what to buy..??

[Scubasarah81]

I have been using a set of Mares regs, i bought them used and i think they are pretty ancient. They are heavy as hell and i am ready to upgrade, but i'm on a budget........

I want something that is lightweight and breathes dry. My regs have always breathed a bit wet... what would you recommend that is budget friendly yet decent quality???

all educated opinions welcomed... thanks

 

[Diver0001]

Is an aqualung Titan in your budget range?

R..

 

[Scubasarah81]

hm, i just found one for less than < $300..... so yeah, what do you like about that particular reg?

 

[Diver0001]

I may be somewhat biased but I like the Titan a lot. I think it's one of the best regulators out there. It's a good performer at all recreational depths, the Aqualung 2nd stages are balanced and breathe dry in my experience and in terms of maintenance the Titan is well engineered and you can count on it having a long life in any conditions you want to dive in, including extreme cold.

But like I said I'm biased. In 26 years of diving I've tried one regulator that wasn't an aqualung and that cured me. All of the regulators I have now (I have 5) are Aqualungs. I'm sure other people will respond with equally glowing reports of other regs that will suit your requirements but you really can't go wrong with the Titan.

R..

 

[Scubasarah81]

Well thank you for the suggestion! I appreciate it I have read many good things about Aqualung in Scuba Magazine. My Mares were a gift, so this is my first reg shopping experience. I feel pretty clueless!

Thanks again!

 

[Diver0001]

I feel pretty clueless!

That's an easy feeling to get.

In fact hardly anyone has experience with everything. You'll always see two kinds of responses in threads about gear. People who like the things they own and people who don't like the things they don't own.

In some cases you'll even see people with highly negative opinions about things they've never even used... LOL. Oh well. That's the internet for you.

R..

 

[Straegen]

I have pool experience with the Titan and would second the thumbs up its lightweight. If you want to lighten it a bit more go with miflex. Like my Atomic B2 better, but different price level.

 

[BB1]

Aqualung make some fine products that will serve you well however their business practices are objectionable imho.

Consider looking outside the box: Edge products have a special on at the moment for a full reg set including a reg bag for $399 Edge Gear Epic Regulator Set w/Octopus - Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL

I personally went for their other line and bought HOG regs, they aren't the lightest around but not heavy so's you'd notice at all and it breathes so sweetly. I even tried going fully inverted yesterday to see if they'd breathe wet and they were dry as a bone!!

 

[Odhar]

Buying a low end Reg is like going to McDonald's and asking the Clown to do a brake job on your car..... It is cheaper than getting a real mechanic to do it and it will probably work.

The most important piece of Equipment I dive is my Regs. I use a Sherwood Maximus on my primary tank and a Sherwood Oasis on my pony.

Take some time save your money and get a good reg set... Not one you have to settle for because - at this exact moment in time you can not afford a higher end one- Skimp a little, put off buying some stuff you really do not need and in a few months you can walk out with your dream Reg.

Best Regulator Made is Sherwood, but you probably have your own I idea of Best...

Safe Diving,

 

[c5diver]

what mares regs do you have? i have the carbon wife has the proton they are dry at least ours are. when you say they are wet do you taste salt water when ocean diving?

i picked up a set of scubapro s600's mk17 rebuilt for under 700