Question Razor Go Sidemount Course worth it? Razor 4.0 vs XDeep Stealth 2.0 Tec

[Tideborne]

I’m planning to move into sidemount for recreational warm-water diving with AL tanks, but I want a solid foundation in skills and configuration that could support future tech/cave/CCR development.

I’m deciding between Razor 4.0 and XDeep Stealth 2.0 Tec. The Razor Go sidemount course I found costs about $1,200 USD (roughly double the price of a TDI Sidemount course here in Thailand - taught by the same instructor) and requires buying the Razor system.


For context: I’ve completed GUE Fundamentals (Rec Pass) and have only dived single backmount so far.


I know I could buy a Razor and take a TDI sidemount course but if the Razor course truly offers more value, I’m happy to invest in both the system and their training, and choose Razor over XDeep.


The thing is, there’s barely any info on what the Razor course actually covers not even on the official site.


Anyone with experience in the Razor course — was it worth it? How does it compare to TDI or other sidemount training?


Thanks for sharing your insights

 

[Rayk]

No experience with Razor, did sidemount course with Xdeep, and I am diving with whole bunch of divers using whole bunch of different equipment. I don’t see a difference between competent divers who wears Xdeep, Razor, Hollis etc.

Quality sidemount course with a good instructor is gonna make diver use whole spectrum of equipment efficiently.

 

[Mobulai]

Honestly, only you can answer that for sure — it’s a matter of how the harness feels, how you would you use it as well and what context

If you can talk to divers that use either system and hear their thoughts, try them (maybe in pool) it woulf inform your decision

I personally dive the stealth, and prefer it (in theory) to razor as I also use a sidewinder (the stealth is optimized for it)

Oh, one more thought, look into Steve Martins online video classes — he discussed the differences a lot and is a very informed instructor (I believe for both)

 

[inquis]

roughly double the price of a TDI Sidemount course here in Thailand - taught by the same instructor

Since the instructor is the same, they should be able to explain the differences to you.

 

[grantmac]

I personally much prefer the Stealth, mainly because it has a better weight management system and I have no issues reaching the dump valve. Plus it has better control of the internal volume when inflated.

Try both on.

 

[Mobulai]

Since the instructor is the same, they should be able to explain the differences to you.

I didn’t notice that part about instructor being the same — in theory the class itself *should* then cost the same, not including the cost of the harness/bc system itself

 

[Underwater Tourist]

There is nothing complicated about SM that would require more than a 3 day course. If we assume you are being taught by a technical diving instructor that would be roughly 300$/day for 3 days = 900$.

If your goal is to get a super nice foundation in SM for cave etc., just reach out to local cave diving shops and ask them for a 3 day course/workshop and skip agency altogether (nobody in the world cares about the actual SM certification card, so you can just pay the instructor his daily rate and get sort of “mentored” about SM).

And then you can dive it / film yourself and get experience on whatever harness you choose.

 

[Mobulai]

nobody in the world cares about the actual SM certification card

Only in the (not so) rare case if OP wants to pursuit a TDI CCR cert for a sidemount rebreather

But I agree a 100% with your sentiment, I got my cert but the class absolutely sucked — reached out to another instructor and paid him for a mostly dry “class”/workshop to understand implications of changes to my harness, placement of things, adjusting my harness to me… the very next day had a fun dive and was a million times more comfortable diving in SM setup

 

[halocline]

There is nothing complicated about SM that would require more than a 3 day course. If we assume you are being taught by a technical diving instructor that would be roughly 300$/day for 3 days = 900$.

If your goal is to get a super nice foundation in SM for cave etc., just reach out to local cave diving shops and ask them for a 3 day course/workshop and skip agency altogether (nobody in the world cares about the actual SM certification card, so you can just pay the instructor his daily rate and get sort of “mentored” about SM).

And then you can dive it / film yourself and get experience on whatever harness you choose.

When I took SM-cave, it was 5 full days and I needed every one of those. And I was full cave with 100+ cave dives in BM when I took it. Granted, there was a lot of extra cave-specific stuff, but still 3 days is not much time IMO. You could get the basics, but SM (especially in a cave) offers possibilities that BM does not, and as a result there’s more task loading, more ‘stuff’ to learn about. I was surprised at how much info and skill development there was.

To the OP, as far as the razor vs Xdeep, I have one of the early razors and I like it, but several of the people I dive with have switched over to the Xdeep, and I have heard that the later versions of the razor aren’t as well thought of. I don’t know why. I would also say that razor stuff in general is a little overpriced.

 

[J-Vo]

I have a Razor 2.5 that used to be my only wing and I did a lot of big dives (drysuit, LP85s, 3xStages). I have an Xdeep now and the Razor only comes out for recreational warm water wetsuit dives. They both have the same size bladder on paper, but the Xdeep is simply more comfortable when you need to use the lift more than just a few lbs.