Halcyon Long Hose Stick Review

A simple but flawless piece of kit, it provides perfect long hose retention without a canister light or tucking. It mounts cleanly to a backplate harness and never snags, slips, or fails. This is now my standard for all long hose dives.
Overall Score: 9.2 / 10
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Perfect length for DIR-style hose routing | None |
Clean alternative to canister light or tucking | None |
Sturdy, secure, smooth and non-snagging | None |
Why I Chose the Halcyon Long Hose Stick
I initially used a canister light for hose retention, but didn’t want to be locked into wearing one every dive. I also experimented with an Apeks hose stick, which was too short, and a 3D printed version that lacked the right tension and failed to hold the hose reliably. The Halcyon stick was recommended to me as a reliable option for a standard long hose and backplate setup, and it ended up solving the problem completely. The length is perfect, the angle and spacing are just right, and it has never snagged, slipped, or failed in any way. I mount it to the waist strap using a spare buckle or by trapping it between my xDeep weight pockets, depending on the harness configuration I’m diving. It stays securely in place and doesn’t interfere with the rest of my setup.
Performance in the Water
- Trim & Buoyancy: No impact. Mounts to the waist strap and holds the hose without shifting anything else.
- Kick Styles / Usage: Works with all movement styles. The hose releases cleanly during donation and stows easily post-dive.
- Comfort: Streamlined. Sits flush along the waist strap with no protrusions or pressure points.
- Control / Function: Excellent. Holds the long hose securely and releases instantly on deployment without hangups.
Verdict
This is one of those simple but essential pieces of gear that solves a problem cleanly and never requires thought again. I use it on every long hose dive, and it has performed flawlessly since installation. The length is just right for my hose loop and shoulder routing, and the waist strap mounting system keeps it stable without needing a canister or tucking.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. I already tried the alternatives and this is the only one that just works.
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
Category | Score (0–10) | Weight | Weighted Score |
---|---|---|---|
Function & Performance | 10 | 30% | 3.00 |
Ease of Use | 9 | 20% | 1.80 |
Versatility | 8 | 15% | 1.20 |
Durability & Build Quality | 9 | 15% | 1.35 |
Value | 9 | 10% | 0.90 |
Brand Trust & Transparency | 9 | 10% | 0.90 |
Total | 9.15 |
Rounded Display Score: 9.2
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 10: Does its job perfectly. Never slips, never snags, and releases reliably on donation.
- Ease of Use – 9: Hose wraps cleanly and can be stowed quickly. Set-and-forget once installed with a buckle or weight pocket trap.
- Versatility – 8: Works well with standard backplate setups but may not apply to jacket-style or sidemount rigs.
- Durability & Build Quality – 9: Smooth and rugged. No moving parts, no rough edges, and no rust concerns.
- Value – 9: Low cost, high utility. Worth every dollar for solving a very specific hose routing need.
- Brand Trust & Transparency – 9: Halcyon continues to deliver purpose-built, no-compromise gear for modular setups.