First Set of Regs

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by Garf

Mk25s are the optimal setup, but DS4s are just fine. I've been using a set for a couple of years - yes the hoses do wear more due to having to have a "bend" in them, but it's not really that much of a drama.

Either DS4s or Mk25s would be great for a twinset.

I'm really not convinced by the issue of 'wear' in hoses caused by DS4s. I've been using the same hoses - Halcyon, for the record - for four years now and they're still going strong with no sign of damage. I inspect my hoses on a regular basis and they're absolutely fine - even the 6" HP hoses I use on my stage and deco bottles are copying admireably considering they've been bent backwards on themselves all that time!

Sure, Mk25s are the 'optimal' 1st stage but they're also *twice* the price of a DS4. For my money, I'd rather buy the DS4s and pocket for change...

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Bardo

I'm really not convinced by the issue of 'wear' in hoses caused by DS4s. I've been using the same hoses - Halcyon, for the record - for four years now and they're still going strong with no sign of damage. I inspect my hoses on a regular basis and they're absolutely fine - even the 6" HP hoses I use on my stage and deco bottles are copying admireably considering they've been bent backwards on themselves all that time!

Sure, Mk25s are the 'optimal' 1st stage but they're also *twice* the price of a DS4. For my money, I'd rather buy the DS4s and pocket for change...

Jason,

Do you "twist" your DS4 first stages to make more room for your head to get on to the manifold? If you leave them straight, I think the tension issue is not so great so hoses don't wear but it does give the problem with being able to get your head back on the manifold though.

It's why I suggested the OP had a look at a set first and decided what they prefered. then went and bought MK25s

Mal

[tonhil]

I see that DS4s are available for £74. How much can you get Mk25s for these days?

[Woz]

XTX 200 / XTX 40 reg set for £299 these days. Dead cheap.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by tonhil

I see that DS4s are available for £74. How much can you get Mk25s for these days?

In a word - expensive. I recently costed up a mk25 for my singles rig and Scubapro were still asking £195 for the first stage only! That's why I snapped up one of the mk25 + G250HP bundles that Deepblue were selling off recently as it allowed me to reduce the price of the mk25 by selling on the G250HP. If you're in the market for a set of Scubapros then you won't go far wrong with two sets of these...

http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=13992

They will cost you about £100 more than the equivelent set of Apeks regs but - as Mal and others have said - the mk25s do route better.