50 Fathom vs. Modern Mistral

[SurfLung]

- At the Sea Hunt Night event last Tuesday I got to try out one of those modern Mistral regulators... One of the other divers had brought it. I was diving my downstream 50 Fathom regulator so that's what I had to compare with.
- First, the Modern Mistral didn't breathe as bad as I thought. I've heard such bad stories about this. I think it breathed fine... It was not exceptionally good but definitely not BAD.
- The thing that bothered me was the mouthpiece. It has a thing between the teeth lugs that seems to stimulate my gag reflex. And, it has an extra bit of rubber that covers your lips. I'm wondering if all of this mouthpiece "stuff" contributes to the feeling that this reg doesn't breathe easy... Hard to breathe when you're gagging and claustrophobic!
- My downstream 50 Fathom definitely breathed easier and was more comfortable. I just wonder how the Modern Mistral would do with VDH hoses and mouthpiece... I bet with the mouthpiece comfort level improved, it would get higher grades. Has anybody tried it with our hoses and mouthpiece?

[luis]

The lip cover is an Aqua Lung option that is only available with their cold water specific regulators. The new Mistral you tried must have been set up as their cold water option.

The lip guard can be a nuisance, but some people really like it and I have heard that it does help keep your lips warm. I have not felt the need when doing any ice diving, but I can see how some may like it.

The mouthpiece bite is Aqua Lung’s Comfo-Byte standard offering on all their regulators. That has to be the most polarizing piece of dive gear ever offered. It is a true "love it" or "hate it" mouthpiece byte. I personally hate it even do it does not trigger my gag reflex (it is just not comfortable for me), but I know a lot of people that love it and use it on any regulator they can install it on.

I did replace just the byte from my new Mistral (but I have only used my new Mistral a few times, testing it). The mouthpiece byte is definitely a personal preference.

The new Mistral hoses are 1 1/4” ID (maybe 1 1/8”, can’t remember exactly) versus the standard 1” ID on most DH regulators. The larger ID hoses are typical in re-breather since they need the lower flow resistance.

Re-breathers do not have any pneumatic flow assistance from the tank pressure (venturi flow, etc); the diver has to move the gas in and out of the counter-lungs and through the scrubber, therefore reducing flow resistance is imperative.

The mouthpiece valves and the plastic T section on the new Mistral are also designed for the lowest possible flow resistance.

Changing the hose loop on the new Mistral would not make it breathe better; it would actually hurt since it has such poor venturi flow assistance.


Note: I moved this to the general diving section since the new Mistral is not vintage.

[luis]

Here are a couple of pictures I had from a modified project I did recently.

Notice that one of the mouthpiece is the Aqua Lung Comfo-Byte. I made that for a friend that really likes that mouthpiece.

The other one with the blue inserts is my favorite.

[SurfLung]

- Yes that's the Aqualung mouthpiece I was referring to. Instead of "Comfo-Byte" I'd call it Claustro-Byte or Gag-o-Byte.

[luis]

- Yes that's the Aqualung mouthpiece I was referring to. Instead of "Comfo-Byte" I'd call it Claustro-Byte or Gag-o-Byte.

Did I mention it is a very polarizing piece of gear?

Some divers really, really like it… and some divers really, really hate it. I think I can tell how you feel…



I tend to like the fact that we are all, not the same... It would be very boring...

[SurfLung]

- Aside from the mouthpiece issues, I guess I'd have to say trying this one out was enough to satisfy my curiosity. It didn't necessarily breathe BAD for me. But I'd say all of my vintage mistrals, DA's, 50 Fathom, Phoenixes, and HPRs breathe easier.
- So, I think I'd have to get an awfully good deal to consider buying a modern Mistral... Since it would probably just be a wall hanger for me.