When is it time to upgrade to a "better" reg?

[Jaydubya]

As long as a reg was doing the job for the diving I was doing I would only upgrade to a better reg when I can no longer get parts or service. I think you are better off spending the money on dive charters than dive gear.

 

[Rhone Man]

I think you are implying that "better" regulator means "higher performance" regulator?

The trouble with high performance regulators is that they require more intensive and regular servicing than entry level models. As well as costs, that introduces new risks if you leave them on the shelf unused for a long time, or don't keep up with the maintenance schedule.

A tough workhorse is less likely to throw you than a thoroughbred.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Regarding using the Titan for "deep" dives.... if I'm not mistaken, the Titan was one of the regulators Nuno Gomes used on the deeper portions of his record setting dive(s). He liked it.... and none of us are likely to reach those depths on scuba....

Of course, Helium was "in the mix", which reduces density.... but still....

So that should pretty much "put to bed" the notion that you need to "spend big" in order to get a regulator that will perform well...

Best wishes.

 

[rivers]

The titan is a great reg. I took it to 130 ft (multiple times), and had no issues. It's a great breather. I now own a set of hogs and have given my girlfriend my titan. If it wasn't a good reg, I would not have given it to her. I bought hogs because it was cheaper in the long run. Rather than installing a cold-water kit and my entire reg set dir-compliant (which would have required me buying a new back-up reg, brass and glass spg, and hoses), I bought the hog set.

 

[tadawson]

So do you consider something like a Titan reg as "going cheap"?

Not necessarily . . . my point is that to me, your regulator is not a place to compromise . . .

- Tim

 

[tadawson]

@tadawson: And how would you feel if I told you that a given $350 reg setup would be just as safe (with respect to performance, reliability, ease of tuning, ease of servicing, etc.) as a $1,000 top-of-the-line reg setup that had a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles?

Note that I said "best" and not "most expensive". It's always possible to pay too much for useless frills that just cause failures. It's also possible to spend too little and get crap . . . .

- Tim

 

[tadawson]

Glad to know you aren't my competition for SP109's on the used market. 40+ years old, and performing flawlessly! Likely last through my daughters lifetime too......

Nope . . . still diving the Poseidon I bought in 1979, and it's still in like-new condition! I did upgrade to a balanced 1st, but that's it . . . Breathes like a dream, and build like a tank . . . plastic? No thanks . . . I feel about this reg like you do yours - It'll likely outlive me . . . and perhaps my kids . . .

- Tim

 

[beanojones]

Not really.....especially if you have the LX 2nd stage.
High end regs have a better theoretical gas flow rate but I can't think of any brand name reg made today that won't supply a diver or two with gas down to the recreational limit.

The unbalanced piston first stages won't. I dive a mk2 all the time, but I can make the inflator sputter if I give a good solid inhale at 120 feet with a high flow second stage.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

That is why I'm replacing my ScubaPro with HOG. As well as my Oceanics. In the fall I'll be doing all the annuals on my regs and selling the Oceanics and ScubaPro's once those are rebuilt and tested.

 

[BDSC]

I'm interested in knowing at which point someone considers a higher-end reg.

When you have a lot of extra cash lying around and it seems to be burning a hole in your pocket. That's when you get an Atomic T2X. That's what I did and I don't know that I can honestly tell the difference between it and my old Scubapro. But I like being able to say that I own one to impress everyone.