Sidemount Regulator (Beginner)

[Cyztem]

I am looking for a regulator set to use for side-mount but there are many brands and models for it, so advice or insight would be appreciated it. (might be used for technical in the future)

Most expensive to least expensive (from what I research so far)
1.) Apeks XTX50 - High standard, great quality breath well (what I am currently using but it's for single), however, it is the most expensive (not sure if I am that ready to invest in)
2.) DIve rite X1 - Heard that it is a common choice for the not-too-high or too-low quality regulator (mid-tier), but also haven't tried it as well
3.) HOG D3 - Heard that it is a similar design as the Apeks, but cheaper, and not as good quality as Apeks, but haven't tried it personally

At first, thinking of getting the HOG, but there is such a limited review, so any thought on it would be very useful.

If there is any regulator, I should look into, please let me know. Thank you!

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

Apeks are cheap and you can always find them under rsp.

Said no one ever!

Deep6 is super pricey, especially for a brand that sells directly to the consumer.

You are the first person I have ever heard say that Deep 6 is super pricey.

 

[Wibble]

Some Apeks regs are cheap. Not the shiny new stuff though as it’s well overpriced and offers no tangible benefits over the tried and trusted older regs.

A pair of DSTs (with the 5th port option) and a pair of ATX40s would be great and quite cheap.

 

[formernuke]

Some Apeks regs are cheap. Not the shiny new stuff though as it’s well overpriced and offers no tangible benefits over the tried and trusted older regs.

A pair of DSTs (with the 5th port option) and a pair of ATX40s would be great and quite cheap.

Big price difference in Europe vs US. Don't know about other countries.

 

[berndo]

Said no one ever!




You are the first person I have ever heard say that Deep 6 is super pricey.

Huh? Have you ever looked at what the regs actually cost?
You must have never talked to anyone not American and people that never looked up what stuff costs.
The last xtx50/DST I bought from a brick-and-mortar was 320 bucks... Deep6, like the one from the set is double that and you can only get parts from the US... and who knows if they're still around in 3 years.
Even Scubapro g250/MK25 is cheaper than the Deep6 equivalent.

I don't get the appeal of deep6. For being direct to consumer it's way overpriced.

I don't get why anyone would buy anything Santi in the States instead of ordering from Europe either. Paying 1200 or 1500 extra for nothing is nuts. Shipping doesn't cost that much.

 

[Underwater Tourist]

Plus if you order using regular post (so not dhl), you can always ask the store not to include the receipt in the package therefore skipping the tax when the reg is imported. The savings from ordering from the EU, especially when USD is so strong are unbelievable. I bought a new xdeep tec for 400$ before shipping, which is cheaper than buying used on SB.

If OPs base currency is JPY than the USD point obviously doens't apply.

 

[halocline]

I am looking for a regulator set to use for side-mount but there are many brands and models for it, so advice or insight would be appreciated it. (might be used for technical in the future)

Most expensive to least expensive (from what I research so far)
1.) Apeks XTX50 - High standard, great quality breath well (what I am currently using but it's for single), however, it is the most expensive (not sure if I am that ready to invest in)
2.) DIve rite X1 - Heard that it is a common choice for the not-too-high or too-low quality regulator (mid-tier), but also haven't tried it as well
3.) HOG D3 - Heard that it is a similar design as the Apeks, but cheaper, and not as good quality as Apeks, but haven't tried it personally

At first, thinking of getting the HOG, but there is such a limited review, so any thought on it would be very useful.

If there is any regulator, I should look into, please let me know. Thank you!

All the regulators you listed will be fine, in fact the only thing IMO that is unique about SM regulators is that they should have an end port, at least the left one. They don't even have to match. A rotating turret is nice too. You didn't mention anything specific (that I remember, anyhow) about your set up, but the 'normal' technical set up would be a 7ft hose for the right, 24" for the left with a 90 elbow, two 6 or 9" HP hoses for the SPGs, and an inflator hose (usually 9"), and a drysuit hose if you're diving dry.

The end port is great for the inflator hose, the turret is nice for clean routing and deployment of the long hose. As a few people have mentioned, it's important to be able to get your reg serviced, whether that means bringing it to a tech (hopefully a good one) or learning to do it yourself. Since I learned to service my own regs decades ago, I have never bought a new regulator; in fact most of the regs I use, in caves, are 30-40 years old. Once you understand how these things work, you see that 'new' does not mean 'better'.

 

[berndo]

The end port is great for the inflator hose, the turret is nice for clean routing and deployment of the long hose.

Is it though? I route a longer inflator hose down and up to the inflator/dry suite valve. The short 5th port hoses tend to either bow out or have an impact on how the tank rides. IMHO that one of the things someone started and people just copy even though is doesn't make much sense.

 

[halocline]

Is it though? I route a longer inflator hose down and up to the inflator/dry suite valve. The short 5th port hoses tend to either bow out or have an impact on how the tank rides. IMHO that one of the things someone started and people just copy even though is doesn't make much sense.

You're talking the inflator hose, not the long hose part that you bolded, correct?

For the inflator hose, the trick is to get the right length. I use 9", but I've had women dive buddies that use 6" or even 4". Once you get the right length, it sits perfectly. But it takes some experimenting.

One thing I've noticed about this SM forum, people have a variety of set ups. It's not really standardized. I was taught SM as a cave course with pretty specific ideas about the set up. It works really well for me in the type of diving I do.

 

[Marie13]

I have both inflators coming off 5th ports when I dive OC. I’ve found it’s much cleaner than any other way.

 

[berndo]

Once you get the right length, it sits perfectly.

Yeah, I know, that's what people say.