Buying 1st regulator so many choices - advice or links to non bias consumer reviews?

[shoturtle]

Specifically I am looking for a regulator that:

*is tried/tested/extremely reliable & rated highly
*is small & lightweight for travel
*is balanced (breathes easily around 100 ft)
*has an excellent waranty
*Doesn't freeze up in colder water or purge easily in strong currents (I live in San Francisco & may dive there occasionally)
*is Nitrox compatible

In the future:
I probably won't dive in water colder than 55 F
I probably will take a rescue diver course and Nitrox course
I may well take a dive master course
If given a good reason, I will dive a bit deeper than 100 ft, but probably not much more than 130 ft

(if it matters I weigh 125 lbs)

Was looking at the XTX200 Apeks Aqua Lung regulator- is this overkill? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

There are many regs that fit your bill out there in the price range you are looking at. If there is a possibility that you may dive cooler waters, I would go for a environmentally seal reg.

All the big brands out there are really reliable and there really is not to much difference between them base on the type of diving you do. It just comes down to features you want. And if your diving involves traveling to Asia or Europe, you may want to consider brands that have a presents there.

For 400-550 dollars, you are looking at the upper end models of most of big brands. Atomic M1, Apek xtx200, AL legend, SP mk17 g250v, Oceanic delta4, and Mares abyss 22 are all great reg in the 400-550 price range that are nitrox ready out the box and are good cold water regs. I agree with everyone else, you will not find unbiased review or opinions. I do not dive any of the regs I mention, so I guess I am kinda impartial.

I would not be to concern about the travel and size issue they are all about the same size and weight. Good Luck

 

[kathydee]

Thank you all so much for your very useful advice! And for the short cut to informed purchasing. You have helped make the choice SO MUCH simpler ;-)!

Thanks Beester for the crash course in technical terms demystifying some of the factory description.

After researching your thoughts and suggestions; for remote dive locations I agree that it is best to stick with easily serviceable brands (regardless of their high cost and unpopular marketing strategy). So will check out both:

Scuba Pro MK 17/G250V &
APEKS XTX100 & (can someone suggest a compatible light weight octopus they like?)

I did not find either of these regulators on scubatoys.com, so can someone recommend another reputable discount website?

Thanks again!

Ps: A scuba instructor friend who has been diving in SE Asia for years passed on the following advice that might be worth sharing: "my only real advice, if you have to go to Timbuktu to buy your reg, you will not get it properly serviced in a 3rd world country if something goes wrong. Aqualung, Apeks, Scuba Pro, no problem, Dacor, Aeris, Zeagle, Tusa, you can find places in Phuket or Bali, but not in Manado. Seaquest (also made by aqualung), Mares and Sherwood 50/50 Some of the others are more popular w/ Europeans, so if you dive where they tend to go (Red Sea) you won't have a problem"

 

[shoturtle]

Thank you all so much for your very useful advice! And for the short cut to informed purchasing. You have helped make the choice SO MUCH simpler ;-)!

Thanks Beester for the crash course in technical terms demystifying some of the factory description.

After researching your thoughts and suggestions; for remote dive locations I agree that it is best to stick with easily serviceable brands (regardless of their high cost and unpopular marketing strategy). So will check out both:

Scuba Pro MK 17/G250V &
APEKS XTX100 & (can someone suggest a compatible light weight octopus they like?)

I did not find either of these regulators on scubatoys.com, so can someone recommend another reputable discount website?

Thanks again!

Ps: A scuba instructor friend who has been diving in SE Asia for years passed on the following advice that might be worth sharing: "my only real advice, if you have to go to Timbuktu to buy your reg, you will not get it properly serviced in a 3rd world country if something goes wrong. Aqualung, Apeks, Scuba Pro, no problem, Dacor, Aeris, Zeagle, Tusa, you can find places in Phuket or Bali, but not in Manado. Seaquest (also made by aqualung), Mares and Sherwood 50/50 Some of the others are more popular w/ Europeans, so if you dive where they tend to go (Red Sea) you won't have a problem"

You will not find Apek, Al, or SP online at most retailer, as the factory will not honor online sales. Leisurepro will have them, at a discount but will not have a full factory warranty, so they offer their own in house warranty. I would have to disagree with the Mares part, I did find it everywhere I have dived in Asia.

Good luck with your search.

 

[widget]

Hmmm, Kathydee, I spent a good part of my life diving in 3rd world countries as a working (commercial) diver. From my experience you will have no problem with any of the major brands, Aqualung, Mares (definately not an issue anywhere I have dived) Scuba Pro, Oceanic, Sherwood are all very well represented, Aeris and Zeagle are not international by any means and Dacor has parts issues in many countries, even though Mares has taken them over many distributors no longer carry the parts due to a conflict of interests.

Sticking with easily servicable regs is a wise move, BUT also stick with the most common and popular middle of the line models, remember, distributors in these countries may not import and distribute ALL the models in the range, and if you have a model of reg they DONT Import, its unlikely they will carry spares unless there is a cross over of parts.

To be honest, Basic regs like Sherwood are probably your best bet for parts availability, all the models use one BASIC service kit (except the SR-1) so you can be sure of getting the replaceable parts anywhere.

 

[myScubaLogin]

hi kathydeee,

I was in the same boat for the past month and got lots of good info from other SB members. Ended up getting a package from my local LDS (1.5 hrs from San Francisco) Apeks XTX50 status + aqualung legend octo for <$500 (also got SPG and oceanic geo comp). the XTX200 status was ~ $100 more with the same octo. The caveat is that these regs are the status ones, but if you don't mind, they are a great deal. They won't quote on the website, but will on the phone. If interested, i'll send you more info (not sure if we are supposed to post specific store info on here?).

As for the reg, unfortunately, i can't say anything yet since i haven't had a chance to try it yet just got it this past weekend, but from feedback and reviews it sounded like it should be great. My understanding is that legend octo is the same as AL legend but without diver adjustable breathing resistance which should make it a very good octo (more knoledgeable people on SB can correct me on this).

 

[kathydee]

An "unbiased consumer review" is an oxymoron.
Personally, I think the best rega available right now is the Scubapro Mk 17 G250V for rec, tech or extreme cold water diving, and it is light enough and compact enough to make a decent warm water travel reg.
.

Bought this reg! Thanks so much for the recommendation. I love it! Worked great at 35m! This reg is always going in my carry-on luggage!

 

[shoturtle]

Bought this reg! Thanks so much for the recommendation. I love it! Worked great at 35m! This reg is always going in my carry-on luggage!

Good, reg, glad you are enjoying it.