ScubaLab: Regulators - July 2010 Expanded Data: Ergo Test Chart
| Most Important | Moderately Important | Convenience Elements | |||||
| Mfg/Model | Ease of Breathing | Different Positions | Dives Dry | Bubble Interference | Clearing Blow/Purge | Comfort | Adjustments |
| OVER $500 | |||||||
| Apeks Flight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Cressi MC9 Balanced | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Oceanic Delta 4.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Oceanic Neo | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Scubapro MK25/S600 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Zeagle Flathead 7 / Flathead LT | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| UNDER $500 | |||||||
| Aqua Lung Titan | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Cressi MC5 Steel | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Sherwood Brut | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | N/A |
| Subgear Aruba | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | N/A |
| Subgear Bonaire | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Subgear Cayman | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
REG TESTING: IN THE WATER
MOST IMPORTANT: EASE OF BREATHING. How well does the regulator deliver air when the diver is propelling himself forward in the standard swimming position? DIFFERENT POSITIONS How does the regulator breathe in a head-down or face-up position? DIVES DRY During normal swimming and when in odd positions, is regulator a dry breather? Note: “dives dry” in swimming position and “dives dry” in alternate positions are scored separately, then combined and averaged for chart score. MODERATELY IMPORTANT: BUBBLE INTERFERENCE Taking into account that all regulators have bubble interference to a certain degree, when looking down, straight ahead, up at a 45-degree angle and straight up, do the bubbles rise into the diver’s field of view at an average rate, less than average or more than average? EASE OF CLEARING How difficult is it to find and use the purge? How dry is it after being cleared. How forceful is the purge? How much force is required to clear the regulator by exhaling? Note: purge by blowing and purge by pressing purge cover are scored separately, then combined and averaged for chart score. CONVENIENCE ELEMENTS: COMFORT How comfortable is the mouthpiece? Hose length and stiffness? Buoyancy of the second stage? How does the second stage feel in the mouth? ADJUSTMENTS If the regulator has diver-controlled adjustments, how easy are they to find, grip and turn? Do they do their job in a reasonable manner?
| Most Important | Moderately Important | Convenience Elements | |||||
| Mfg/Model | Ease of Breathing | Different Positions | Dives Dry | Bubble Interference | Clearing Blow/Purge | Comfort | Adjustments |
| OVER $500 | |||||||
| Apeks Flight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Cressi MC9 Balanced | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Oceanic Delta 4.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Oceanic Neo | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Scubapro MK25/S600 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Zeagle Flathead 7 / Flathead LT | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| UNDER $500 | |||||||
| Aqua Lung Titan | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Cressi MC5 Steel | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Sherwood Brut | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | N/A |
| Subgear Aruba | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | N/A |
| Subgear Bonaire | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Subgear Cayman | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
REG TESTING: IN THE WATER
MOST IMPORTANT: EASE OF BREATHING. How well does the regulator deliver air when the diver is propelling himself forward in the standard swimming position? DIFFERENT POSITIONS How does the regulator breathe in a head-down or face-up position? DIVES DRY During normal swimming and when in odd positions, is regulator a dry breather? Note: “dives dry” in swimming position and “dives dry” in alternate positions are scored separately, then combined and averaged for chart score. MODERATELY IMPORTANT: BUBBLE INTERFERENCE Taking into account that all regulators have bubble interference to a certain degree, when looking down, straight ahead, up at a 45-degree angle and straight up, do the bubbles rise into the diver’s field of view at an average rate, less than average or more than average? EASE OF CLEARING How difficult is it to find and use the purge? How dry is it after being cleared. How forceful is the purge? How much force is required to clear the regulator by exhaling? Note: purge by blowing and purge by pressing purge cover are scored separately, then combined and averaged for chart score. CONVENIENCE ELEMENTS: COMFORT How comfortable is the mouthpiece? Hose length and stiffness? Buoyancy of the second stage? How does the second stage feel in the mouth? ADJUSTMENTS If the regulator has diver-controlled adjustments, how easy are they to find, grip and turn? Do they do their job in a reasonable manner?
