Apeks ATX100..comments?

[jplacson]

Ok, LDS is selling an Apeks ATX100 and AT20 combo for about US$510. Is this a good deal?

I know Apeks regs are generally good... but I just want to get comments on people who like them, and people who don't (if there are any) and why.

I've heard they are better than Poseidon... Poseidon users... please comment.

I'm trying to gather as much opinions as possible. Thanks in advance!

-additional note: Is it just me, or are Apeks and Zeagle the same? Are they sister companies? Their regs look oddly similar... specially their Octo+

Is Zeagle just rebranded Apeks, for the US market? Or vice-versa? Anyone know the details? Thanks!

 

[jonnythan]

jplacson once bubbled...
Ok, LDS is selling an Apeks ATX100 and AT20 combo for about US$510. Is this a good deal?

I know Apeks regs are generally good... but I just want to get comments on people who like them, and people who don't (if there are any) and why.

I've heard they are better than Poseidon... Poseidon users... please comment.

I'm trying to gather as much opinions as possible. Thanks in advance!

-additional note: Is it just me, or are Apeks and Zeagle the same? Are they sister companies? Their regs look oddly similar... specially their Octo+

Is Zeagle just rebranded Apeks, for the US market? Or vice-versa? Anyone know the details? Thanks!

I have an Apeks TX40 and love it. I imagine the waters in your area are pretty warm, so I wouldn't worry about the AT20 octo.. it's lacking the heat exchanger found on all of the other second stages.

I've breathed on Poseidon Jetstreams. Can't stand it. Some people love them because they really deliver tremendous volumes of air... but I don't want a reg delivering tremendous volumes to me. The breathing is very mechanical.. it takes noticeable effort to open the valve, and once it's open it delivers lots of air. Felt very unnatural to me. The Apeks is far superior IMO. From what I gather, the Poseidons have a large following because they were high performance and rock solid reliable at a time when there were no other regs like that.. but nowadays there certainly are lots of regs (the ATX100 included) that are as good or better. Oh yeah, the purge blows your tonsils down your throat if you're not ready for it.

As for the price, it's reasonable. DiveInn wants US$441 for the ATX100 + ATX40. Personally I'd probably go with the ATX50 + ATX40 for $366, but I wouldn't say your LDS deal is bad.. and I have no idea what shipping to the Philipines would be like

 

[jplacson]

Well, the LDS stopped carrying the ATX50 since the price difference was small and people would always opt for the ATX100 over the 50.

I'm just curious, I know Apeks is the current world record holder, etc..etc... but at those prices... there are a lot of other great regs as well...I just want to know all I can before buying.

What attracts me to the APeks is that they are env. sealed and being so... they are more durable and reliable under worse conditions.

 

[scubafanatic]

them is fightin' words!

...never dove an Apeks, so I won't comment on those...do have 4 Poseidon Odins, and I think they're fabulous! The side exhaust for bubbles does wonders for visibility.....and the breathing characteristics are great!

Some say they are an acquired taste, and I own several Mares regs, including a Ruby, and I'll bet the Ruby is 'smoother' than any Apeks......so I have a valid basis for the comparison of 'conventional' regs versus the Odin.

I love the Ruby too.....but still very much enjoy the 'unconventional' Odins. The Odin's breathing characteristics are a little different, but I think the differences are exaggerated.....and I've come to enjoy the differences.

There's a very modest initial cracking effort, followed by a comfortable swoosh of air that instantly fills the lungs...it's not a regulator you have to suck hard on to get a full breath, the air rushes in instantly once you crack the valve.

I can see how some may describe the feeling as a bit 'mechanical'.....but I don't think it's a bad thing......it feels comfortable, especially when exerting against a strong current.....you gets plenty of air fast...I never get too much air, it always provides as much as needed.

I'm a little bit of an air hog, so I like a regulator that responds to demand immediately, and the inhale is very reassuring...it's amazing how fast the lungs fill up once you crack the valve.

Karl

 

[jplacson]

Hmm.. that's funny cuz not a single dive instructor/DM I know recommends Mares at all... they all claim they aren't built well. Poseidon is still one of the favs here for tech divers, but even they claim that for shallow OW use, they have a tendency to free flow. So most of them have either an Apeks or Scubapro for OW use.

 

[docmartin]

mares breathe well. the ruby and abyss are a bit clunky and heavy for my taste, though. poseidon had indeed a very loyal following. without having tried one they do however seem like an acquired taste because in every review i have read in diver magazine, rodales etc (there may be others but i have not found any) people criticize the way they breathe. furthermore, poseidon seem a bit too proprietary to me as far as parts. i like to service my regs and be able to do field repair. just seems not as easy with a poseidon compared to a sp or an apeks.
$510 is not a very good price. you can get a TX100 at dive-discount for Euro309 minus 16% VAT if you live outside the EU.

 

[jplacson]

Yes, but Mares is very expensive here, the Abyss retails for $500..no octo yet... those may be the prices you get in the US... but even at those prices..shipping to the Philippines would almost double those prices.

The only regs that have official dealers here have similar prices... Beuchat, Aqua Lung, Scubapro & I think Apeks has one...but since they're new here, the prices haven't gone down.

309 Euro for the TX100 1st stage only? Or is this the older TX100 reg? (ATX100 comes with a TX100 1st stage, so I'm just verifying the price you gave) ... does that come with an octo already? The set I was being shown came with an AT20 octo already.

I know the ATX100 is one of the higher end regs. I'm really tempted to go with some of the cheaper ones... but I don't want to find out 6 months down the road that I'd need to 'upgrade'.

I was initially looking at Poseidon... but one of my tech diver friends (who used to swear by Poseidon) switched to Apeks, as did the rest of his group. No, they are not sponsored by Apeks. He said Poseidon is very good... but if all I'm going to do is shallow (60' or less) recreational diving... they have a tendency to free-flow. Plus the fact that Poseidons cost a lot to service here... and parts have to be ordered in advance...so if something goes wrong during a dive...I'm screwed and grouded for a long long time.

My 'cheap' alternative was supposed to be the Mares MR12 Proton.... I heard it's pretty ok, and one of the more affordable regs.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

jplacson once bubbled...
but if all I'm going to do is shallow (60' or less) recreational diving... they have a tendency to free-flow.

FIrst of all, this is just not true. Poseidons do not FREEFLOW just because they are in shallow water. They will actually perform better at depth, but they dont freeflow shallow. I should know, I own four of them, and been using them for the last five years. For deep diving, shallow diving, and deco bottles.

My 'cheap' alternative was supposed to be the Mares MR12 Proton.... I heard it's pretty ok, and one of the more affordable regs.

This reg sucks. It feels like you are trying to breath thru a straw at 20 ft. I would save your money and get the Apeks that you can afford. For other reasons you stated about service, it doesnt sound like Poseidon is the right reg for you.

 

[jplacson]

Ya... I was initially drawn to the Xstream. But asking around, very few dive shops can service Poseidon, and if they do...it usually costs 2x the normal reg service. I guess it's cuz the demand isn't that high here... the most popular regs here are Scubapro and Aqualung, with Beuchat gaining ground.

I will take some more time to do proper research before buying my 1st reg. I usually borrow from friends who 'swear by' a certain brand, and see why they like it so much.

What one person like, I might not... so just cuz a respected diver gives something a good or bad review, doesn't mean it holds true for everyone who tries that reg either.

So far, the Apeks is my first choice... I'm looking through Scubapro's lineup for a 2nd choice, and Beuchat as a 3rd choice.

 

[docmartin]

it is the tx100 with a second stage but no octo. the first stage is basically identical to the new atx200 from what i have seen and read. the tx 2nd stages are the older model. they are bigger than the atx seconds but breathe equally well. many prefer the older tx style because of less bubble interference.