Apeks regs

Paulicarp · Post by **Paulicarp** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:27 pm

Who here uses Apeks regs? Which model? Why do you like it? Is there anything you don't like about it?

Is it true that they are more easily serviced/repaired than some of the other brands?

thanks!

--Pauli

dsteding · Post by **dsteding** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:30 pm

I do. I have:

DS4s and DST first stages on my deco/stage bottles (with XTX50 or TX100 seconds).

XTX200 first/seconds on my backgas.

and, a FST first stage with yoke on it as my girlfriend's single tank reg. Also have an XTX40, and an ATX50 that is in bits and pieces.

Love all of them--the TX100 is my best breather, but that may be because Dan serviced that one. They've all be super reliable and I hear they are relatively easy to service, but I haven't gone there because I get free parts on most of them--so service is cheap.

BDub · Post by **BDub** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:53 pm

I do.

I have 5 sets of TX50/DS4's:

Single tank
Doubles backgas
Stage
50% deco bottle

I'd prefer a DST for my stage and deco regs, simply due to the routing, but the DS4s are fine.

Whenever I buy another reg, it'll be another Apeks. I do have a couple of Scubapros, and they breathe well, but they're finicky and I keep having problems with the high pressure seats, which I've been told isn't uncommon. They breathe great when they're working though.

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:55 pm

Paulicarp wrote:Who here uses Apeks regs? Which model? Why do you like it? Is there anything you don't like about it?

i can't speak to how easily they're repaired but...

my first set were the atx100s, and i loved them. the only reason i stopped using them is because i got a great deal on a DST 1st stage with two XTX50 second stages. they are fantastic regs too.

all the apeks regs i've tried breathe really well, and most well suited for cold water diving.

scottsax · Post by **scottsax** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:57 pm

spatman wrote:
Paulicarp wrote:Who here uses Apeks regs? Which model? Why do you like it? Is there anything you don't like about it?
i can't speak to how easily they're repaired but...

my first set were the atx100s, and i loved them. the only reason i stopped using them is because i got a great deal on a DST 1st stage with two XTX50 second stages. they are fantastic regs too.

all the apeks regs i've tried breathe really well, and most well suited for cold water diving.

As the proud papa of Spatman's ATX100s, LOVE them!!! Compared with my previous regs (Oceanic,) they feel like they deliver air, as opposed to me pulling air, if that makes sense.

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:06 pm

scottsax wrote:As the proud papa of Spatman's ATX100s, LOVE them!!!

yeah, that was a wild and wacky night. i'm never drinking tequila with you again.

scottsax · Post by **scottsax** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:08 pm

spatman wrote:
scottsax wrote:As the proud papa of Spatman's ATX100s, LOVE them!!!
yeah, that was a wild and wacky night. i'm never drinking tequila with you again.

You promised you wouldn't bring that up!

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:12 pm

scottsax wrote:
spatman wrote:
scottsax wrote:As the proud papa of Spatman's ATX100s, LOVE them!!!
yeah, that was a wild and wacky night. i'm never drinking tequila with you again.

You promised you wouldn't bring that up!

well, you had to go and mention our bastard regulators in public!

defied · Post by **defied** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:12 pm

I've got 4 DS4's, and TX50's. Haven't even used them yet. I've got to send them in to get rebuilt. I will let you know costs, etc. I've heard it's around $60 for parts and labor per reg.

D(B)

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:28 pm

My buddies in LA have never ending problems with their Apeks deco regs, I think they are getting water in them when they depressurize. And general crappy service down there. I love my scubapros pistons, they seem quite tolerant of water. I recently bought a used DST with an Oceanic 2nd and it seems fine. Although I use it as a bottom stage reg so I don't know how long its going to like that.

Paulicarp · Post by **Paulicarp** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:34 pm

has anyone here compared the DST and the TEK3 first stages?

defied · Post by **defied** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:40 pm

CaptnJack wrote:My buddies in LA have never ending problems with their Apeks deco regs, I think they are getting water in them when they depressurize. And general crappy service down there. I love my scubapros pistons, they seem quite tolerant of water. I recently bought a used DST with an Oceanic 2nd and it seems fine. Although I use it as a bottom stage reg so I don't know how long its going to like that.

Do your buddies regs not have the environmental seals?

D(B)

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:58 pm

defied wrote:
CaptnJack wrote:My buddies in LA have never ending problems with their Apeks deco regs, I think they are getting water in them when they depressurize. And general crappy service down there. I love my scubapros pistons, they seem quite tolerant of water. I recently bought a used DST with an Oceanic 2nd and it seems fine. Although I use it as a bottom stage reg so I don't know how long its going to like that.
Do your buddies regs not have the environmental seals?

D(B)

All sealed. The water gets in the DIN end when its stowed.

defied · Post by **defied** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:58 pm

Ah.. suckage... I hope mine don't do that. *crosses fingers*

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:03 pm

Paulicarp wrote:has anyone here compared the DST and the TEK3 first stages?

What are you looking for?

The DST is a turret while Tek3 has no turrent and is specific for doubles. The DST is less than ideal for doubles (DST4 being much better at keeping your hoses in place) while the Tek3 is less than ideal for deco bottles - the right post reg doesn't even have a HP port on it. The left post reg would have your hoses on the inside of your boltsnaps (assuming you slung the bottle on the left).

Didn't you just get certified??

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:05 pm

defied wrote:Ah.. suckage... I hope mine don't do that. *crosses fingers*

With any reg, try your best to keep them pressurized. Its not really possible with 3 bottles tho since one will be somewhere not on your side (leash or hip clipped). Those guys are hard on gear so I don't put too much stock in that anyway, I just got a DST myself.

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:15 pm

Paulicarp wrote:has anyone here compared the DST and the TEK3 first stages?

The Tec3 is set up especially for routing on doubles. I think you'd be better served with the DST, or a DS4 if you can find one. I have a franken reg, Salvo SR1 1st stage (super simple never given me any real problems as long as I actually get the DIN post tight.) An old US Divers unbalanced as my second stage, an Apex XTX40 as my primary. I love the XTX, never given me any trouble, but then again, neither has the US divers. The Apeks definitely breathes nicer.

Dmitchell · Post by **Dmitchell** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:20 pm

We sell and service both and my service tech (AKA my wife) says that Apeks are much easier to service than Scubapro and she's been doing Servicing Scubapro for over 10 years.

I'm currently switching all my Scubapro for Apeks for the time being, just to use something else that I sell. I've had all Scubapro for years.

I currently have the Tek3 Set for doubles. I got one of the first sets when they came out a couple years back. They breathe great, I just rarely dive them since I got the rebreather about the same time. I'm getting ready to buy Apeks for singles to replace my MK25/S600 then I'm buying 4 sets for stages as soon as I line out all the $$$.

My Scubapro's have never failed me in 20 years but I thought that for grins, I'd try something else.

Dave

Paulicarp · Post by **Paulicarp** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:31 pm

CaptnJack wrote:
What are you looking for?

The DST is a turret while Tek3 has no turrent and is specific for doubles. The DST is less than ideal for doubles (DST4 being much better at keeping your hoses in place) while the Tek3 is less than ideal for deco bottles - the right post reg doesn't even have a HP port on it. The left post reg would have your hoses on the inside of your boltsnaps (assuming you slung the bottle on the left).

Didn't you just get certified??

good question: My thought was that if I buy two XTX50 for primary and octo, I might as well get the TEK3 kit for only a few bucks more and use the left post reg for now on a single, and I'd have the right post reg on deck for when I progress to the point that I'm ready to start diving doubles.

--P

Romer Treece · Post by **Romer Treece** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:34 pm

From a service techs standpoint,
I love Apeks regulators, for how they breathe and how they are serviced. I own Scubapro, and I thought nothing could beat them as far as breathability, but the Apeks sure do have smoother cracking than the Scubapro.
Scubapro also have A LOT of different regs, and almost every one have their own DIFFERENT kit to service them. Apeks have one kit, one for the first stage and one for the second, so you won't have a problem of not finding kits due to the manufacturer discontinuing kits to obsolete regulators.
Both brands are top notch, but Apeks wins by a nose IMO.

Dan

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:37 pm

The hose routing (all out one side) Isn't going to be very good for singles I would think.......

Paul, I really wouldn't buy ANY gear (except the OW "personal" gear) before OW class. And even then, try renting and diving a few different setups. I'll bet if you asked nicely there's someone around here who would show you a BP/W setup if you can't rent one. Many people have closets with gear purchased pre-OW (and sometimes just post-OW) that is collecting dust. I do.

airsix · Post by **airsix** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:11 pm

Another Apeks diver here. I agree with what has been said so-far so I won't repeat. But I'll add that another great thing about them is cold-water performance. I don't mean that tepid Puget Sound water. I mean freezing water. On the local winter dives in my neighborhood we're in 32F-36F water most of December-March. On the local club dives in those conditions I am always sure to buddy up with someone with Apeks regs because usually about half of the other divers will be fighting free-flows right from the start.

-Ben

Ken G · Post by **Ken G** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:29 pm

Paulicarp wrote:Who here uses Apeks regs? Which model? Why do you like it? Is there anything you don't like about it?

Is it true that they are more easily serviced/repaired than some of the other brands?

thanks!

--Pauli

I do as well. Have 4 sets. Two for back gas and two for deco. All XTX50/DS4 combo's. I like the price, the ease of breathing, ease of servicing, and the ease of obtaining service kits. Great regs IMO.

Pez7378 · Post by **Pez7378** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:31 pm

Well, I guess Dan said it all. If only I could get him to teach me to service my own Apeks regs!

Joshua Smith · Post by **Joshua Smith** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:32 pm

Another Apeks fan, here- they're awesome regs. Of course, there are a lot of awesome regs out there, these days. I own one Scubapro, 1 Atomic, and one Apeks. They all breathe really sweet, even below 200'. Never had a problem with any of them.

On another note- I just noticed that this thread was in the Technical Diving section- I think it probably belongs over in Gear Central. I'm going to move it. (sure hope I don't delete all the posts- these here websites sure are tricky to run!!!)

Northwest Dive Club

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