Hog Regulator Combo or get something better ???

[ams511]

I had a new diver read this whole thread. He pointed out that the " trouble " started when I suggested that the Op get a Brand name reg.

Here on SCUBAboard, Chris has done an excellent job of making hog a brand name, however around the world what are the top Brand name regs.

Do you really believe hog is one of them, or edge?

I have been diving for almost 40 years and I had not seen or heard of hog or edge till I joined SB last Nov.

I do not have an opinion about hog or edge because I, personally, have never been diving with either one.

Yes I do have a biased towards Scubapro, that is the reason why I sell Scubapro as the top Brand name at Beaver Divers.

The title of this thread is "Hog Regulator Combo or get something better ???", if you have no experience with HOG/EDGE then how do you know what your suggesting is better? The next question is what exactly are the advantages of a brand name vs. a non-brand name regulator? You can claim service but that depends on where you live. When I lived in Central Pennsylvania there was no Scubapro dealer. The dealer sold Sherwood, Zeagle, and Dive Rite. I am sure there are many areas in the US where there is no Scubapro dealership. If I need to send the reg out for service I can own anything can't I. If you have never heard of HOG/EDGE than where have been? Besides Scubaboard he is at DEMA, you can watch him on the youtube videos. We are in the new millennium, marketing and consumers have changed. I used to go to Best Buy and Circuit City almost every week. Now Circuit City is dead and I the last time I was in Best Buy was probably 2006 or so. When I buy electronics I usually buy online, I decide on my purchases based on consumer ratings not salesman's recommendations or magazine ads. I may check CNET reviews for another datapoint.

 

[Mitchell Teeters]

Well put. eace2:

I will say, based upon my observations of this thread, BD will not willingly admit, without coaxing, that he should not have posted on this thread.

The title of this thread is "Hog Regulator Combo or get something better ???", if you have no experience with HOG/EDGE then how do you know what your suggesting is better? The next question is what exactly are the advantages of a brand name vs. a non-brand name regulator? You can claim service but that depends on where you live. When I lived in Central Pennsylvania there was no Scubapro dealer. The dealer sold Sherwood, Zeagle, and Dive Rite. I am sure there are many areas in the US where there is no Scubapro dealership. If I need to send the reg out for service I can own anything can't I. If you have never heard of HOG/EDGE than where have been? Besides Scubaboard he is at DEMA, you can watch him on the youtube videos. We are in the new millennium, marketing and consumers have changed. I used to go to Best Buy and Circuit City almost every week. Now Circuit City is dead and I the last time I was in Best Buy was probably 2006 or so. When I buy electronics I usually buy online, I decide on my purchases based on consumer ratings not salesman's recommendations or magazine ads. I may check CNET reviews for another datapoint.

 

[skearse]

At the risk of throwing gas on the fire, I'll add my 2 psi worth here. I've been debating about putting this up in a new thread with a catchy title like "Why I hate all you SB people" or other some such nonsense-but I'm 99% sure I know how it's going to go:

Before I (and if I never had) came to SB, I'd be buying (for wife & I) all SP setups: Knighthawk/Ladyhawk w/Air 2, MK11/C300, and either the Subgear computer or Aladin 2G, which would eventually become backups to a Luna, from my LDS. And not a thing wrong with that setup, on pretty much all accounts; I'm sure we'd both be happy diving for a very long time. Our plans are mostly tropical, pretty fishie dives, with the occasional local fresh water (Jocassee) dip for practice. Maybe, eventually, some 'pseudo-tech' type stuff-caverns, wreck, etc....but that's probably a ways off.

Then I got here. All this new stuff to sort through the research and reasoning-HOG/Edge, backplate and wing systems, long hoses, DIR, GUE, lions tigers and bears oh my. As I've gone through this, and started re-examining the initial choices, here's where I am:
BP/W: I love the streamlining and uncluttered front. Wife tried on and loved a Transpac XT. I still need to get somewhere to try out a 'true' BP/W system, but something along those lines is where we'll end up.
Long hose & bungied identical second: Once I read about this, it makes so much more sense (at least to me). So that's where we'll probably end up.
So, now, I'm looking at Transpac or HOG rigs, primary with identical seconds, long hoses, and a computer. I've read SO MANY of these threads that turn into HOG v. SP and they all seem to degrade into the same discussion...but here's where my 'pain point' is: Why is SP "worth" nearly $500 (or more) more than the HOG setup. I completely get that SP has been in business longer, but, tbh, I'm not interested in paying a tax on the past. I don't think there's doubt that SP is good (the best, to some) equipment, but Casey, here's the part I've never heard: Why? Technically, why? What am I getting for my money that makes it so much better than, in this case, HOG? Using the same longevity argument, it could be used against SP saying that the 'newest' kid on the BP/W block is the X-tek line, although if I recall right some of that is Halcyon (?) equipment. In contrast, I see on SB a number of people that, by their other (non-equipment) posts, I feel are very knowledgeable and the type of conscientious divers that I would aspire to be, and they are replacing their tried and true equipment (in some cases, SP) with HOG (TSandM and JL, to call out a few). Couple that with the fact that cerich is here interacting with the community, with great customer service, and I'm really having a hard time seeing the reason for the extra money. This is not a slight to Casey, more, hopefully, a head's up to SP in general-the FPFL thing kind if sticks in my craw, but it is what it is. If someone can tell me why, technically, exactly, I'm happy to listen-but personally, I just haven't seen that from SP (yet, at least).

Anyway, hope this makes sense...flame on!

 

[The Chairman]

I will say, based upon my observations of this thread, BD will not willingly admit, without coaxing, that he should not have posted on this thread.

Why shouldn't he post here? Just because you disagree with him? Why have a forum if we all have to agree?

That's a big problem on the internet and ScubaBoard is not immune. If someone presents a differing view point, some decry that they are just trolls while others feel compelled to pummel them into submission with attacks on their character, intelligence and/or origins of birth. The "Or get something better?" caveat of the question opened this up to anyone who thinks that any other reg is superior than the HOG reg. He's not bashing HOG when he suggests that ScubaPro is better: He's expressing his opinion.

 

[ams511]

SKearse - One of the nice qualities of Scubapro regulators is they tend to stay in production a long time and Scubapro usually makes the improvements available to older models.

 

[JohnN]

. He's not bashing HOG when he suggests that ScubaPro is better: He's expressing his opinion.

Ahhh you've struck upon the point. If this just an 'opinion', then the fact that he is a SP Platinum dealer and has x 100's dives is completely irrelevant.

If he's representing himself as a 'knowledgeable authority" (which he is), then the 'opinion' should have some grounding in objective reality.

The first is puffery and should be regarded as such, the second is valid data that should be given due consideration.

 

[ams511]

He's not bashing HOG when he suggests that ScubaPro is better: He's expressing his opinion.

How can he have an opinion about HOG when he admittedly knows little about the product and only heard of it a few months ago?

 

[ScubaSteve]

.......here's the part I've never heard: Why? Technically, why?.......

Well SP has to pay for all those Platinum dealers dontcha know .

The reality it, they cost $500 more because they can. HOG could charge a lot more than they do but Chris has chosen to build a business model differently than most of the other manufacturers. And I believe that he will eventually outlive many of them because people realize that he makes a reg that is "just as easy to breathe" and reliable for all levels of diving. The shift is already happening and those that sit back and say "They won't ever leave us!" will see their customers moving over to their competitors such as HOG/Edge.

SP makes a great Reg. HOG makes a great Reg. APEKS makes a great Reg. In the end there really is very little difference other than cost and service and so far Chris (and his distributor network) has been great in both the cost and service arenas.

 

[The Chairman]

Ahhh you've struck upon the point. If this just an 'opinion',

It's amazing how many people will treat a statement of opinion as a statement of fact. I used to think that this was an overt attempt to misconstrue someone's statement, but I don't think that anymore. People will read into any statement that which allows them to accept or reject it as it compares to their own perceived ideology. People who agree with them are viewed with rose colored glasses. People who don't agree with them are oft vilified and ridden out on the proverbial cyber rail. It really doesn't have to be "either/or" and we can all get along. After all, we share more in common than not.

 

[ScubaSteve]

How can he have an opinion about HOG when he admittedly knows little about the product and only heard of it a few months ago?

You are showing your ignorance and perhaps innocence with respect to Internet forums with this post. Since when did someone have to have experience to have an opinion? That has never been the case (online or otherwise). People have always spouted off their opinions on things they know nothing about.

FTR, I now find Beaverdivers posting habits "OK" because he is no longer lacing every post with a slimy sales pitch. At one point, pretty much every post was a sales pitch that got very annoying. Good on you for turning the corner. You have a lot to offer I am sure and now more people can eventually see it.