Miflex

Miflex flexible hoses replace the rubber originals on your regulator set with something lighter, more supple and easier to route. Oyster Diving stocks the Xtreme regulator hoses, the Kevlar-reinforced XT-Tech LP range and the Carbon HD high pressure hose, alongside quick-release inflation hoses in a wide spread of lengths and colours. We dive this kit ourselves, so we can tell you which length actually works.

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What a braided hose changes

A braided Miflex hose does two things a rubber hose does not: it weighs noticeably less, and it stays where you put it. The braid is kink-resistant, so the hose keeps its air path even when it is bent hard around a first stage or tucked in under a wing. Most divers notice the second stage hose first, because there is less pull on the jaw across a long dive.

The weight saving matters more than it sounds if you fly to dive. Swapping a full set of rubber hoses for braided ones takes real weight out of a regulator bag without touching anything that affects how the regulator breathes.

The Miflex hoses we stock

Miflex Xtreme Regulator Hose

The Xtreme is the general-purpose low pressure hose in the range and the one most recreational divers end up with. Its multi-layered polymer outer braid resists abrasion, UV and chemicals, and the fittings are chrome-plated brass with a standard 3/8 inch UNF male connector that fits most regulators. It carries by far the widest choice here: lengths from short 10cm links right up to 210cm for a long hose configuration, in nine colours.

Miflex XT-Tech LP Regulator Hose and XT-Tech LP Inflation Hose

The XT-Tech series was developed with technical divers in mind. Kevlar reinforcement sits in the inner braiding beneath a smooth polyurethane outer layer, and the hose is not positively buoyant, which is the point: it stays down against the body rather than riding up and abrading around the neck. Fittings and sleeves are seawater-resistant electroless nickel plated brass. Both comply with EN250 and carry a 35 bar operating pressure. The regulator hose runs from 56cm to 210cm; the inflation hose covers 56cm to 90cm.

Miflex Carbon HD High Pressure Hose

This is the high pressure hose in the collection, the one that runs from your first stage to an analogue contents gauge. It is reinforced for high pressure use, with corrosion-resistant fittings and a carbon-patterned outer layer, and it is compatible with most regulators and SPGs. Lengths from 15cm to 120cm cover everything from a short tech-style gauge link to a conventional recreational routing.

Miflex Inflation Hose Quick Release

This one feeds a BCD or drysuit inflator and adds a quick-release fitting, so the hose can come off without stripping down the first stage. It is the most useful hose in the collection for anyone who swaps between a wing and a jacket, or who dives dry in winter and wet in summer. Lengths start at 15cm for a compact wing setup and run to 90cm, in ten colours.

Getting the length and the fitting right

Measure before you order

If you are replacing like for like, lay the old hose flat and measure from the end of one fitting to the end of the other. That is how hose lengths are quoted. If you are changing configuration at the same time, moving to a long hose or switching to a backplate and wing, run a piece of cord along the route the hose will actually take and measure the cord instead. Resist the urge to round up: surplus hose becomes drag and a snag point.

High pressure and low pressure are not interchangeable

High pressure and low pressure hoses use different threads and different ports on the first stage. Your contents gauge takes the Carbon HD; second stages, octopus regulators, BCD inflators and drysuit inflators all take a low pressure hose. If you cannot tell which port is which on your own first stage, ask us before you order rather than after.

Colour and gear identification

Colour on a hose is not only decoration. Where several divers in a group run similar kit, a coloured inflator or gauge hose makes it obvious whose regulator set is whose on a crowded boat, and which hose your hand is reaching for. Carbon and black keep things discreet; the brighter options are easier to pick out at a glance. The Xtreme and the Inflation Hose Quick Release carry the colour choice in this collection, while the XT-Tech hoses and the Carbon HD are ordered by length alone.

Frequently asked questions

Which Miflex hoses does Oyster Diving stock?

Miflex is the only brand in this collection, and we carry five of their hoses. The Miflex Xtreme Regulator Hose is the general-purpose braided low pressure hose. The Miflex XT-Tech LP Regulator Hose and Miflex XT-Tech LP Inflation Hose are the Kevlar-reinforced technical versions. The Miflex Carbon HD High Pressure Hose is the gauge hose. The Miflex Inflation Hose Quick Release feeds a BCD or drysuit inflator and adds a quick-release fitting. Between them they cover short gauge links through to long hose lengths.

What is the difference between the Miflex Xtreme and the XT-Tech LP hoses?

The Xtreme uses a multi-layered polymer outer braid that resists abrasion, UV and chemicals, and it comes in the widest choice of lengths and colours. The XT-Tech LP was developed for technical divers: it carries Kevlar reinforcement in the inner braiding under a smooth polyurethane outer layer, and it is not positively buoyant, so it sits still rather than riding up and chafing around the neck. Its fittings and sleeves are seawater-resistant electroless nickel plated brass. The XT-Tech hoses comply with EN250 and have a 35 bar operating pressure. If you dive a standard recreational set, the Xtreme is the straightforward choice; if you run a long hose in a technical configuration, look at the XT-Tech.

Can I use a low pressure Miflex hose for my pressure gauge?

No. High pressure and low pressure hoses use different threads and different ports on the first stage, and they are not interchangeable. Your analogue pressure gauge needs the Miflex Carbon HD High Pressure Hose, which is reinforced for high pressure use. Second stages, octopus regulators, BCD inflators and drysuit inflators all take a low pressure hose such as the Xtreme, the XT-Tech LP or the Inflation Hose Quick Release. If you are unsure which port is which on your first stage, ask us before ordering.

How do I choose the right hose length?

If you are replacing like for like, lay the old hose out flat and measure from the end of one fitting to the end of the other, then order that length. Hose lengths are quoted the same way. If you are changing your setup at the same time, run a length of cord along the route the hose will actually take, over the shoulder or under the arm, and measure the cord. The Xtreme covers the widest span, from short gauge and inflator links up to long hose lengths, so most configurations are catered for. Order the length you measured rather than rounding up, as excess hose creates drag and snag points.

Will a Miflex hose fit my regulator?

In most cases yes. The Miflex Xtreme Regulator Hose uses a standard 3/8 inch UNF male connector at the first stage end, which is what the majority of regulators accept, and the Carbon HD High Pressure Hose is compatible with most regulators and SPGs. Fittings across the range are corrosion-resistant brass. There are first stages and older gauge assemblies with less common threads, so if you are not certain what yours takes, ask us before you order rather than after.

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