1st stage for 100% O2 deco bottle?

[mos11b1p]

we dive with Atomics M1's because of their amazing versatility but I just cant afford to but $600-$700 on the end of my little 02 bottle at this stage of the game. I'm looking at either Mares Rebel 12 or the OMS Workhorse Din reg for O2. Both are in the $150 range and have nice reviews. Mares is balanced. OMS is not. Please share your opinions on "balanced or not" for a deco bottle. Other brands?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

For a deco bottle balanced is not as important. Especially of you are using it for 100% O2. You can't breath it below 20 feet anyway. Unless a reg is a real P O S, as long as it's capable of being O2 cleaned it'll be fine. My deco/stage reg is a sherwood blizzard. When I go to another bottle I have a Brut I'll be setting up for that. Both are bulletprooof, breath very well at the depths I'll be using them for, and won't cost me an arm and leg to get ready.

 

[Greg Barlow]

I have been using Mares MR12 and R2 first stages for deco and stage bottles for several years. They are more than adequate for the tasks. I usually use an R2 on my oxygen bottle, and an MR12 on my EAN50. This is just from habit, as both are cleaned and prepared for oxygen service.

Greg Barlow

 

[Tortuga68]

I agree with JimLap

But I hate switching to my deco bottle, because my TX50 deco reg breaths harder than my XTX200

 

[ianr33]

I use the first reg I ever bought,an Aqualung Conshelf. Works fine.

Pretty much anything should work well at 20 feet.

 

[ianr33]

But I hate switching to my deco bottle, because my TX50 deco reg breaths harder than my XTX200

Maybe you should get it serviced

 

[Tortuga68]

Well, yes... there's always that

But then I'd have to find something else to bitch about!

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I got a scubapro mk2+ for my deco bottles. they work well though the 100% bottle has seen more use above the water than below lately. I matched the mk2+ with S600's simply because thats all I use for second stages. T

 

[SandyRobinson]

I also use a SP mk2.

 

[crpntr133]

Balanced/unbalanced shouldn't make a difference at 20'.
I use a MK2+ so far so good. I got mine on close out so it was really cheap. BTW, some shops might tell you that a MK2+ can't be O2 cleaned. Obviously that is total bunk.