New Regulator Buying Advice

[Hickdive]

I wouldn't pick the Scubapro Mk17 based ones. It's not a bad first stage at all but Scubapro and their dealers are specialists in piston regulators, if you need a service fast, in a remote location, there's more chance of them carrying Mk2, Mk20, and Mk25 service kits.

On a similar theme, avoiding "lightweight" travel second stages will also make it more likely there are spares and service available in resort. So I'd avoid the Aqualung Mikron first and seconds and the Scubapro C370.

The Aqualung Core is extremely light, if weight-saving is your goal. The Apeks just won't break down until you've given it dog's abuse and neglect for years. The Scubapro G260/r190/r095 are excellent second stages but I would pair them with a Mk25 instead of the Mk17.

PS If your heart is set on the Scubapro, have a look at the Halcyon H-50D, H75P, Aura and Halo second stages. They're identical to their Scubapro equivalents but the RRP can be lower.

 

[Johanan]

If your heart is set on the Scubapro, have a look at the Halcyon H-50D, H75P, Aura and Halo second stages. They're identical to their Scubapro equivalents but the RRP can be lower.

What does RRP stand for?

 

[shurite7]

I wouldn't pick the Scubapro Mk17 based ones. It's not a bad first stage at all but Scubapro and their dealers are specialists in piston regulators, if you need a service fast, in a remote location, there's more chance of them carrying Mk2, Mk20, and Mk25 service kits..

This is an odd statement and doesn't make any sense. Every dive shop that I've walked into that sold Scubapro serviced the Mk17 and had the service kits. The Mk17 is no harder, faster, or slower to service than a Mk25.

On a similar theme, avoiding "lightweight" travel second stages will also make it more likely there are spares and service available in resort. .

Again, this is odd statement. Dive shops carry what they chose to carry. I've never heard of a dive shop that carried only (or even primarily) light weight regs designed for travel.

The Scubapro G260/r190/r095 are excellent second stages but I would pair them with a Mk25 instead of the Mk17..

Why? There are several people in my area (recreational divers, the university scientific profs, and local PSD divers) who dive with the Mk17/G260 set up. They all really like it. I have one for PSD and ice diving. I even have the Mk25/G260 set up as my primary for recreational and tech.

The Apeks just won't break down until you've given it dog's abuse and neglect for years.

The same holds true with the Mk17/G260 set up. I also have an Apeks FSR/XTX200 set up; so does a friend of mine. Another friend has the Poseidon Xstreme. We all like our regs and they work quite well. None of the three have given us problems.

My point is, all regs will hold up well if one maintains them properly.

 

[dannysporea]

Did you also compare their “Free Parts for Life” programs? I can’t find one in writing for Scubapro, but if it still exists then the last I heard it required the purchase of a full set of gear to enroll, and the dates were very rigidly applied. Aqualung/Apeks is a bit looser.

They are all good enough choices but from the list I would favor the MK17 but don’t fall into the service trap, I inspect my regulator before every dive, get an IP gauge and check for a consistent and steady IP, look over your hoses and second stage every pre dive (if only there were a sticky at the top of the forum, something like a check list)

Most regulators will go many years between service if you just pay attention to performance.

I won't count on the "Free Parts for Life" program for either... they have way too much fine print and conditions to be mostly useless. I'd rather pick the one that is more durable and will handle gracefully a skipped service or two, and will maintain myself as lexvil said above...

 

[Centrals]

Thank you all for your answers! It looks like the most chosen package is the MK17/G260 followed closely by the XTX50. I see that the Scubapro service interval is every 2 years, while the Apeks need inspection one year and service the next, which I think may be more expensive in the long run. Any advantage of Apeks over Scubapro that would sway me towards it, other than the fact that is slightly cheaper?

Learn how to service the regs and that will save you tons of money as well as agony, waiting etc etc.
SP carries far too many specific service kits for its products. While Apeks has one kit each for its 1st and 2nd stage.

 

[dannysporea]

Learn how to service the regs and that will save you tons of money as well as agony, waiting etc etc.
SP carries far too many specific service kits for its products. While Apeks has one kit each for its 1st and 2nd stage.

Yes, I was thinking of this... and it seems the Apeks is closing in the gap to the MK17, one vote behind. Hard choice between the two...

 

[Johanan]

Hard choice between the two...

Maybe you just choose the prettiest of both? These two will perform equally well, but the one you like better will please you more.

 

[jontonsoup4]

Since you're looking at the Apeks, it might not be a bad idea to look at Deep 6's package. They're basically a clone of the XTX50, but you can service it yourself and they even give you your first service kit for free.

I'd do the Scubapro package, but trade out the mk17 for a mk25 since it's piston.

 

[Justin Bove]

I noticed you put Aqualung Core Supreme and Aqualung Mikron. If you like the compact size but are a Apex fan you should check out the Apex XL4+

 

[dannysporea]

Since you're looking at the Apeks, it might not be a bad idea to look at Deep 6's package. They're basically a clone of the XTX50, but you can service it yourself and they even give you your first service kit for free.

I've been looking at the D6 package, but after I configured everything the price range was way higher for me than the others I'm considering...

I noticed you put Aqualung Core Supreme and Aqualung Mikron. If you like the compact size but are a Apex fan you should check out the Apex XL4+

The compact size was a plus, but that is not as important for me as durability or the way it breathes.