see it getting in the way of using your pocket. I would just go with the traditional placement myself. There is a reason people have their inflaters mounted on their chests, it works for every one there.

Let us know what you deside and why okay. Also let us know what you end up ordering for a suit.

[BlueDolphin]

Thanks for the ideas.

I share the beliefs of everyone so far. I am pretty sure I am going to have the inflater installed in the chest, but was curious what the rest of you thought about the hip idea.

I purchased a DUI CLX450, but it is an Xtra large, and has just a bit more excess material than it should, so likely it will be going back, unless I can have it altered at a good price, then I may just keep it (for the price I paid.... I may be able to get an almost custom suit for the price of a stock suit). I find the large is just a bit small and the xtra large is a bit too big. I wanted to try the stock xtra large just to see if maybe I would get lucky (price brand new unused was only $1150.00 on sale from $1695.00, with old zipper style) from a local chain store with a 30 day return policy, so I figured it was worth a shot. It does give me something to compare with a compressed neoprene. I am leaning towards the Pinnacle 200 by DC, as it has a very streamlined fit, and amazing flexibility compared to the trilams I have tried.

I am going to try on the DC Duraflex this week also in a large that had some slight modifications to enlarge it slightly..... I will see how that one fits ($750 with 10 dives on it). I found someone who has the exact measurements as I do and is selling it for the compressed neoprene. I have a feeling that the compressed neoprene is going to win out comparatively, with that suit but we will see.

I also am going to be trying on a DUI TLS350 this week just to see if that might feel right.

Bottom line is I wish the drysuit purchase was a bit easier. Everyone has defenite opinions as to which type is best, NO ONE in my area has the suits in stock, and in fact in some cases you have to purchase the suit just to try it on as they have brand new seals on them, and need to be cut just to get the suit on (as was the case with the CLX450). I actually had to buy that suit just to be able to cut the seals just to try it on. It makes no sense to me why DUI and the other drysuit manufacturers do not supply ALL of its dealers with a suit of every model in all sizes WITHOUT the seals so that they can be tried on prior to purchase. In the end, DUI for instance gets a ton of suits back with cut seals, and ends up selling them as "seconds". Now you know why they are so damned expensive I spose. I am finding the whole process quite a fiasco, and a huge waste of my time. I'd like to be able to go into a shop and try on the different models and compare and make my decision. Not the way it happens..... at least not around here.