I'm with Chris H on this and think a small reel works best and the small ones aren't that much bigger to carry.
I like having a handle to assure i don't lose the bag. If done right, you don't have to put finger pressure on the reel to assure it doesn't "birdnest", you just need to make sure you get enough air in the bag in the first place and adjust in a little tension on the stop screw. Neither are a biggie if you practice them.
A spool is nice in warmer water where you don't have thicker exposure protection on your hands but imo spools get to harder to manipulate and easier to lose control of, with thicker gloves/mitts.
Either will work fine if you practice and use correct technique when using them. I just prefer the reel as my standard because most of the diving i do is in colder water.
I like having a handle to assure i don't lose the bag. If done right, you don't have to put finger pressure on the reel to assure it doesn't "birdnest", you just need to make sure you get enough air in the bag in the first place and adjust in a little tension on the stop screw. Neither are a biggie if you practice them.
A spool is nice in warmer water where you don't have thicker exposure protection on your hands but imo spools get to harder to manipulate and easier to lose control of, with thicker gloves/mitts.
Either will work fine if you practice and use correct technique when using them. I just prefer the reel as my standard because most of the diving i do is in colder water.