Best Breathing Reg

[Fishpie]

Very generally speaking the performance of a regulator is a function of the 1st stage and hose internal diameter.....how many cf/liters a sec/minute of gas it can deliver from the tank, reduce to IP and deliver to the 2nd stage. Sometimes this performance is hypothetical since this often exceeds the flow rate of the tank valve.
What the regulator feels like to breathe from is more of a function of the 2nd stage. Breaking down the IP gas and delivering it to the diver.
Since teaching diving is what I've been doing for a living for the last 18 years I've had a long time to find gear that works for me and form opinions on what I think is best (for me).
I personally like full size 2nd stages and don't think that the trend towards the mini/micro regulator is anything more than a marketing ploy and sales gimmick that has resulted in regulators that have to be setup on a knife edge in order to feel as good breathing as a regular size 2nd stage. I do like metal regulators or ones with a metal air barrel.
In no particular order:
Kirby Morgan Superflow (metal)
Scubapro G250
Scubapro G200b
Scubapro BA 109
Scubapro Pilot (once the D's got the scrotum monica I did find it difficult to put one in my mouth)
Beuchat 10/Zeagle tech50d (both Apeks with european internals)
Apeks T series (same as above but with the later internal bits)
Apeks TX,CTX, ATX, XTX...or whatever the smaller ones are called now.
Aqualung LX, Legend (almost identical to the Apeks above)
Mares Voltrex/Abyss
Mares/AMF 2 and 3 with the bypass tube (particually the ones with the chrome cover and RAF roundel...but thats just the Brit in me talking)
Zeagle 2nd's (current range)
USD metal Conshelf

The above list is of regulators that I own and regularly use. The majority of them have been around in some form or another for at least 20 years, some many more.
There are plenty of equally great regulators......I just haven't used them.

 

[halocline]

The reg with the most effortless, smoothest air delivery I've used is a SP D300, and any of the D series (D300, D350, D400) would be the same. This summer I'm having the chance to do multiple dives/day, sometimes with different regs. The truth is, any decent reg that's in good adjustment will deliver PLENTY of air for any normal recreational diving situation. If your wife has tried several regs and has found that they all are too much work for her to be comfortable, it makes me think that either they're all tuned badly, which might be the case if they're rentals, or she is just having some anxiety which is giving her the perception that she's not getting enough air.

But, if you want to get her a reg that has very high flow and is available new, try the SP MK25/G250V. You can tell her the first stage delivers 300SCFM, which is the equivalent of emptying an AL80 in about 15 seconds. That should reassure her that there's enough air. There are many others that would work absolutely fine, as other people have recommended.

 

[serrada]

I'd recommend the Scubapro G250 or the Apex TX50. I own both among others. My reasoning for suggesting these regulators are because of the larger diaphragms. Because of the larger area of the diaphragms it has more water pushing on it which in turn reduces the cracking pressure.

The Apeks has a wider mouth-piece than the SP. my girlfriend does not like the Apeks for this reason.

And don't worry about getting jaw fatigue because of a larger size regulator. Underwater none of them weigh anything.

Therefore, my recommendation would be a Scubapro G250 variant with the extra horsepower of the Scubapro MK25.

 

[shoturtle]

The Mares proton 42 metal is a great breathing reg, and it comes in the women exclusive colors, Smile.

Also look at any of the regs with a balance first and second stage regs. Oceanic Eos, Cressi ellipse balance they are design to breath easier. They are suppose to breath easier.

 

[rockinrebel]

I know they are ancient and you can't find them anymore....but it really does breathe better than my wifes S600.

 

[spectrum]

Ok so here it goes... I'm looking for a reg for the Mrs. Everyone she has tried thus far (not many) she has said that she had to work to get air. She is new to diving and there is some anxiety at work for sure. We all know rental gear sux as evidenced when I tried her sherwood brut. So, which is the best reg for easy breathing? I use a sherwood magnum and have no complaints but I know there are a lot better regs out there for ease of breathing. So many brands and opinions, enlighten me please!

A lot of good stuff has been mentioned here and I'll leave it at that.

Aside form selection it sounds like so far she has been trying to adapt to a parade of rental regulators while perhaps dealing with some level of new diver anxiety. Part of what she needs is a chance to bond with a single decent regulator so it's breathing properties will seem natural to her.

I suspect that any good regulator will serve her fine. I would suggest buying it from a local shop with a good service bench. Have them bench test it to make sure she gets off to a good start.

Pete

 

[rockinrebel]

A lot of good stuff has been mentioned here and I'll leave it at that.

Aside form selection it sounds like so far she has been trying to adapt to a parade of rental regulators while perhaps dealing with some level of new diver anxiety. Part of what she needs is a chance to bond with a single decent regulator so it's breathing properties will seem natural to her.

I suspect that any good regulator will serve her fine. I would suggest buying it from a local shop with a good service bench. Have them bench test it to make sure she gets off to a good start.

Pete

Exactly. I think the reason my old Scubapro Mark 7 (yep, a Mark 7) and my old Air 1 feel so good to me is because that's what I've known for 25 years

 

[OldNSalty]

I'll just add this little note. Rental gear stinks but the mark of a good dive shop IMHO is that they have a pool on site and don't have a problem in breaking out the gear and letting you test it. If you can find one of those then she can check out all the new stuff they offer.

Surprisingly, I have found that a lot of dive shops look at you like you are crazy when you make this request. There is one in my area that does it all the time-love those guys.

If anyone is in the area here is the shop Gulf Coast Divers - Dive The Alabama, Florida and Mississippi Gulf Coast - Gulf Coast Scuba Diving At Its' Best - Mobile, Alabama

 

[widget]

A very subjective question I think.

Everyone will generally have a differant answer depending on the equipment he or she uses.

Personally, I think the best breathing reg is the one that suits you and you are comfortable with, all the Major brands are good, you would be hard pressed to find a "bad breathing" regulator amongst all the models, sure there will be differances, but they are all perfectly acceptable breathers.

Heres my advice when buying a reg................

(We assume here the regulator is for basic recreational scuba diving to conventional training rules and standards)

Close your eyes (so you are not swayed by brand) and try differant demand valves,.......feel, are they comfortable in your mouth, some may be a tad too heavy, some may vent on the side, can you feel the purge button easily, is it easy to push with gloves, is the exhaust diffuser comfortable on your chin, is the hose interfering with your comfort / vision, can you fit a mouldable mouth piece should you so desire?

Find one thats comfortable and fits your requirements.

Now, Keeping your eyes closed to the brand, ask to breathe on it on land, is it smooth through inhalation and exhalation, do you feel comfortable breathing on it, dos it purge easily, dos it feel solid and secure in your mouth.?

Finally try it in the water if possible, swim in differant positions, head up, head down, is it dry or are you getting water on inhalation, do the exhaled bubbles obscure your view in your normal dive position, is the first stage comfortable (ie) you dont bump your head when its set up correctly, are the hoses long enough so you dont feel the reg is pulling in your mouth, do you clear a flooded reg with one exhalation or dos it require two or more, if it has adjustment, is it easy to use with gloves, ..............all of this is WAAAAAAAAY more important than brand, find the reg that works for YOU and YOU alone and buy that one.

In the final analyses, only you will be using it, not friends, not shop assistants, not dive instructors or dive buddies, make sure it suits YOU.!

 

[rigdiver]

Dove a Scubapro Mk25/G250 recently and it was a dream. I've owned and used virtually all the high-end regs and this one just rocks. With the introduction of the G250V recently by SP you can't go wrong.