Aqualung Leg3nd Regulator Review

A reliable, cold-water-capable regulator that served as my primary for 80+ dives. It performed well in all conditions with no issues, but I switched to ScubaPro due to local service availability. It now lives in my backup kit and still earns my trust.
Overall Score: 7.6 / 10 (Strong)
Last updated: July 2025
This was my go-to regulator for over 80 dives across cold Lake Michigan, warm quarry water, and tropical sites. I used it with a long hose and necklace in both recreational and deeper training dives. It never let me down. While I've since switched to ScubaPro for service convenience, this regulator still lives in my backup bag and sees occasional use.
Yes. I've used it extensively in near-freezing Midwest quarry dives and cold Lake Michigan with no freeflows or breathing issues.
Yes. Breathing effort felt normal at depth. I didn’t notice any strain or wet breathing even at 100+ feet.
My current dive shop doesn’t service Aqualung gear. I switched to ScubaPro for shop compatibility and consistency across my setup.
No. I had it serviced after a year and it was still functioning perfectly. No leaks, damage, or wear beyond normal use.
They're equivalent in performance from my perspective. Nothing stood out as clearly better or worse. I only switched because of service logistics.
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Reliable in all conditions | Limited service access depending on region |
Comfortable breathing at depth | Not the lightest option for travel |
Cold-water ready out of the box | Somewhat bulky second stage |
Handled long hose setup well | Fewer accessories and aftermarket mods than competitors |
Good build quality overall |
Why I Chose Aqualung Leg3nd
I was looking for a cold-water regulator that could handle both local Great Lakes diving and occasional travel. The Leg3nd offered solid specs, easy breathing, and cold-water certification without requiring environmental kits. At the time, Aqualung was supported by my shop, and the overall value felt right for a high-performance regulator without the marketing markup of some other brands.
Verdict
This was a dependable and capable regulator that served as my primary for over a year. I’ve now transitioned it to my backup kit, but I still trust it fully. It’s not the reason I changed brands...that came down to logistics, not performance.
Would I buy it again? No — but only because my dive shop doesn’t support the brand. If they did, I’d have no hesitation keeping it as my main reg.
Who Aqualung Leg3nd Is Best For
This item is best suited for:
- Divers in cold-water environments
- People who want one reg that can do both local and travel diving
- Those who value simplicity over feature creep
It may not be ideal for:
- Divers whose shops don’t service Aqualung
- Ultralight travel divers who prioritize weight
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
Category | Score | Raw Score | Weight | Weighted |
---|---|---|---|---|
Function & Performance | Strong | 8.0 | 30% | 2.40 |
Ease of Use | Strong | 8.0 | 20% | 1.60 |
Versatility | Good | 7.0 | 15% | 1.05 |
Durability & Build Quality | Strong | 8.0 | 15% | 1.20 |
Value | Good | 7.0 | 10% | 0.70 |
Brand Trust & Transparency | Fair | 6.0 | 10% | 0.60 |
Total | 7.55 / 10 |
Rounded Display Score: 7.6 / 10 — Strong
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 8: Handled everything from cold water to deeper dives with no performance hiccups. Solid all-around reg.
- Ease of Use – 8: Easy to set up and intuitive breathing. No quirks or learning curve.
- Versatility – 7: Performs well in all environments but slightly bulky and heavier than some travel-focused options.
- Durability & Build Quality – 8: Good materials and reliable performance after 80+ dives. Held up well with proper maintenance.
- Value – 7: Competitive pricing for the performance tier, but not a budget reg. Reasonable for what you get.
- Brand Trust & Transparency – 6: I had no issues personally, but many reports exist about limited regional serviceability and parts as well as Aqualung essentially going bankrupt multiple times.
My Custom Setup or Configuration
I used the Aqualung Leg3nd in a long hose configuration with a bungee necklace backup. It integrated smoothly with my DIR-style rig and had no issues with routing or mouthpiece comfort.
- Long Hose: 7' routed under arm and behind neck, no clearance or routing problems
- Backup on Necklace: Standard rubber bungee worked fine with Aqualung mouthpiece sizing
Everything routed cleanly and stowed well. No hose kinks or flow restrictions. I wouldn’t change anything about the way I configured it.
Performance in the Water
- Breathing Effort: Smooth and consistent from surface to 100+ feet
- Freeflow Resistance: Never had an incident, even in cold water entries
- Mouthpiece Comfort: Standard size worked well for me, no jaw fatigue
- Trim Compatibility: Long hose routing worked fine and didn’t disrupt trim or buoyancy control