A Comprehensive Review Of The Sherwood SR2 Regulator

Imagine you’re descending for a relaxing dive out in the ocean to study the sights and sounds that few ever truly experience. When submerged underwater, you don’t want to be distracted about potential issues with your breathing regulator’s performance; you want the kind of confidence in your breathing regulator that the Sherwood SR2 Regulator provides.

The regulator is the single most important piece of equipment you have, at least most of the time, and it’s important to make sure you get the right one. There are plenty of choices on the market, so we’ve taken a look at the Sherwood regulator in detail, and then compared it with a couple other regulators on the market to see how they all stack up. Hopefully, this will give you the information you need to make the right decision about which regulator is best for you and your diving needs.

About the Sherwood SR2 Regulator

As a diver, you want a regulator that offers effortless breathing, provides high-tech features, and is neatly packed in a compact package. The Sherwood SR2 Regulator, built by one of the scuba industry’s leading manufacturers, Sherwood Scuba, presents all of these features.

Continuing the legacy of Sherwood Scuba’s SR1, the Sherwood Scuba SR2 Regulator is more technically advanced and more attractive than its predecessor, employing contemporary styling while utilizing a multitude of cutting-edge materials all in a compact case. It has superior breathing performance of fewer than 0.5 Joules/Liter W.O.B. at 165 feet of seawater and a 62.5 respirator minute volume rate. The regulator delivers amazing performance whether you’re a beginning diver just starting out or a scuba enthusiast who has dived over 100 times.

Product Specs  

The single most important feature for any regulator is its breathing performance. The Sherwood Scuba SR2 delivers superior performance by utilizing a two-piece balance piston first stage to deliver maximum intermediate pressure to the pneumatically balanced second stage, which results in a sharp, responsive breathing performance in a wide variety of diving depths.

To increase performance over time, while providing added protection in cold water diving, the Sherwood Scuba SR2 designed the first stage with a sealed dry spring chamber to prevent contaminants like silt and sand and, more importantly, water from entering the regulator.

The super flex hose makes it easier to attain a comfortable and natural position in the water while the single adjustment point lets you adjust the performance of your regulator with a single touch.

Pricing  

While the Sherwood SR2 Regulator is easy to use whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced certified diver, the price (around $640) is a better investment for those who are serious divers.

How It Compares

We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.

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Price

The Sherwood SR2 Regulator can be found on Amazon for around $640.

Features

The single adjustment point makes tuning breathing resistance simple while the balanced design helps aid excellent breathing performance.

Design

Designed with contemporary styling and using a multitude of cutting-edge materials, the Sherwood SR2 Regulator is a well-designed model. The only downside to the overall design is that the second stage is heavier on the end.

Durability

Made from strong and sturdy construction and including a SMART demand level with a floating crown, the Sherwood SR2 Regulator maintains its regular performance between servicing. This regulator remains dependable as an investment for regular, serious divers.

Pros

• Easy breathing rig
• Environmentally sealed first
•    stage

Cons

• Small mouthpiece
• Heavy second stage

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With the internal parts fully insulated to dramatically improve its cold water performance, the Scubapro Evo Scuba Diving Regulator is difficult to top. Considered one of the top-performing regulators on the market today, the Scubapro Evo Scuba Diving Regulator regularly receives top ratings for its exceptional performance.

Easy to use for both beginners and the experienced diver, the second stage adjustment knob is effortless to operate even when you’re wearing thick gloves and remains one of the best breathing regulators on the market.

The two high-pressure ports on both sides of the regulator allow you to mount the regulator in either direction, though if you choose to mount the regulator downward, it reduces your potential of being hit on the head. In addition, the swiveling turret reduces tension on the second stage hose, and the lack of tugging when you turn your head reduces jaw fatigue.

Air-balanced pistons deliver more air to the second stage than the first stage while the performance is unaffected by changing air tank pressure. The lighter and more sensitive components are aided by a balanced piston. This results in an instant delivery of air, extra high air flow, and ultra fast breathing response, especially in low tank pressure ranges.

Price

At around $840, the Scubapro Evo Scuba Diving Regulator is cost-efficient as an investment for those who will be regularly using it.

Features​

With the internal parts fully insulated and the two high-pressure ports on both sides giving you the ability to mount the regulator in either position, the Scubapro Evo Scuba Diving Regulator delivers exceptional breathing performance in any position, depth, or tank pressure.

Design

The best design feature on the Scubapro Regulator System is the ability to mount the regulator in either direction with the two high-pressure points on both sides.

Durability

Designed to last a lifetime, the Scubapro Regulator System is crafted from high-end materials.

Pros

• Good control
• Ease of breathing

Cons

• Higher priced

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With the Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator, Mares has designed a terrific product that guarantees top performance and reliability under the toughest conditions.

The environmentally sealed, all-chrome marine brass first stage regulator prevents exposure to contaminants like salt, sand, silt, chlorine, and pool acids, which can cause corrosion and mineral deposits that can damage the regulator’s performance. Additionally, the Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator transmits pressure changes to an internal mechanism, eliminating the need for surrounding water to enter the intricate mechanism.

The Abyss 22 Navy II uses Tri-Material Valve Technology to create an optimized performance that is safe and reliable. This patented technology is covered with hard polyurethane (PU), and the sealing surface is a layered with a soft PU for a perfect seal.

The Dynamic Flow Control (DFC) is another unique feature of the first stage that minimizes the pressure drop during inhalation, allowing for use of a simpler and more reliable second stage. Manual adjustment of the second stage is not necessary because the consistency from the first stage provides a stable flow of air, even in extreme conditions.

The freezing effect is limited by the all-metal technology second stage having a superior performance over plastic second stage. The technology is known for providing high thermal conductivity, improving durability, providing a longer working life, and keeping your mouth less dry from breathing compressed air. The all-metal second stage is comprised of marine-grade brass coated with a special fluoropolymer resin finish on the second stage case. This was designed in order to prevent all key components from forming ice crystals in extreme conditions.

Because the Abyss 22 Navy II is made by Mares, it offers the uniquely patented Vortex Assisted Design (VAX) system, where the air bypass tube sends air to the mouthpiece, creating a vortex with a low-pressure area that keeps the diaphragm down during inhalation for easy breathing at all depths.

The Abyss 22 Navy II has surpassed the high qualifications and standards of the US Navy and is authorized for military use.

Price

A quality product from a quality brand, the Mares Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator is available from around $730.

Features

With the ability to dive even in the most extreme circumstances and with tremendous features like the Dynamic Flow Control (DFC) and the Vortex Assisted Design (VAD) system, the Mares Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator is full of great features. The only downside is that the VAD system is not popular with all divers.

Design

Easy enough for a beginner to use and made by a quality brand like Mares, this regulator is designed with divers in mind.

Durability

Approved for military use and capable of withstanding even the coldest dives, the Mares Abyss 22 Navy II Regular is as durable a regulator as you will find.

Pros

• Easy to tune
• Never freezes up

Cons

• Sits high on the cylinder
• High cost

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Derived from Zeagle’s well-established Flathead series, the F8 Regulator is made even better with a new platform second stage design and 20 additional new improvements.

The F8’s low profile is preferred by many divers. Barely extending above the tank and placing low-pressure hoses to the sides, the F8 is set for yoke valves.

The environmentally sealed, all-black, chrome-plated marine brass stage regulator has a balanced diaphragm design. Like the Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator, this prevents the internal parts from exposure to contaminants like salt, silt, sand, chlorine, and pool acids that cause corrosion and mineral deposits to form. These contaminants can damage the internal mechanism and the regulator’s performance.

Reliability, service life, and responsiveness are improved over conventional designs with Zeagle’s conical precision stainless steel high-pressure valve and advanced polymer seat. Years of corrosion-free service are provided by a balanced diaphragm design and dry environmental seal with an internal structure that allows for direct airflow through an outstanding first stage performance.

The second stage of the F8 is lightweight, compact, and comfortable due to a free flow control, built-in anti-freezing features, and diver-adjustable resistance controls. Design changes from the Flathead series mean that the regulator is now resistant to free flow on the surface, with incredible smoothness and ease of underwater breathing.

Additionally, the F8 is now smaller, lighter, and composed of high impact-resistant materials, and you can even customize your F8 for color with a new case snap-in insert near the mouthpiece. Other new features include a new exhaust valve to improve dryness and a lower exhalation effort as well as a new inhalation effort control knob for better grip and style.

Price

At around $620, Zeagle’s F8 Regulator wins the cost-per-quality ratio.

Features

Zeagle started with an already impressive product, the Flathead series, and looked for ways to improve—and they succeeded with a better second stage and many other improvements.

Design

Unique to our list is the ability to personalize the regulator with a new case snap-in insert.

Durability

While not military grade, the Zeagle F8 Regulator is designed to be dependable for years to come.

Pros

• Best pick for quality/cost
•    ratio
• Made in USA

Cons

• Not military grade

Conclusion

While we want to love the Sherwood SR2 Regulator, it cannot compete at the same level as the Scubapro Evo Scuba Diving Regulator, the Mares Abyss 22 Navy II Regulator, or the Zeagle F8 Regulator.

On cost and features alone, the Zeagle F8 Regulator beats the Sherwood SR2 Regulator, and for just a bit more, the impressive Mares Abyss Navy II Regulator not only has better features, but it is also rugged enough to be approved for military use.

When looking at the big picture, the Sherwood SR2 Regulator is a good tool for a diver. But you would make a better investment in your diving career with any of the other three on our list. We recommend the Mares Abyss Navy II and Zeagle’s F8 over any other on this list.

We give the Sherwood SR2 Regulator 3 stars overall in comparison with the rest.