Originally Posted by
leob1
Learn something every day, compressionless houseing isn't the same as shifter houseing. I was under the (mistaken) impression that because they have similar construction they where interchangeable.
The terminology can get confusing sometimes and may be used differently in various places.
High helix, or long spiral housing is where the strands run almost lengthwise with a slight twist. This was introduced by Shimano who called it compressionless, because it doesn't change the length on the channel when flexed and thus is ideally suited for index shifting. Folks today call it gear or derailleur or index housing. Generally it is unsuited for brakes because of the potential for total failure, but there is high helix brake housing where they wrap it in another layer of steel or kevlar ro support the strands from buckling.
So there is "compressionless" brake housing, but it has to be specifically made for the job. Otherwise "compressionless" housing is gear housing as you first thought.