AL/Apeks deal on regs

[mike_s]

Hopefully, only 2 days with them but the owner was very up front about everything, the Instructors are very helpful and friendly also. Basically I was very comfortable with them from the on set, we'll see tomorrow what I can do on prices, I would like to try a bp/w in the pool or another jacket as I didnt like the fit of the one I first went in with. Felt like a life preserver...very bulky.

if you don't like the 'wrap around' feel of the 'life preserver', then try a harness/wing setup. Something like the Zeagles, Dive Rite Transpac, or Apeks makes a nice wing/harness. The harness is very snug and form fitting and the bladder is a 'wing' on the back. It's the "preferred" BC setup of many divers. Chances are if you get a good BP/wing set now, then you'll not be wanting to upgrade later.

 

[KansaiKitsune]

I just received my XTX200 today. It is seeeeexeh.
Fat B****** voice (the fat guy from Austin Powers, innit): Lookit mah seeeexeh reg.

It's lovely and so very light. And it comes with a wide T so photogs like me can avoid getting bubbled so much. Sadly, the Egress Octo's on back order from my LDS' supplier so I gotta wait until August for that. But I'll borrow an octo. Or just tell my buddies not to run out of air. That ought to take care of that.

 

[laivindil]

Yup, those scuba equipment groupies are all lining up at my door, just please dont tell my wife

Will do, just send em my way

My shop has it for $50 less, since it's going to be for a pony bottle I figure it will be perfect. I dont need the right/left hand side hose routing, even though if I ever go go double's the option might be nice.... hrmm maybe I'll have to pick up the XTX100....

I know a lot of East Coasters like the XTX because they can mount a pony on the left and route hoses real easy (instead of looping it back behind one's head). (maybe that demand is what drove apex to build those regs like that?) That's just what I've heard though, sounds like your setup doesn't need that. Good luck choosing, now that I've made it harder for ya :mooner:

 

[pterantula]

Just thought I'd butt-in, since I can't sleep...

I bought the A/L Titan LX, got my free octo, and it's a great reg. Very comfortable, breathes strong (and even though it's not as fancy as the flagship Legend ACD or the Apeks', it bench-tested on par with some of the top regs on the market). I see alot of people going for the Apeks on SB; I was informed by the guys @ my LDS that Apeks is the 'old standby' for technical divers (they have a couple ex-techs under their employ too), and that the nuances between the Apeks and something much, much cheaper may never be felt by a rec diver.
Seems like buying a Hummer just to run errands in the 'burbs = perhaps a waste of engineering, and money.... That's just me. (You may commence pelting me with rotten fruit.)

My LDS is all A/L (they sell just about everything, but they all dive A/L regs...), so I had already decided to get an A/L - the free octo was icing on the cake. It's a great offer, but be aware that some great regs out there are flat cheaper so you could buy another and buy their octo and come out around the same bill....
Just my 2 p.

 

[rhyz]

I was wondering that myself about the pricing after looking at some "package" deals around the net. Ones with the reg/octo/spg all included vs prices of a AL/apeks with a free octo. I quess it will come down to actually using one and seeing how I like it. I can't remember what one I had the other night but I didnt like the feel of it, seemed a bit loose in the mouthpiece area, but the weight was to bad. I going up to Langs (my LDS here in NJ) early and try some different ones before class tonight. Also trying on a wetsuit and picking their brains abit...

As for the BCD, it could have been that being new I'm not used to having one on, or I didn't have it adjusted correctly. They carry Dive Rite BP and will ask about them today also and see if I can use one, if not I'll do more reading on equipment. But it would seem a "better" buy if I do like as I plan on continuing my training after my OW cert. Seems more logical to buy once than to have 2, but it all comes down to the fit and what I'm comfortable with I'm told.

So friggin pysched......I gotta respond to another thread about hiding/telling your spouse what your spending. She got me yesterday on her demands. LOL

 

[Mike126]

I'm going through the AL decision right now. I'm getting some conflicting information. I was talking again with my LDS yesterday and one of the salesmen recommended that I get the Legend ACD over the Titan LX due to my size (6'4" 210 pounds). He said that the 1st stage on the Legend was larger and could provide me with more air in a given breath. I've not heard that before. He's also not the regular salesman that I work with. Originally the same shop, different salesman (an instructor) said the Titan LX would be a good choice.

Would the Legend ACD be over kill for a recreational diver staying well within the limits? Is there any truth to the first stage size in relation to the diver's size?

So many decisions... so little time!

Mike

 

[mike_s]

I'm going through the AL decision right now. I'm getting some conflicting information. I was talking again with my LDS yesterday and one of the salesmen recommended that I get the Legend ACD over the Titan LX due to my size (6'4" 210 pounds). He said that the 1st stage on the Legend was larger and could provide me with more air in a given breath. I've not heard that before. He's also not the regular salesman that I work with. Originally the same shop, different salesman (an instructor) said the Titan LX would be a good choice.

Either reg would be a good choice. The Legend will prob breath a little easier, but that doesn't have 'jack' to do with how big of a guy you are. It's just an easier breathing regulator. Him telling you that was just the 2nd salesperson feeding you 'bullspit' to get you to spend more money.

I find it amazing the number of people we have working in many of the LDS's that have absolutely no clue what they are talking about.

BTW.. the ACD has nothing to do with breathing on the reg. it's just a 'closure device' that seals off the first stage when pressure is removed from it. It's designed to keep moisture/water out of it when removed from the tank.

Would the Legend ACD be over kill for a recreational diver staying well within the limits? Is there any truth to the first stage size in relation to the diver's size?

The Legend (ACD or last years model which was non ACD) would be just fine for a recreational diver. Either reg would. You'll find many divers using both regs and 99% of them will be completely happy with them. No truth to the divers size issue either. I've seen divers that were 'big' in body size use less air than a 140 pound weight diver. it's all in how you breath. (but generally most larger divers might use more air, but not more than the Titan 1st stage can provide).

 

[Mike126]

Mike - Thanks. I thought it was a little half baked. That's the hard part about finding a good LDS especially around here. I looked at the specs and the Legend has a WOB factor of .74 and the Titan LX is .79 so it looks like they'd be fairly unnoticeable.

I'm assuming the Titan LX would perform with little or no difference to the Legend to the 100' level??? I have no desire going any deeper or doing any cold water dives.

Mike

 

[mike_s]

I think you would see very little difference at 100'. If you got picky and tried to figure out the difference you might notice a less than 5% difference, but that's hard to do with all else that's going on.

Both are high performing breathers.

 

[jmps]

The Legend and the Titan LX use the exact same second stage. The only difference would be the amount of gas the first could deliver and the stability of the pressure of the output. Since the Legend actually increases its pressure based on depth it would have to be just a tad detuned for the surface. The Legend can deliver more gas but the Titan first is pretty good as well. Neither should run out of flow in rec limits even with someone on your octo (probably you).

I have a Legend and it breaths great. Either will breath great. I think the real thing to think about is the octo deal. With the Legend you get the same Legend second as the octo rather than the ABS or Titan Octo for free. This is worth the price difference since the Legend Octo is expensive. Since you are probably the one breathing off the octo it is nice to have the same second.

After the deal is over the decision is harder. My advice is that if you have the money go for the Legend. If money is REALLY tight get the Titan LX with the Titan (not ABS) octo.