Bob DBF
Contributor
honestly, my favorite pony bottle first stage is a ScubaPro MK-2, and paired with a balanced seconed (156/G250/g200b/HOG Classic/Deep6 etc.) It is a great system...
All things considered I would also choose it or something similar, however that old Magnum earned its place, absolutely reliable for 30 years, back when I needed reliable way more than I do now. Not to mention it was completely rebuilt a year before I replaced it.