Lower Priced Regs

[reefrat]

Another vote for the Aqualung Titan LX!!

You can pick them up new on-line for about $250, if possible get the enviro seal on the first stage.

Did about a hundred dives on one of these in all sorts of conditions and they really are a great regulator.

Extremely reliable and time proven design, breathes very easy, no different at 130 ft or 30 ft that I could tell.
Comfortable and compact for travel as well.

I'd still be using mine but it was nicked (my girlfreind and I had both of ours stolen recently in Belize), so of course I used the situation as an excuse to get two Atomic b2's. Havent tried them yet!

 

[in_cavediver]

I'd go used too.

If you spend $250 on a crappy reg, two weeks later you have a used crappy reg

If you spend $250 on a used excellent reg, two weeks later, you have a used excellent reg.

Same $250, different results.

I would have the used reg serviced before using it, so that will figure into the equation, but the numbers still work the same.


Terry

Well, for the $250, you can get a new 'good' reg. I would hardly call the envoy (or dive rite/salvo) crappy regs. I have both and have taken both in environments far more demanding than your average rec diver ever will. Both performed exactly as I would expect.

 

[pupdiver]

I don't think it is so much a choice between buying crappy stuff new versus excellent stuff used. It is a matter of what you can get for the dollars you can afford. Personally, I think it is pretty easy to avoid getting a crappy reg.

I have bought used before and gotten really good deals. It just takes more searching and you have to get it fully serviced before diving it.

 

[WarrenZ]

I have had good experience with my Oceanic Alpha7 which I think is very similar to the new Alpha8 but my latest buy is a Genesis GS2000. Nice reg I like it originally bought it as a second one to use as a backup but I think it will become my primary. Both are in the $200 -$300 range.

 

[pterantula]

You can always find good used deals, but I would never dive a used reg w/o service or a complete overhaul - which makes a used reg almost more expensive than shopping for a good deal on a good new reg.

I love my Titan LX, though I've heard very good things about Aeris and Zeagle; I have a used Scubapro MK14?/G200? (I think), that I had overhauled (and added an Octo), and it ended up costing about the same as the Titan....

Fins, masks - these may require some experimentation and you can always get several to test in different conditions for cheap (I already have 4 masks and 3 pairs of fins), but a good reg is your lifeline......

 

[DLR06]

My daughter and I both started diving this year, so I was buying double everything. I went the used route. We tried out a couple different brands at our local dive spot until we found something we were comfortable with then bought at a very good price. On the other hand I also trust this LDS completely. Very important in my opinion.

Thrilled to be diving!!!

 

[ams511]

I love my Titan LX, though I've heard very good things about Aeris and Zeagle; I have a used Scubapro MK14?/G200? (I think), that I had overhauled (and added an Octo), and it ended up costing about the same as the Titan........

The trick is to buy regulators that are recent. I agree with you that ALL USED regs need to be serviced. One that is only a few years old will only need only a servicing not an overhaul. The older they get the higher the probablility they will need an overhaul. A Mark14/G200 is a 10-15 year old reg. Any old reg you buy you should factor $ 100 for an overhaul.