Soft vs Hard Goodman Handle

[stuartv]

My light, in a Raider 1, is easy enough to switch hands.

But, as I don't have a cord attached to the light, I don't find I need to take the light off my left hand in order to make buoyancy adjustments.

 

[rongoodman]

But, as I don't have a cord attached to the light, I don't find I need to take the light off my left hand in order to make buoyancy adjustments.

How do you keep from waving the beam around while doing so? If you can't, what do your buddies think is going on at the time?

 

[PfcAJ]

My light, in a Raider 1, is easy enough to switch hands.

But, as I don't have a cord attached to the light, I don't find I need to take the light off my left hand in order to make buoyancy adjustments.

You don't have to with a cord either. You take it off your hand so you can see where you're going and so you don't blind your buddy behind you.

 

[Beau640]

That's why I was asking if a soft handle is adequate for technical diving/cave diving. Seems like quite a few people use a soft handle. No way it's being removed as fast as a hard goodman. I'm guessing people are keeping it on their hand for most left hand actions.

For your inflation/deflation it would just cause a controlled swing of the beam towards the ceiling. Don't think it would be blinding/false signaling. Gauge should have time to switch hands no big deal. Rear dump would be a risk but shouldn't blind person behind you since you can get to it and pull it with your hand down/beam aimed down I would think

 

[tbone1004]

with the UWLD semi-soft goodman, you can slide it off almost as easily as a hard goodman. The raider comes off in a similar fashion since it's not a "glove" it just has a piece of fabric on the bottom side of your hand.

@Beau640 "controlled swings" are probably the most common signal with lights after "OK". They are used to indicate that you need your buddies attention for something.
As far as blinding, it's a very real thing. You have to go slightly head down to dump, which means the beam is aimed up. Much easier to just swap it over to the other hand.

I don't use twist lights in the socks, only push buttons. For those, I just shut it off instead of swapping it over.

 

[biggpa]

I figured I would have the same issue with a hard handle slipping (I have smaller hands) so I ended up making my own.

Modeled in tinkercad and 3D printed. I went through a couple of iterations to get the size like I wanted. The pic attached works for the DGX600 I just got. I threaded some bungee loops to hold the light in place. The handle and the top connect with a couple of screws and wingnuts.

 

[Clark Fletcher]

I first got one of these, and it was garbage:

DGX Soft Handmount

Doesn't fit me or any human hand I can envision, doesn't hold the light well (and naturally points the light off at an angle) and doesn't allow good usage of the hand.

Then, I got one of these:

OxyCheq - Light Sock *Raider 1*
(I think they have a couple of sizes.)

I have several dives with it, and it's comfortable, adjustable, secure, and allows good use of the hand. It will not grip my twist-on light well enough to turn it on/off, however. I pull the light out of the grip sleeve to turn it on and use the light lanyard in addition to the grip for added security in case I were to drop it while doing so.

I have a soft handmount similar to your DGX and I've been pleased with it so far. However, I've been using it with a Princeton Tec 260 League. As the 260 is somewhat oddly shaped, when it's in the handmount it lays on its side and the mount holds it securely in that position and keeps it pointed in the same direction (forward and toward my centerline). I can see how a round flashlight would move around on you with that mount.

As I'm considering the purchase of a BigBlue TL3100 for blackwater diving, this will likely be of concern for me as well. However, it's my understanding that they don't make a Light Sock in a size large enough to accommodate the TL3100. Can anyone confirm that to be correct?

 

[Doby45]

I have a soft handmount similar to your DGX and I've been pleased with it so far. However, I've been using it with a Princeton Tec 260 League. As the 260 is somewhat oddly shaped, when it's in the handmount it lays on its side and the mount holds it securely in that position and keeps it pointed in the same direction (forward and toward my centerline). I can see how a round flashlight would move around on you with that mount.

As I'm considering the purchase of a BigBlue TL3100 for blackwater diving, this will likely be of concern for me as well. However, it's my understanding that they don't make a Light Sock in a size large enough to accommodate the TL3100. Can anyone confirm that to be correct?

Big Blue TL3100P, 3100 Lumens LED Technical Light

Comes with a goodman handle..

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I'm not a DIR diver but I use a soft handle. All it is is a nylon strap with velcro on it, and some bungee looped through it and onto the light. Super easy, cheap, and effective. I cannot get it off or on with one hand though. But I've never needed to either.

I haven't done much cave diving, so maybe it's useful in that application. But for my regular diving it's never been an issue.

 

[CGE925]

I figured I would have the same issue with a hard handle slipping (I have smaller hands) so I ended up making my own.

Modeled in tinkercad and 3D printed. I went through a couple of iterations to get the size like I wanted. The pic attached works for the DGX600 I just got. I threaded some bungee loops to hold the light in place. The handle and the top connect with a couple of screws and wingnuts.

Excellent idea, any chance you could post the Thingiverse link ?