Please advice me on purchase. Down to four regs!

[Geniuz]

Been doing a lot of reading here on ScubaBoard and have visited three LDS's over the past two days. I'm going to buy my first reg. I want to have one of my own which I trust and know has been serviced etc.

I narrowed down my choices to:

• Mares Metal Tech Limited Edition
• Mares Abyss 2005
• Aqualung Legend LX Supreme
• Mares Proton ICE

They all range in about the same price-catagory. I will be diving and in the Caribean and also in The Netherlands (cold water). I'm also thinking about deep diving in the future so I want a reg that's prepared for that too.

The Abyss 2005 has the disadvantage of the heavy first stage but I can get it for a good price, but then again the price is not that relevant here. I tend to go for the Metal Tech Limited Edition, not because it's limited (I don't care about that) but the second stage is 60% less heavy than ordinary stages. For the Aqualung I also heard tremendous stories and the guy which runs my dive-club uses it. He seems very pleased with it.

As you can notice I'm a bit confused and am having trouble deciding which one to buy. Please help me out!! Can I go wrong with either one of them?

HELP I'M LOST! :06:

Greetz!

Sjoerd

 

[Vtdiver2]

I'm not a big fan of Mares considering what they've done to the DACOR brand, but I have dove the Legend and thought it was a great reg. I know a lot of people who use it and haven't heard anything bad about it from any of them. I also plan on getting one myself.
C-Dawg

 

[fdog]

The best regulator made will eventually be useless if you can't get it serviced.

Assuming plentiful locations in your area for service, my choice (from your selections) would be the Legend Supreme. Very robust 1st stage.

All the best, James


PS: be prepared for a flurry of "XYZ regulator is better!" replies, if historical trends are correct.

 

[Geniuz]

PS: be prepared for a flurry of "XYZ regulator is better!" replies, if historical trends are correct.

Hehe... that's why I already narrowed the options down to 4 choices . Hope that does the trick, but unfortunately historical trends tend to lead the future. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Scottri]

I would choose the Legend of the 4 you have listed. Rugged and easy to service. Mares makes good products but I'm pissed at what they did to Dacor.

 

[ShakaZulu]

How can you be down to 4 regs, and there is no APEKS in that list. Looks to me like you need to do some more reseach. Enjoy diving the APEKS..........

 

[rescuediver009]

How can you be down to 4 regs, and there is no APEKS in that list. Looks to me like you need to do some more reseach. Enjoy diving the APEKS..........

I think that this is what fdog was talking about. Although it is a great brand name there are many things that can easily make it not the reg for you. I think that given the history and reliability, the legend is the best thing for you. IT breathes well and also comes with a lifetime warranty.
As for the Mares, they may be a good reg but I think that the whole dacor thing has made alot of people uneasy, and parts are hard to come by in some places.

 

[mixdiver]

I love my legend. My pic is me at 130' 42deg water no problems. Enjoy

All my buddies dive the apeks great reg as well.

 

[Toolbox-13]

How can you be down to 4 regs, and there is no APEKS in that list. Looks to me like you need to do some more reseach. Enjoy diving the APEKS..........

LMAO...yea I'm upgrading to Apex ATX 200 with a ATX 40 Octo...Santa is bringing it to me this year...:59:

 

[jumbo]

Dude lose the mares

Personal bias from a regulator tech, stay away from mares regulators your repair tech will appreciate you more.

My opinion I would look at Scubapro or Apexs regulators instead of the four you have mentioned. But go with what you feel comfortable with and what you can get serviced.

JUMBO