Ultra-compact regulator for travel - Mares Vs Aqualung

[bmmills]

Hi all

I'm choosing between 2 regulator sets with the aim of having something good quality but very light and compact as most of my diving is on travels.

My shortlist is:

• Mares SXS 62x
• Aqualung Helix Compact Pro

While 80% of my use will be recreational and warm waters (above 16C/60F) I do want something that would not have any issues in colder waters (7C/45F) for the few times a year I dive here in Nova Scotia or colder places like Santa Catalina or Monterey.

Have any of you used either setup and what do you think of them? Or, am I ignoring another small/lightweight option that I should be considering?

Thanks!

 

[Mobulai]

I am only referring to tge 1st stages

I haven’t used either, but I’m familiar with their close cousin of the AL Helix pro, the core supreme; used it as a 50% o2 deco reg and works quite nicely

The 62 fro Mares is not sealed (I might be mistaken) unlike the core — but it’s mad tiny, and I know a friend who uses it on the daily to teach (it’s also his deco 50% reg)

The 2nds: don’t know squat,
the supreme core is alright (but not in use currently); has no spring adjustment knob (can be retro fitted); it also features a diaphragm retainer that keeps it from flapping with current and stuff- like the s600 from SP and others

I think the sxs is a side exhaust— that sums all my knowledge of it

 

[Zef]

My primary setup is a Mares MR22 1st stage with Abyss 2nd stage; we have a few of these in our family arsenal. We also have an Aqualung Core which is the same exact regulator (1st and 2nd stages) as the Helix with the only difference being the badging and the price tag.

Both the MR22 and the Core work flawlessly and normally I would say you would be fine with either product...but not withstanding their performance, at this point in time, I would definitly shy towards Mares over Aqualung given the financial issues Aqualung has been experiencing and the resultant impact on product, spare parts, and service kit availability.

The only reason, right now, to choose Aqualung over Mares, would be if you did not have a Mares dealer or a shop that could otherwise service Mares close to your vicinity, but an Aqualung shop was available.


On the otherhand, I think regset weight is an overblown issue, even for travel, as most traveling divers will bring their reg set and divecomputer in their carry-on baggage....a handful of grams and a couple of centimeters in a carry-on bag is not really an issue and if you can think past it, you will have a much wider spectrum of regulators to choose from to satisfy your performance and/or budgetary needs.

Hope that helps.

-Z

 

[BoltSnap]

Scubapro the new updated MK17 Evo II with G260 second. Forget everything else.

 

[scubadada]

Scubapro MK17/C370

 

[BoltSnap]

Scubapro MK17/C370

He mentioned something about diving in 7C degree water, the c370 my not be suitable for that temp.

 

[Landau]

Not about these regs in particular, but I find the bulkiest items to pack are the hoses. You could probably save a bunch of space by disassembling the regs before travel - though the most I’ve ever done is take off my dry suit inflator hose and replace with a plug before heading to warmer waters.

And for saving weight: an Atomic titanium reg would be your (expensive) friend.

 

[landphil]

I run a Mares SXS as my necklace octo (with Scubapro 1st and primary), which is super nice since it’s tiny and flat and keeps out of the way. And since it’s a necklace, I do breathe it occasionally either to practice switching to my 2nd, or out of laziness when I need to drop down for a bit and have already clipped off my primary.

But I would never want to do an entire dive on the SXS. I don’t think there’s any amount of engineering that can make that tiny SXS diaphragm breathe as comfortably as a larger diaphragm. That’s probably why all seconds end up about the same size, for the biggest diaphragm you can get without hanging a hubcap off your mouth

 

[Scuba_Sonya]

It's great that you're considering quality and portability for your diving trips. Both the Mares SXS 62x and the Aqualung Helix Compact Pro are excellent choices