Gear Spotlight
Apeks XTX50
Founded in England in 1974, the engineering geniuses at Apeks have been consistently turning out some of the best-built, easiest breathing, and competitively-priced regulators in the world for decades. Because of their precise, bulletproof construction and ease of breathing, Apeks regs have long been a favorite of technical divers and have also become a top choice of “in the know” recreational divers.
What sets the Apeks XTX50 apart from the competition? Read on!
- Overbalancing – There are a few different types of regulator first stages: unbalanced piston, balanced piston or diaphragm, and overbalanced diaphragm. Your Dive Shop does not stock, rent, or sell (unless specifically requested) unbalanced first stages because they are harder to breathe at depth and when tank pressures get low. Balanced piston and diaphragm first stage regulators are the most common and popular due to their consistency of breathing performance at any depth and tank pressure. Overbalanced diaphragm first stages (used almost exclusively by Apeks) increase the hose pressure going to the second stage at a greater rate than the ambient pressure of the water, making them EASIER to breathe the deeper you go. In fact, the Aqualung Legend, long know as one of the easiest-breathing regs on earth, is based on Apeks overbalancing technology and first appeared in 2007, one year after Aqualung bought Apeks!
- The Best For Less – But the XTX50 isn’t even the “top of the line” in Apeks’ lineup, you say? No, there are a few models “above” the XTX50, those being the XTX200, XTX Tungsten (an XTX200 with PVD coating instead of chrome), MTX-R, and MTX-RC. However, the XTX50 offers the exact same performance, just with fewer shiny bits, at a considerably lower price. The XTX50 even has a swivel turret to aid in comfort and better hose routing that the 200 and Tungsten don’t offer. Moreover, the Apeks XTX50 breathes easier than the MTX line since those are slightly detuned from the factory to avoid freeflow in icy cold water.
- More Features – The Apeks XTX line features Diver Changeable Exhaust (DCE), allowing you to switch between wide and narrow exhaust tees in seconds to fit your diving style. Because of the XTX50’s swivel turret, you can also add a 5th low-pressure port on the end, allowing for even more hose routing options for sidemount and doubles divers. It comes standard with a braided flex LP hose and is available in either yoke or DIN fittings.
Click the image for a closer look!
- A Healthier Regulator? – Apeks is the only manufacturer we know of who infuses all the second stage plastic parts with a special additive that actually kills MRSA and a host of other airborne contagions. Breathe easy!
- More Apeks XTX50 Features At A Glance –
- Environmentally-sealed first stage for diving in ANY environment
- Separate work of breathing and Venturi controls on the second stage for precise control of breathing resistance and freeflow control
- Reversible second stage, allowing for either right or left hand use
- Standard Comfo-bite mouthpiece, maybe the most comfortable in the diving world
- Parts For Life program. Keep your Apeks XTX50 in warranty by having it serviced by an authorized dealer (yes, we are) and never pay for service parts for the life of the regulator. That’s hundreds of dollars of savings!
Bottom Line: Add it all up (super easy breathing at any depth or tank pressure, quality construction, Parts For Life, and more), and the Apeks XTX50 is mighty hard to beat at any price. Once you find out it retails at only $649, it’s almost impossible.
Want to know just how tough Apeks regulators are? Check out this video of one that was lost in freezing Norwegian waters for 3 years and still performed perfectly!
Get even more info at apeks.com.