Sherwood regs

[BadFish]

I am thinking of getting a sherwod reg, but can't decide between the following:

The Brut
oasis
maximus
magnum

Anyone use these regs? what did you think?

thanks for the help

 

[Ontario Diver]

Although I'm one of these "newbie" divers, I haven't bought my reg yet (I'm saving up!) but I've rented or borrowed all of these regs. (Before the flames come out, this is just my opinion with the very limited experience I had with regs. Having never tried some of the brands like APEX, I know working from a limited sample set.)

Sherwood makes decent regulators. Around here, it seem that most divers use Sherwood Blizzards. (Cold water Reg) I found it without problems

The Brut is the most common rental reg. I've used them often (as rentals) and I can't give you any details cause they run the gamut from really bad to good. I guess it is how they are maintained and tuned.

Magnum is the one that I'm saving up for <G>. I believe that it is their newest. I found it easy to breath and I really liked the under arm hose and the different mount. It is also "cold water" ready. The best that I have tried.

I've used the Oasis and can't say good nor bad about it.

Have you checked the Rodale's site?

 

[Lost Yooper]

Not too impressed with the Magnums. You can't beat Apeks regs, and they don't cost a fortune either (DiveINN).

Mike

 

[JustJules]

I'm diving with a Sherwood Oasis and I really like it. I have tried taking sudden, large breaths at depth and it hasn't failed to give me plenty of air no matter how I try to overbreathe it. I replaced the mouthpiece, but I'm fussy about that sort of thing.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it (like all Sherwoods, I'm told) bleeds a small amount of air from the first stage. I'm told this is to help prevent freeflow (?), though that doesn't make sense. I still can't get used to hearing the bubbles behind me where they just shouldn't be. That and I have to be extra-careful about when I open my valve so I don't deplete my tank before my dive...

Julie

 

[Iguana Don]

Badfish,

Although I don't use a Sherwood Reg, I have it on very good authority that the Brut is the best reg that Sherwood makes.

ID

 

[NINman]

I also dive with the Oasis and I haven’t had any problems. The only difference between the Oasis and the Brute I am told is that the Oasis is a balanced reg and it also contains a moisture retainer, which means it catches some of your exhaled breath and then moistens the inhaled dry air. Other then that I like it. I don't get any bubble interference and seems to hold up pretty well at depth (73fwf). I am also new and is the only reg that my LDS services and has parts for. Hope this helps with your decision.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Sherwood regs are reliable, no-frills, decent regs but are
NOT "high performance". I own a Blizzard that breathes
"harder" at 50 feet than my Atomics do at over 100 feet.

The "dry bleed" system is designed to keep the 1st stage
clear of fouling, not prevent free flow. It's a 'kinda-
sorta' diaphragm arrangement (versus open piston). I would
not be concerned with gas-loss as a result of the bleed
unless you left it on for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time.

 

[JustJules]

Yeah, I left it on for a looooooooong time, actually in my car on the way home, thankfully. So no dive was ruined. I'm learning a new habit, which is turn 'em on when you're ready to use 'em and not before, so if there's an unexpected delay, I won't bleed off air I would like to have during the dive!

Julie

 

[Diverl]

I own a Sherwood Maximus. It is sherwoods top of the line reg and works very well. The breathing resistance knobs take a little getting used to especially if you wear thick gloves. Once you play a little you will not have any problems. I aslo really like the under the arm hose instead of the over the sholder design of most other regs. I dive in cold Canadian water and appreciate the dry bleed system, no one I know has every had a free flow problem with this reg. I know several people who have taken this regs to over 200 feet and have not had any complaints with breathing resistance. I dont know what type of diving you want to do but for the recreational and beignner tech diver this is a great reg.

Having said all that I suggest having a look around. There are a lot of great regs on the market. I recomend that you try the regs before you buy. One of the key factors that will make or break any reg will be how the mouth peice fits. Many companies have several different mouth pieces so ask lots of questions and find one that fits.

Just my .02 cents. Hope this helps. If you want any more info let me know!

Diverl

 

[SubMariner]

When I first started diving in '91 I bought a used reg set from my LDS. It was a typical ex-rental reg: a Brut. Later I traded up to a Blizzard with a better console & a dive PC.

Basically, the Brut is Sherwood's "workhorse". It will take a lot of abuse & keep on ticking. But is is NOT a balanced reg, and you will notice it at depth.

Any of the others you mentioned are balanced regs. I chose the Blizzard because I was diving in cold Cdn waters & it was a cold water reg. Plus the fact that the fins in the 2nd stage act like a moisture trap: moisture from your breathe condenses on them and this is returned to you on your next breath. It really cuts down on dry mouth! (Something I really miss with my new Mares Abyss.)

Sherwood makes a decent piston reg that you can find parts for just about anywhere. One of the unique things about them is the positive pressure bleed from the 1st stage that makes them, for all intents & purposes, environmentally sealed.

Just putting in my $0.02's worth,

~SubMariner~