whats the difference

[MinisterDblue]

So I'm in the market to buy a regulator. What is a good brand to buy? There's so many to choose from. Much info of why a brand is better than another would be helpful....

 

[Kunundrum]

there are many good brands out there, it's difficult to recommend something without knowing what kind of diving you do.

but with that said it's hard to go wrong with anything Aqualung, Scubapro or Atomic.

 

[DCBC]

It's like cars, no matter what you purchase, if you like it, you will become a supporter of that brand because you use it. There are many variables when selecting a regulator, some are dependent upon the depth, conditions and water temperature in-which you intend to use it.

Over the last 45 years I've used and owned a number of different regulators. Currently, I own a number of Apeks regulators. I routinely dive in extreme cold-water conditions and usually quite deep. An Apeks regulator has never let me down. Its delivered a high volume of gas and has never frozen on me. My occupation has taken me to various locations around the world and I have never had difficulty acquiring parts. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

 

[MinisterDblue]

I'm in Arkansas and dive the local lakes and diving the oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. I've just noticed that I could spend $1000 with my local dive shop or go on line and buy from some of the popular dive.com sites for about $750. The local dive shop won't work on or mess with gear that has not been bought through them, there are other dive shops about an hour north that are more accomadating. I've heard one instructor and a dive master agree that Zeagle were "crap". So I just wanted to buy quality gear not something that was going to be hard to work with.

 

[elan]

I've heard one instructor and a dive master agree that Zeagle were "crap".

Well the owner of the LDS I go to tell the same thing every time we start the conversation on the regs. I guess part of that is because he sells Aqualung Mares, and Scuba Pro Everything other than Apeks, Aqualung, Mares and SP is crap However my first reg was Zeagle FHVI and 2 years later I own 4 of them and every time I dive I see that the guy is completely wrong. Never had any problems with them. The technician from the same shop says they are great and easy to service.

 

[awakefie]

I use zeagle regulators on my pony bottles and have never had any issues. They are also easy to get service parts for. I also have Mares regulators which are a nightmare to find parts for if you like to service your own regs. Mares doesn't like you to service their gear unless your a Mares authorized dealer. I probably won't ever buy another Mares because of that restriction. Though otherwise I am happy with my reg.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

.... The local dive shop won't work on or mess with gear that has not been bought through them, there are other dive shops about an hour north that are more accomadating. I've heard one instructor and a dive master agree that Zeagle were "crap". So I just wanted to buy quality gear not something that was going to be hard to work with.

When I hear an instructor say any current regulator from any reputable manufacturer is "crap", I immediately think that either:

1.) The instructor has a purely financial incentive to say something that is patently false, or

2.) The instructor really has no business giving advice on regulators, until they gain enough actual experience to do so....

Zeagle makes good, high quality regs.... And if you research the history of the relationship between Zeagle and Apeks, you'll quickly understand why they are so close in design... in fact, many folks say that Zeagle is to Apeks what Atomic is to Scubapro (refinement/advance on the original design)

Best wishes.

 

[Fishpie]

Here's 4 suggestions to get you started.
All are balanced diaphragm 1st stages with balanced 2nd's and have the performance potential of regulators that cost twice as much.
HOG D1
Apeks XTX 20
AquaLung (Micron or Titan) LX
Zeagle Envoy

 

[SeaHound]

Im surprised no one has mentioned Atomic. I own their Z2 basis and it is one of the smoothest regs I have ever used.

 

[Jimmer]

I've heard one instructor and a dive master agree that Zeagle were "crap". So I just wanted to buy quality gear not something that was going to be hard to work with.

I've been diving for 16 or 17 years now, and I have heard someone proclaim that virtually every brand is crap at one time or another.

In my personal experience, the Zeagles have been the best performing, most reliable regs I've ever used.

Most of the time, if someone says "that's crap" they usually don't have a good reason for it, and I can't be bothered listening to them. Now if they actually have a reason and experience to support their opinion, I'd be all ears, but those type of people don't often go around proclaiming to the world that something is total crap.