I narrowed down and got confused...

[jac_3232]

I'd be taking the Sherwood SR1 off your list if you plan cold water dives below 85'. They have a tendancy to free flow at that depth in low 40 degree water. Do a search on it and you'll see many people having problems.

 

[Randy43068]

I am a new diver and am in the market for a new reg. I understand that before answering the question about "which reg to get", I need to first answer "where I dive"... so heres my standard answer:

I want a reg that is versatile enough for me to dive in warm, tropical or cold water. I probably will not be diving in the Arctic Ocean but I may dive up North in Canada or even Alaska. Of course I will be traveling to dive in Manado or Bali.

I would like a reg that is Nitrox ready with mininal "screwing around". I would probably get my feet wet doing technical but not going to be seriously involved.

Now, I do understand that eventually I will be owning more than 1 reg for different uses and applications, but I would like to start with a really versatile one that can last me for the next 5 years before I purchase a "specialty" reg.

My current setup is the Zeagle Ranger with the Atomic SS1 as my safe second. And I have narrowed down my potential reg to the following:

1. Atomic B2
2. Oceanic EOS
3. Sherwood SR1
4. Scubapro MK25/S600

I did try to read up on the above regs but I just got very confused, so my questions are:

1. Will any of the above regs meet my needs?
2. Is there any real advantage of 1 over the other?
3. How crucial is an over-balanced first stage for my selection?

Thank you very much in advance.

Get the one on the list that's the lowest cost. It's not that big of a deal. Seriously.

 

[AGoodStart]

Does HOG/Edge actually design and make their own regs? I have read, for example, that the Halcyon regs are actually rebranded Scubapro. Looking at the product photos, that would seem to be VERY likely based upon feature comparison and outward appearances. Is HOG using their own design or have they purchased an older, design from another company? Obviously, price and good customer service are features too. Given two equal products from two respected companies, most of us will buy the less expensive product. Many of us will pay a little more for better customer support and maybe even a little more for aesthetics.

I have heard a lot of brand loyalty and preferences for certain brands and models. That certainly means a lot and I don't discount that but I would love to hear some detailed discussion about the relative advantages/features of various brands and models. What features or design elements do you look for in a first and second stage reg regardless of brand? Take the brand logos off every regulator and compare them side by side for features; which ones rise to the top and why. What factors do you view as most important and why? I'd love to know.

Maybe there is no perfect reg setup for everything. Maybe there are different tools for different jobs. Maybe we need to sacrifice ease of breathing for cold water reliability or simply spend more for the Ferrari that does it all perfectly when we wish we could have it all for the price of a Honda.

With hundreds of years of collective diving experience available, I'd love to know your thoughts.

 

[AGoodStart]

Probably true that for most applications, any good regulator will function more than adequately for most recreational diving. Still, it can be fun to really get into the side-by-side of products and compare designs just for the sake of knowing which ones really put a lot of thought into the details and innovation. Some people, like me, just love to research every little thing in absurd detail when it probably has no significant practical impact.

 

[randytay]

Thank you everyone. I ended up going for the Hollis DC2/212.

 

[AGoodStart]

Mind if I ask what drove your decision? Seems like a great set of gear. Curious why you chose the Hollis over other options.

 

[randytay]

Mind if I ask what drove your decision? Seems like a great set of gear. Curious why you chose the Hollis over other options.

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