advise needed on best tec regs

[frogman]

I use a couple of Apeks TX100 or Poseidon Jetstreams/Cyklons.
Both are outstanding in reliability and performance. If price is your concern, you can get the TX50s or the DS4s.

 

[-BlueHole-]

Apex, Poseidon Jetstream or Beuchat Vx10

 

[JamesK]

Jonathan once bubbled...
thanks joens!

Also seriously considering changing from sp to apeks because of the routing. I'm not happy with the sp - I've tried various options but there always seems to be one hose going at a strange angle.

sorry no pics!

I use Mark 15 and Mark 20s, and have no problems with hose routing at all. They all just seem real natural to me.

I don't have any pictures though.

 

[Waterborne]

I use Poseidon Cyklons for my primary regs. Out of all the regs I have ever used these are the best. I use Scubapro regs for my stage & deco tanks I don't remeber the first stage models but the second stages are the g250 model. They are nice easy breathing, adjustable regs. My friends also use Poseidon primary regs, either the Cyklon or the Odin models. I have a high standard for equipment used for my life support and I settle for nothing short of excellence.

 

[kitbuga]

Curiously, the Brit magazine "Diver" (net version "Divernet") has diverging opinions on the Xstram. The favorable one, I believe it's in the October issue, came from the venerable John Bantin. The other one, unfavorable, was a set of opinions from a panel of testers in the December (?) issue.

The hardcopy issue noted the difference of opinion in a footnote. Curiously (there's that word again) the review on Divernet did not show the footnote.

I am not a partisan so i will not comment on the merits of what they said. Suffice it to say there's a serious difference of opinion among the reviewers.

I'm a Poseidon user myself (Jetstream) and a very happy one at that. But when I read the reviews some years ago of the Jetstream and Cyklon which which panned these fine pieces of kit I asked myself if I was missing sometihng. Which brings us to the question of why Poseidon rigs contiunue to sell and have such a loyal user base. User experience I guess.

Gear reviews are no substitute for user accounts- favorable and unfavorable- capped by trial use. Gear reviews are helpful only to the extent that they point out critical flaws. It also helps if the reviewers have some prior knowledge of a rig's characteristics. The Poseidon reviewers seemed astounded by the freeflow that happened when air was turned on. This is normal and it stops once the air is fully turned on. Someone in a previous thread said this is actually a good thing because it purges the system of obstructions etc.

Just my 10 Drachmas worth.

K

 

[JT2]

I have heard this stated on the board several times before and I just wanted to inform everyone who doesn't already know that the Zeagle Flathead VI is the same reg as the Apeks atx100, only Zeagle has made some improvements to the original design, such as an improved HP seat and uniform 3/8" size ports all the way around. Apeks used to make all of Zeagles reg for them, they were just Apeks regs with different names on them. Now Zeagle makes the regs themselves right here in the USA, and has made improvements to some of them. They are easy to find in the US and are made in Florida. Zeagle regs are usually priced a little more than Apeks regs fo some reason, but I can tell you that their service department is excellent. I also use and recommend the Zeagle Flathead VI and Apeks atx100 as well as the non swivel 50's they both make.

The 100s are not easy to come by in the US anymore but the 200s are supposed to be just a bit better anyway. I can't say either way for sure on that as I havn't tried a 200.

 

[kitbuga]

JT2 raises a very important point. I notice a lot of regs look awfully alike. It may all be just superficial but Parkway, Diverite and a couple of other makes look very much alike. Wouldn't it be just dandy if two differing reviews turned out to be of the same basic kit?

K

 

[thethumper]

kitbuga once bubbled...
JT2 raises a very important point. I notice a lot of regs look awfully alike. It may all be just superficial but Parkway, Diverite and a couple of other makes look very much alike. Wouldn't it be just dandy if two differing reviews turned out to be of the same basic kit?

K

That was me ketbuga... bout the blast clearing anything from the airway on the Poseidons.

What's funny about the "alike" regs, is that for years, the OMS & Sea Elite manifolds were made side by side over seas. So I can see where there are probably some companies that have other companies make some of their gear.