Which Apeks Regulator to buy

The Apeks XL4 Regulator range, which were introduced in 2017, has a lot of great features and is probably the best all-rounder of all their regulators. It’s based on Apeks’ trusty DS4 first stage but with improved cold-water resistance provided by the over-moulded end cap.

The really nifty bit is the second stage which is compact and lightweight whilst still providing an excellent breathe. Besides colour (the XL4+ is white) the only difference between the two regulators in the range is that the XL4+ has two high pressure ports whilst the XL4 has only one.

This is handy if you intend to run an SPG and a transmitter off the same reg but otherwise performance is identical. The XL4 is also very light, weighing in at under a kilo for a DIN first and second stage. If you want a modern regulator that you can use for all applications with a great price tag too, then the XL4 is hard to beat.

Isn’t MTX the military one? Well sort of. MTX was initially born from a brief to produce a regulator that would pass the Navy Experimental Diving Unit test (NEDU) which is a bonkers test for regulators where they must perform in 0.3 deg C of water at 60m with a massive flow rate. You can see a video of the MTX 1st stage in action on the test here. As part of this project the MTX-R was released to the market and Apeks now have two regulators in the range, the MTX-R and the MTX-RC.

M stands for ‘military’ and the R stands for ‘recreational’ (the ‘TX’ part of the regs, means ‘tec extreme’)! So, what’s the difference? The C on MTX-RC stands for ‘control’ which in this case means a venturi switch and breathing control.

Which one should you go for then? Well the MTX-R is essentially the brute of the range, technician set not to free-flow, it has heat sinks pretty much everywhere and a recessed purge button reducing the chance of accidentally knocking it open. This is the reg that will withstand anything you throw at it. As a result, it’s popular with tec divers, particularly sidemount divers, some of whom like the lack of twiddly knobs when switching regulators. If you’re going to be doing lots of cold-water diving or just like the idea of indestructible then the MTX-R is for you.

The addition of the MTX-RC to the range now gives you the  the cold water performance of the standard MTX-R, when all the breathing controls are dialled in, but also gives you the option to lighten up the breathe for those occasions when you’re swimming around in some nice, warm blue water. The MTX-RC is the top end reg of the range, it looks fantastic too and if you’ve got the cash then the MTX-RC is basically the only regulator you’ll ever need to own as it will let you do anything you decide to do in your diving career.

The Apeks XTX Regulator range has been the mainstay of the Apeks range for some time now and comprises a number of different configurations. The whole range is cold water rated and in terms of performance is relatively similar. There are a few key differences to help you decide which one is right for you:

• XTX40: This regulator only has a venturi switch on the second stage. It is available on the DST first stage which has a swivel turret which gives more options when hose routing or the DS4 which has fixed port positions.
• XTX50: In addition to the venturi this regulator has a breathing control knob. It will almost exclusively be available with the DST first stage.
• XTX200: All the features of the XTX50 but has a forged 1st stage which has improved port routing.
• Tungsten: An XTX200 which has a tungsten coating giving it an incredibly durable finish.

Apeks manufacture a choice of two matching octopuses. The XTX40 octopus has a venturi switch whilst the XTX50 octopus has the breathing control too, most divers tend to opt for the simpler XTX40 octopus.

Essentially your choice here comes down to budget and whether you want to be able to adjust the breathing controls. If you do want adjustability, then the XTX50 is for you and if you want that with a bit of bling then XTX200 regulator is the way to go.