Best Pee-Valve

[Superlyte27]

Guys:

I understand that if you ask 10 people for an answer, you'll get 11 different opinions. But, I'm going to ask anyway.

What's the best balanced p-valve on the market and why?

[JCGoodwin]

I have used two the Dive Rite low profile and the older OMS unbalanced.
Neither has failed and my DR has about 350 dives on it and it has been used often in caves and wrecks.
It shows wear battle scars and the like.
I like the low profile of pee valves not the larger variety.

JCG

[Rich]

I've been using a couple of Light Monkey unbalanced for years with no issues, cheap and reliable.... Take the bolt out and keep it in your wet notes, makes it about as low profile as it gets...

Oops, sorry, didn't realize this was a balanced thread!

Safe diving,

Rich

[Kelly Jessop]

The original Werner valve,everything else is a copy

[Superlyte27]

Okay, lets add to this....

Balanced or Unbalanced... and why?
I dove the Dive Rite balanced for a year or so and loved it.

[JCGoodwin]

Well I have just started with the unbalanced and one with I noticed right away is the ease or lack of back pressure that I normally experience with the balanced.
This being said it is a very small bit of back pressure and not a problem.
The unbalanced is very easy and painless as long as you loosen the bolt if not you will know it immediately!

JCG

[Jax]

Okay, lets add to this....

Balanced or Unbalanced... and why?
I dove the Dive Rite balanced for a year or so and loved it.

You know I am no expert - but my underwear was always stinking after a dive. I had several people tell me the balanced version would fail, and maybe it was leaking.

I found that to be the truth, and sealed the "balance" valve with aquaseal. No more stinky undies!

(unless you manage to pull the tube out, and you can't fix stupid!)

[FW]

Okay, lets add to this....

Balanced or Unbalanced... and why?
I dove the Dive Rite balanced for a year or so and loved it.

There is less chance of a UTI, with a balanced valve. On the other hand, if you keep them clean, there is a very low chance of a UTI with either one.

[Dsix36]

I started out with the Dive Rite balanced one since it was so low profile and "hands free" operation. I had several years of good luck with it but since I went to a new drysuit and thus a new pee valve I decided to get the same thing. I have been having a lot of problems with the duckbill (balancing part0 leaking and just tonight ordered a Light Monkey unbalanced one to replace it. I have decided that the simpler it is the less chance of failures and it was a damn site cheaper too.

[rddvet]

Good discussion. I've got a balance Halcyon and have had a recurring issue of too much backpressure which leads to catheter leakage. For the longest time I thougt that the hose was too long and once I am suited up and gear up I was kinking the catheter, but now I'm wondering if maybe it isn't the valve itself. I've heard several people now say the balanced have more resistance. I'm at about a 50/50 rate with leaks/no leaks