Atomic T2X vs Scubapro MK25T

[Reggieb]

I have been updating all of my gear (I love all of it, but it is all aging, and I love new toys). I also have been making my gear more travel friendly, since I travel to dive a lot. I am taking a chance to try out both of these regulators at a big event at a dive shop in Atlanta this weekend, but I thought I would get some input here, first. I do have a couple of specific questions:

1) While the Scubapro website specifically mentions cold water diving, and that this regulator is CE approved for cold water diving, there is no such claim on the Atomic site. I would rather just have one rig, and I am originally from Michigan, and while I do live in the south now, there are several wrecks in the Great Lakes on my to-do list (not to mention Antarctica, but I think you use rental gear there). Before I considered the 25, I was thinking that before I did cold water stuff I would have to get a regulator for it, and just use the Atomic in my normal diving. But can the Atomic do cold water diving? EDIT: I guess I am not good at that whole "reading" thing, from the Atomic web site: "Freeze protected factory-sealed first stage..." However, any first hand experience with the regulator in a variety of conditions would be helpful, since my trial is in a pool.

2)The Atomic web sites lists a combined weight of the first and second stage at less than 2 pounds, does anyone know what the MK25T/S600T combo weigh?

 

[Kunundrum]

Both are great regs, the T2 is a work of art, and is truly spectacular regulator, The feature it offers and the engineering behind this regulator makes it hard to beat.

With that said the MK25 is no slouch either, I have no experience with the titanium version but I don't imagine the performance is any different from the regular version. This design has been around for a while now and is a great regulator setup.

The only changes I would make to make them so they are even more Travel friendly is replacing the Hoses with Miflex, these allow for more flexible storage and saves weight too.

 

[herman]

If you really want to make it travel friendly, buy the Scubapro. They have a bigger presence world wide than Atomic, other wise ignore the first stages and concentrate on the second stages, that is where the real performance differences are between regs. The differences in first stages are so minor there is no reason to compare first stages when comparing regs.

 

[Kunundrum]

Both are a Piston Regulator and share a very Similar design in the first stage, but the 2nd stage is a whole new ball game. The Atomic is much more advanced.

I recently Overhauled a 3 year old T2 and other than needing a new Filter it was Spotless inside, I have never seen anything like it before. And this had over 150 dives on it! Other than the filter nothing else needed to be changed I was stunned. the LP seat was barely cut and all the o rings were in great shape.

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

I use a T2X . Use it from 40 degrees to 82 degrees . It is a beautiful thing if you can afford it .

 

[Reggieb]

If you really want to make it travel friendly, buy the Scubapro. They have a bigger presence world wide than Atomic, other wise ignore the first stages and concentrate on the second stages, that is where the real performance differences are between regs. The differences in first stages are so minor there is no reason to compare first stages when comparing regs.

Both are a Piston Regulator and share a very Similar design in the first stage, but the 2nd stage is a whole new ball game. The Atomic is much more advanced.

I recently Overhauled a 3 year old T2 and other than needing a new Filter it was Spotless inside, I have never seen anything like it before. And this had over 150 dives on it! Other than the filter nothing else needed to be changed I was stunned. the LP seat was barely cut and all the o rings were in great shape.

Both are very good considerations, if it needs servicing on a vaca, the Scubapro would certainly be the better deal, however, it sounds like the Atomic is less likely to need servicing, and I do tend to get them checked out before trips.

Good things to consider. I plan to try them out at SeaVentures in Atlanta this weekend, for their 20th anniversary sale. There is going to be an Atomic rep there who I can talk to, I just wish there was also going to be a Scubapro rep, I was just thinking about how much fun it would be to hear them argue about which is better and why.

Also, it does make sense that the first stage is pretty standard, the difference between these first stages and my old first stage is going to be weight. Alright. These are excellent things to consider. This is going to be a hard decision to make.

 

[herman]

Don't bother with talking with the reps, you already know what they are going to say. Top of the line in their brand is the best by far and the reg you need. Regs made within the last 20 years or so are very similar, almost no useful new feature has been added. Personally if I were looking for a travel reg I would drop down from the upper end regs. There is very little to be gained in real performance (differences a human can detect- who cares that a machine can tell a tiny bit of difference at 600 ft) between mid priced regs and the top end ones and at the same time the simpler mid ranged ones are more robust in design.

 

[halocline]

Herman has a good point. Spending $1500 to save a few ounces in your luggage is a little questionable. (But, to each his own..) If you're looking to save weight, look for lighter luggage; you save pounds of weight for much less money.

There's another issue, if you're diving nitrox these are probably the worst regs to buy. Although it's highly unlikely that you'd ever have an actual issue, the facts that the Ti is not O2 friendly and both manufacturers have at one point placed restrictions on nitrox use for the Ti regs is enough to scare some dive ops. I could easily see a dive boat refusing to give you a nitrox tank thinking that your reg is going to blow up the boat.

Another questionable issue is that neither of these regs are ideal for cold water. You could get a MK17/G250V (or try the new A700 if you want some bling) and you'll have a reg that designed specifically to deal with frigid water and several hundred bucks in your pocket.

 

[Scott L]

I would lean toward Atomic as they are engineered to only require servicing every two years. Not sure I would go titanium for weight savings. Milflex hoses - yes....

 

[Scared Silly]

I like those who spend $1000+ on a Ti reg to save weight and then put it in 10lbs roll-aboard .

Though ScubaPro can be found worldwide and Atomic is more NA based I would not let the service issue be a deciding factor. As was said both first stages are work horses.

When we decided to replace regs 4 years ago one of the factors that lead us to atomics was the second stage size and design. The scubapro second stages IMHO are bulky. The other factor that I have come to appreciate is the interchangeability of the regs. All the regs have the same basic design with just a few differences. For instance, the only difference in the first stages are the materials. As for the second stages the main body is the same.

So what does that mean? Parts for one fit another. Have an old B1? for about $100 or so it can be updated to be a B2. Want a different exhaust like what is on the M1 buy it and throw in a Z2.

If I was teaching and in salt water a lot might hedge towards the SS version but otherwise the Z2, B2 or M1 work fine for most. And FWIW I have had my Z2s past rec limits on tec dives and in 45F water and performed just like the do in 80F water.