filmguy123
Contributor
Ok, so it's a bit different and less straight forward when it comes to navigating best buys on the USED market vs advice for just what to snag NEW.
I will be diving lots of cold water in the PNW, but also lots of tropic water on my dive trips so I want to purchase with both equally in mind.
For my first kit (I am new to diving) I'd like to get setup with something great, versatile, and long lasting that will set me up for a while to come and allow me to upgrade components as needed and as I progress.
What would be your ideal used gear shopping list (top picks used in each category and what you'd expect/target for price on each?)
To get best bang for buck, I've been advised to buy used gear (but if certain components are best off going used, do let me know and I can mix and match between new and used).
MY BUDGET: N/A... sort of. I'll have a budget when I have a bill. I'm far from rich (I am shopping used after all!) but I'm flexible in budget... "best bang for buck" will give me my baseline to plan for, and I can adjust any individual components as needed.
I currently have an offer to spend $200 to buy a BC, regulator, safe second, octo, and SPG gauge setup. Good quality stuff, trusted source. However, it's Beuchat - which is hard to service, and it needs a service right now to be safe, AND while it has a compass + air gauge that are great and included, the depth gauge doesn't work so it needs a new depth gauge installed into the rubber casing. So I'm debating if that's the best bang for buck for me. I think by the time I got some spare parts, serving, and a depth gauge it would end up closer to a $400 investment. The gear had a full rebuild in 2012 (great!), but it was originally manufactured around 1999-2001 and was used for years as rental gear before my friend bought it at a great used price. It was very nice Beuchat gear though!
With that said, I would love some help on what specifically to look for and what I might expect to pay as a fair/going rate on the said used item.
Feel free to sell me on either, but I am currently leaning towards building a BP/W kit as my first setup VS a BC jacket. I know that can be a heated topic so perhaps just give your recommendation and reasoning if you would recommend a BC jacket instead. I am open to either.
Not asking for specific links or listings, just used buying advice for what to look for to maximize bang for buck and snag a great kit (and also anything to avoid!)
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Here's a sort of crude sample list:
Anything else?
Again: What would be your ideal used gear shopping list (top picks used in each category and what you'd expect/target for price on each?)
Thanks! Appreciate the advice on navigating the used market.
I will be diving lots of cold water in the PNW, but also lots of tropic water on my dive trips so I want to purchase with both equally in mind.
For my first kit (I am new to diving) I'd like to get setup with something great, versatile, and long lasting that will set me up for a while to come and allow me to upgrade components as needed and as I progress.
What would be your ideal used gear shopping list (top picks used in each category and what you'd expect/target for price on each?)
To get best bang for buck, I've been advised to buy used gear (but if certain components are best off going used, do let me know and I can mix and match between new and used).
MY BUDGET: N/A... sort of. I'll have a budget when I have a bill. I'm far from rich (I am shopping used after all!) but I'm flexible in budget... "best bang for buck" will give me my baseline to plan for, and I can adjust any individual components as needed.
I currently have an offer to spend $200 to buy a BC, regulator, safe second, octo, and SPG gauge setup. Good quality stuff, trusted source. However, it's Beuchat - which is hard to service, and it needs a service right now to be safe, AND while it has a compass + air gauge that are great and included, the depth gauge doesn't work so it needs a new depth gauge installed into the rubber casing. So I'm debating if that's the best bang for buck for me. I think by the time I got some spare parts, serving, and a depth gauge it would end up closer to a $400 investment. The gear had a full rebuild in 2012 (great!), but it was originally manufactured around 1999-2001 and was used for years as rental gear before my friend bought it at a great used price. It was very nice Beuchat gear though!
With that said, I would love some help on what specifically to look for and what I might expect to pay as a fair/going rate on the said used item.
Feel free to sell me on either, but I am currently leaning towards building a BP/W kit as my first setup VS a BC jacket. I know that can be a heated topic so perhaps just give your recommendation and reasoning if you would recommend a BC jacket instead. I am open to either.
Not asking for specific links or listings, just used buying advice for what to look for to maximize bang for buck and snag a great kit (and also anything to avoid!)
*************************************************************************
Here's a sort of crude sample list:
- Primary Regulator - Brand/Models to look for used + expected price? (what's the sweet spot in the used gear world, or if there are 2 key options at 2 price points here, perhaps give me both IE a good used reg for $150 and a *great* used reg for $275)
- First stage recommendations? how much used?
- Safe Second (or ideally a dual copy of my primary?)
- SPG + Compass - Air Pressure gauge, depth gauge, compass - what's a good pick here used, and what should I anticipate used cost at?
- BP/W (or BC Jacket) - and what to expect for costs?
- Used wing recommendation?
- Used BP - should I pickup 2 - an AL and a Steel? I plan to dive both cold and tropic water. Anything to watch out for?
- Weights? I see colored weights, soft weights, hard weights... aye! Plus stuff for integrated setup and weight belt, etc. Not sure what to look for here, what to avoid, and why? Also, is $2/pound used about right?
- How much is reasonable to pay for all this used? Any general used advice here?
- Wetsuit Additions -- I currently have a nice 5/4mm wetsuit and a 2mm long sleeve wetsuit top to layer. This should do well for me in Hawaii or something, yes? But I hear a 3mm shortie + some additional vests/hoods, etc. could be good to add into the mix for my tropic vacations? I am happy to rent but since I already own a couple key things already, if there's anything here I could add to flesh out my wetsuit kit for not to much more coin, then I could avoid renting when on vacation. I also know they have the 7mm wetsuits for use here in PNW but about that...
- Great Drysuit - I don't think I will want to dive in a wetsuit here in PNW even though I know its possible, so I think wetsuit stuff would just be for warmer water vacation diving. For home, a good used drysuit would be ideal. Suggestions and expected pricing? Where's the sweet spot here?
- Sealed zip gloves for drysuit used? Do they need to match brand?
- Some hoodie and bootie options, both for wetsuit and drysuit?
- Dive computer - Suunto Zoop for maybe... $115 used? Or a *new* Zoop Novo @ $330 also looked very nice, but that starts to get expensive for an entry level. My priority for now is ease of use and quality, not advanced features. I can always simply upgrade to a higher end trimix computer later if I decide to get into that - I'm at least 2 years off from technical diving where I would need trimix, etc.
- Dive light and knife - new or used?
- Accessories - save a dive kit, SMB, etc.? Rubbermaid containers, deccinent dehumidier, rinsekit, tubs for warm water and rinsing gear on sight for coldwater shore dives
- Force Fins Pro (used for around $125) - this is my current pick
- New Snorkel @ around $50
- Mask - I am thinking new, and really do want a nice mask. Leaning towards the Hollis M1 or the Atomic Aquatics series
Anything else?
Again: What would be your ideal used gear shopping list (top picks used in each category and what you'd expect/target for price on each?)
Thanks! Appreciate the advice on navigating the used market.
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