Pony bottles VS stage bottles

[scubawally]

This is the first post that i have made to this forum so bare with me. Every safe solo diver knows the need for a totally redundant gas source. For the most part this can either be accomplished in one of two ways either with a pony bottle or a stage/sling bottle. For those who are new to the forum or for those who do not know the difference between the two I will explain furthur. A pony bottle is a small bottle usually 30cuft or less and is usually mounted using straps or clips or some other method to the main cylinder (the one that contains the back gas). A stage bottle is completely seperate from the main cylinder and is attached via bolt snaps to the shoulder D-Ring and the Waist D-Ring.

I would like to know what you use and why.

I myself use a set of manifolded doubles and use a stage bottle for longer/deeper dives.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I dive doubles most of the time. If I happen to do a single tank solo, I'll take along a pony. A stage bottle seems like overkill to me unless I'm doing a deco dive.

 

[ianr33]

Hoa about adding independant doubles to your poll?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I use iso/manifolded doubles on about half my dives, with a single 120 with an H-valve for the others. I use stage bottles if I'm making a deep dives with deco stops. I can't see spending the money for a pony and extra reg. I think of it as a crutch for poor gear maintenance/dive planning. It's easier to pay attention to my spg than to haul around a tank I would hope to never need.

 

[scubawally]

Good conversation guy keep it up....I will add independent doubles to the survey.

 

[RockPile]

The difference between pony bottles and stage bottles is really one of size. If you want a completely independent air source (not a bad impulse in certain situations) may as well take one that can actually get you out of trouble.

When I'm going deep and cold I take a 40 cuft side mounted stage bottle. With a 40 I'm comfortable knowing that I can get myself out of trouble, ascend, and get a proper deco in.

The only time I've ever had to use the stage bottle, using a 13 cuft pony would've forced me to skip a borderline safety/deco stop.

JB

 

[Soggy]

The difference between pony bottles and stage bottles is really one of size. If you want a completely independent air source (not a bad impulse in certain situations) may as well take one that can actually get you out of trouble.

The difference between a pony and stage bottle is in their usage. A stage bottle is breathed during the dive with your backgas (or a portion thereof) left in reserve. It is used to extend bottom time and provides no inherent gas redundancy.

A pony bottle is used for emergency deployment only. It is a redundant gas supply that is not touched unless there is a problem.

 

[scubawally]

ok so maybe my terminology was a bit off. The concept that i am trying to express here is the difference between having your redundant gas supply mounted in a bracket onto your main cylinder or set up like a stage/deco bottle and clipped to a shoulder and waist d-ring. I know a stage bottle is used to extend bottom time and essentially does not provide redundancy..i was mostly using it as a mode of comparison

 

[RockPile]

The difference between a pony and stage bottle is in their usage. A stage bottle is breathed during the dive with your backgas (or a portion thereof) left in reserve. It is used to extend bottom time and provides no inherent gas redundancy.

A pony bottle is used for emergency deployment only. It is a redundant gas supply that is not touched unless there is a problem.

If, and only if, you use the stage bottle for extending bottom time it offers no redundancy. That's your choice. Not a mandatory or "correct" configuration (nor is mine for that matter).

Per the configuration I described above, a large gas reserve is, by definition, redundant.

JB

 

[Rick Murchison]

"H" valve.
Rick