How many people are happy....

[Dave in PA]

... who have bought equipment without extensive renting? I have been looking at regs and bcs and found some specs that I liked. I then checked the reviews and found that the ones I liked are near top of the line units that received good reviews. I am very tempted to go ahead and 'take the plunge' so I can use my own stuff for the rest of my classes. I know that the best advice is to rent a bunch of different stuff before you buy, but how much risk is it to buy good equipment and learn to be happy with it? Like most people, I have a budget to work with and if I spend a good portion of that budget renting, I may not have enough for really good equipment. Is this making any sense?

 

[MSilvia]

... who have bought equipment without extensive renting?

I'm happy with my equipment, and I bought without extensive renting. Of course, after a year or two of enjoyable diving, I sold or retired everything I bought the first time except the mask and tanks, and then sold or retired everything I replaced that with except for the gloves and shears.

I'm very happy with what I have now, and I don't expect I'll ever outgrow it, although I might look at a different drysuit when this one eventually wears out. It only cost me about $3000 to find out the hard way what suited me.

Strangely enough though, the stuff I ended up with wasn't available for rent.

One thing to keep in mind about reviews: If it's a review in a magazine that makes it's money from advertisers who manufacture gear, or from an employee of a dive shop that sells the item in question, you may not be getting an unbiased perspective. Look at multiple sources, and ask around!

 

[MechDiver]

Any high, or good quality equipment should serve you well. As with many other things, a lot of equipment selection comes down to personal preference, ability to get service locally, etc. You sound like you have a good plan, have done some homework, and thought about what you want to do.

I would, however, probably wait until the classes are over if that is an option.

Good luck,

MD

 

[matt_unique]

... who have bought equipment without extensive renting? I have been looking at regs and bcs and found some specs that I liked. I then checked the reviews and found that the ones I liked are near top of the line units that received good reviews. I am very tempted to go ahead and 'take the plunge' so I can use my own stuff for the rest of my classes. I know that the best advice is to rent a bunch of different stuff before you buy, but how much risk is it to buy good equipment and learn to be happy with it? Like most people, I have a budget to work with and if I spend a good portion of that budget renting, I may not have enough for really good equipment. Is this making any sense?

I pretty much bought what a LDS recommended after some of my own research. I turned out lucky because I was able to use this stuff a long time. If I had it to do again I would have saved lot's of money though.

If I were you I would start with the research like you've done. I would definitely buy a regulator out of the gate. You can chat with people and research reviews and get a great regulator that can last you forever. If you have not tried both styles, I would rent a back inflate and a jacket style BC to see what you prefer. With that being said, if I had it to do over again, I would have bought a back plate and wing right from the start. A BP and wing is just about the same cost (actually less) than many BC's and you can use it forever from rec to tec. To do it again I would have also bought a drysuit out of the gate instead of wasting $450 on a wetsuit. I bought my neoprene O'Neill drysuit for $750 and $150 for thermals and it has been a great suit. The custom sized wetsuit sits in the closet.

In short, I would buy things out of the gate but make sure you've researched each item to ensure it can used for any application and can grow with your diving interests.

--Matt

 

[MSilvia]

I think Matt's advice here is really good. Try different styles and see what you like, but also consider your long-term interests in diving, and find out if what you're looking at is appropriate for that sort of thing.

If you can save yourself having to upgrade in the future, you'll be saving yourself big bucks in the long run... and possibly save some cash on "cool" crap you don't need in the short term as well!

I'm very happy with the wetsuit I purchased by the way, and have been diving it since 1991. If it fits well and keeps the cold out, you can get along just fine without going dry. I only did so this year as a redundant inflation option for my entry into tech diving.

 

[String]

We have to buy all our own gear somewhere in between pool training and open water. Renting isnt an option.

Provided you're happy you'll stick with diving its fine.

I just read reviews, asked users, scoured the internet and bought. The only thing im not 100% happy with is my BC and thats my fault, i should have bought the commando not this Mares thing (again reviews and users said go for commando but mares was cheaper).

 

[MechDiver]

We have to buy all our own gear somewhere in between pool training and open water. Renting isnt an option.

Hadn't heard that before. Is that something local?

 

[Dave in PA]

I've been talking to a bunch of people about what to purchase first, too. Each diver has a differant agenda.... one guy said a reg first, b/c that goes in your mouth... another lady said a wet suit first, b/c of what eventually happens... another suggested a BC, since she ended up on vacation with a rental that didn't fit properly (she's pretty slight). My LDS is willing to sell me anything I want, of course. They are also willing to package the gear for a decent discount. The only significant recommendation that came from the owner was to consider a wireless AI computer. (I was looking at computers, too) Wireless is all he uses now, and for streamlining gear, he swears by it.

The LDS is more than willing to rent as long as I want, too. A full package is $65 per day, long term rentals available, too. I've always been interested in the sea and diving and stuff, so I am willing to commit....My wife and I also seem to be able to take a warm weather vacation roughly each year or so, diving always looks much better than just snorkling.

 

[Don Burke]

... who have bought equipment without extensive renting? I have been looking at regs and bcs and found some specs that I liked. I then checked the reviews and found that the ones I liked are near top of the line units that received good reviews. I am very tempted to go ahead and 'take the plunge' so I can use my own stuff for the rest of my classes. I know that the best advice is to rent a bunch of different stuff before you buy, but how much risk is it to buy good equipment and learn to be happy with it? Like most people, I have a budget to work with and if I spend a good portion of that budget renting, I may not have enough for really good equipment. Is this making any sense?

I bought gear when I first certified and I do not use any of it now with the exception of a BC and one pair of Rocket fins that I use only for one particular aquarium dive due to cross-contamination issues.

My first dive with a backplate and wing was after I bought them. It was also my first dive with doubles, which I had also bought. Those were on the recommendation of people I learned to trust on the internet. I have not been sorry.

Those reviews are often bought and paid for. Watch yourself.

For the record, the backplate and wing are Halcyon, although I think FredT or Oxycheq would serve me as well. The regulators are Apeks, although ScubaPro would probably serve me as well. The wetsuit and the drysuit are Bare, although Harveys or Henderson would do well for the wetsuit and DUI might actually be a little better for the drysuit. The masks are from many outfits as I shop mainly for fit and lots of sealing surface. I have many fins, but the most used are the jetfin type.

The computer can come later when your gas consumption gets better.

In many areas, not just diving, it seems the most expensive thing I do is try to save money.

 

[chrisch]

Hadn't heard that before. Is that something local?

Its the BSAC (UK) system - club based hence no shop no rent.

Great - loads of cheap secondhand kit for sale from people that drop out...

Chris