Mares XR Heavy Pure Sidemount Set

[bradymsu]

What have you heard, if anything, about the Mares XR Heavy Pure Sidemount Set? All I'm finding on SB is a post from December 2019 that didn't provide any information about the set, only offering the usual, "Buy an xDeep. Buy a Razor." type comments. I also came across this setup video direct from Mares.

At 16kg of lift, it's equal to the xDeep Stealth 2.0 Classic (the xDeep Stealth 2.0 Tec has 19kg of lift). From what I can make out, the bladder shape is similar to the xDeep, it uses a DIR style harness configuration, the inflator is positioned forward, it has a second dump valve option on the side as well as bottom center, and it uses a waist belt connection rather than a bungee to keep the wing under control.

DGX currently has the complete set for US$499 which includes the back weight pocket and back pouch. It appears to be virtually unknown in the diving world, not just in North America, but also back in Europe. I suspect Mares launched in 2019 it to compete with the xDeep and then withheld marketing in 2020 due to the virus. Oddly, the price it's selling for in Europe is well above what DGX is charging.

 

[alphahorn]

I'm looking for information on it as well. It looks very promising, but it's impossible to find a review or any information on it

 

[rick00001967]

it's impossible to find a review or any information on it

what does that tell you ?

 

[bradymsu]

I'm looking for information on it as well. It looks very promising, but it's impossible to find a review or any information on it

To follow up to my own question, I ended up going to the Sidemount Diving group on Facebook who were very helpful; and also very critical of Mares XR. Apparently Mares launched this in 2019 to get in on the sidemount market. They even went so far as to create a Facebook page to market it which has been abandoned (no posts since October 2020). Mares had a guy design it who has no experience sidemount diving and who didn't take the advice the company solicited from sidemount divers. The designer has since left the company.

This system is flawed because it doesn't keep the bulk of the buoyancy in the lower hip section as a sidemount system should. The built in elastic retainers to keep it from taco'ing instead cause it to turtle much like the notorious Northern Diver sidemount system. The outer wing fabric is cheap with a poor finish. Mares is supposedly in the process of developing a replacement for it although their reputation in the western hemisphere at least has taken a hit they likely won't be able to recover from. That's why this system is priced so low.

I'm happy I did my due diligence first. I ended up going with a custom version of a much more known and respected sidemount system which I'll further customize. I hate following the herd but with some dive gear, the herd knows best.

 

[alphahorn]

To follow up to my own question, I ended up going to the Sidemount Diving group on Facebook who were very helpful; and also very critical of Mares XR. Apparently Mares launched this in 2019 to get in on the sidemount market. They even went so far as to create a Facebook page to market it which has been abandoned (no posts since October 2020). Mares had a guy design it who has no experience sidemount diving and who didn't take the advice the company solicited from sidemount divers. The designer has since left the company.

This system is flawed because it doesn't keep the bulk of the buoyancy in the lower hip section as a sidemount system should. The built in elastic retainers to keep it from taco'ing instead cause it to turtle much like the notorious Northern Diver sidemount system. The outer wing fabric is cheap with a poor finish. Mares is supposedly in the process of developing a replacement for it although their reputation in the western hemisphere at least has taken a hit they likely won't be able to recover from. That's why this system is priced so low.

I'm happy I did my due diligence first. I ended up going with a custom version of a much more known and respected sidemount system which I'll further customize. I hate following the herd but with some dive gear, the herd knows best.

Thanks I bought an XDeep Tec

 

[bradymsu]

Thanks I bought an XDeep Tec

So did I. Not very original but it has become to sidemount systems what the Perdix AI is to dive computers.

 

[alphahorn]

yeah, but I went with a scubapro G2 computer

 

[SavDiver]

XDeep stealth has been out for almost 10 years. In those 10 years we have seen mares, Hollis, diverite, halcyon, and countless other companies copy it. Now, why would you think they copied the XDeep design?