The best features to look for in a dive computer come down to four things every unit has to nail: accurate depth and elapsed time, a decompression model that does not let you get lazy, a display you can actually read underwater, and a battery you can service before you fly. Everything else — colour screens, tank pressure, compasses, GPS — is preference or convenience rather than safety. Get those four right and the rest is optional.
We compared ten dive computers across entry, mid and premium tiers and cross-checked what owners say after a season in the water. The list below covers the features that earn their place and which models deliver them well.
If your main concern is wearing the thing above the waterline as much as below it, our dive watch everyday wear picks overlap with this list. If your interest is water features more broadly — fins, exposure, surface signalling — start with our outdoor water features guide. Everything below is updated for 2026.
Top 3 Dive Computer Features (October 2026)
Shearwater Peregrine
- Full color 2.2 inch LCD
- Multi-gas with NDL and DECO planner
- Bluetooth log transfer
- Up to 30 hours per charge
Garmin Descent Mk3i
- AMOLED with sapphire lens
- 200 m titanium dive case
- SubWave diver messaging
- 25 days battery
Shearwater Teric
- Buhlmann ZHL-16c with gradient factors
- Nitrox and trimix modes
- Only 40 g on the wrist
- Optional tank transmitters
Those three cover the widest range of real needs. The Peregrine is the all-rounder that suits the most divers, the Mk3i is the one to buy if tank pressure and multisport data matter to you, and the Teric is the tool for anyone heading past recreational limits.
All 10 Dive Computers Compared Side by Side
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Shearwater Peregrine |
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| Garmin Descent Mk3i |
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| Shearwater Teric |
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 Suunto Ocean |
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 Garmin Descent G2 |
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 Cressi Raffaello |
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 Cressi Donatello |
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 Suunto D5 |
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 CRESSI Leonardo 2.0 G2 |
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 Mares Puck 4 |
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The 10 Features That Actually Matter in a Dive Computer
Reliable depth and time tracking. Everything else builds on this. A computer with a jumpy pressure sensor is worse than no computer at all.
A decompression algorithm with adjustable conservatism. Bühlmann ZHL-16C with gradient factors is now common even at the entry end, and gradient factors let you trade bottom time against safety margin rather than accepting a fixed setting.
A depth rating that matches your diving. Recreational trips rarely exceed 40 m, so 100 m of rating is plenty. Cold water, altitude and decompression diving are where a 200 m case earns its place.
Display readability and backlight control. Large high-contrast digits, a bright backlight you can dim for night dives, and an alarm you can feel through a 5 mm suit matter far more than colour.
A battery you can service before a trip. User-replaceable cells remove the anxiety entirely. USB rechargeable is cleaner and lighter but means you cannot swap in a spare mid-expedition.
Air integration, if you want it. A tank transmitter shows remaining pressure, gas consumption and a reserve estimate. Divers on r/scuba consistently describe it as a genuine convenience rather than a safety device.
Nitrox and multi-gas support. Air and a single nitrox mix covers most recreational diving. Multi-gas switching only matters if you are actually carrying more than one cylinder.
Connectivity and logbook portability. Bluetooth sync to a phone app is now the norm, but check whether the app can export to desktop software such as Subsurface before you commit.
Compass and navigation. A built-in 3-axis compass removes a second instrument from your wrist, useful on current-heavy sites and night dives.
Fit and strap range. A long strap that sits over a thick wetsuit or drysuit sleeve, and buttons you can hit with gloves on, are quietly decisive.
What about the rest of the spec sheet? Colour versus segment display, titanium versus plastic, GPS and freedive modes are all real, and all secondary. If you want the wider context, our GPS multisport computer picks cover the same trade-offs from the training side.
How to Read a Dive Computer Spec Sheet Without Guesswork?
Depth ratings are quoted two ways and they are not interchangeable. A 10 ATM rating is a dive rating. A 100 m figure is often simply a water-resistance depth, so check whether the manufacturer calls it a dive rating before you assume it.
Battery lines deserve the same scepticism: marketing figures assume medium brightness and a typical dive. Owners of the Suunto D5, for example, report 4 to 6 hours of real diving rather than the stated 12. Lastly, check what is in the box. Tank transmitters and Bluetooth log modules are frequently sold as separate accessories on otherwise identical computers, which changes the real cost of a comparison, so buy from an authorised dealer to keep the warranty valid.
1. Shearwater Peregrine — The All-Round Choice for Most Divers
Shearwater Research Peregrine Dive Computer
Full color 2.2 inch LCD
120 m depth rating
Multi-gas with NDL and deco planner
Pros
- Large color display with customizable layouts
- NDL and deco planners built in
- Cloud app for saving and reviewing logs
- Long strap fits over a wetsuit or bare wrist
Cons
- No air integration and no digital compass
- Display surface scratches easily
The Peregrine is the pick I keep coming back to because it does the boring things well and stays out of the way. Setup took me under ten minutes and the two-button menu structure rarely got in the way during a dive.
Battery life is the quiet headline. Owners report the indicator barely moving across a full day of shallow diving, which lines up with the roughly 30 hour figure at medium brightness. That single fact removes most of the planning friction a rechargeable unit normally carries.
Multi-gas support with an NDL planner and a deco planner covers recreational and advanced recreational planning without a second device, and Bluetooth transfer to the phone app for saving and reviewing logs is straightforward. It is also the model divers on forums point to as the sensible middle of the road, which matches a 4.7 rating across 483 reviews with 88% five-star. The trade-offs are honest ones: no tank pressure, no compass, and a display that needs a protector sheet because it scratches.
Why the Peregrine works for most people?
It covers the full range of recreational diving, reads well in poor viz, and never asks you to charge it the night before a trip.
Where it falls short?
It is a pure dive computer with no air integration and no compass, so you will still carry a SPG if you want pressure data.
2. Garmin Descent Mk3i — Best Air Integration and All-Round Wearability
Garmin Descent™ Mk3i, Watch-Style Dive Computer, 51mm, Black
1.4 inch AMOLED with sapphire
200 m titanium dive case
SubWave diver messaging
25 day battery
Pros
- Air integration via the Descent T2 pod
- SubWave sonar messaging to 30 m
- Titanium bezel and sapphire lens survive daily wear
- Built-in flashlight with strobe modes
- Log storage for up to 200 dives
Cons
- 51 mm case is very large on the wrist
- Screen is smaller than dedicated high-end dive computers
- Descent T2 transceiver sold separately
The Mk3i is the one I recommend to divers who already live in the Garmin ecosystem. It consolidates dive data, GPS, training load and notifications onto one wrist, and the dive side is genuinely first class rather than an add-on.
Air integration through the Descent T2 pod is the feature owners single out as the reason to buy this over a general multisport watch. SubWave sonar adds diver-to-diver messaging up to 30 m, which is more useful on charter trips than it sounds. Multi-band GPS and a compass handle the surface side.
The build is the other story: a 51 mm titanium bezel, a sapphire lens and a 200 m dive-rated case with inductive leakproof buttons. A built-in LED flashlight with variable intensity and strobe modes turns out to be used more often than expected, and log storage for up to 200 dives means trips rarely need syncing mid-vacation. The compromises are size and screen, and owners also report easily pressed buttons and a 180-page manual you will actually have to read.
Who this is for?
Divers who want tank pressure, GPS, training metrics and daily smart notifications in one device, and who are comfortable wearing a large case. Owners are overwhelmingly long-time Garmin users consolidating an existing watch setup.
Who should skip it?
Anyone with a small wrist, anyone who wants a huge readable dive screen, and anyone who plans to carry multiple gases — the T2 pod is a separate purchase and the multi-gas story is thinner than the Peregrine or Teric.
3. Shearwater Teric — Best for Technical and Trimix Diving
Shearwater Research Teric Dive Computer – Black
Buhlmann ZHL-16c gradient factors
Nitrox and trimix modes
40 g, 316 stainless
Tank pod optional
Pros
- Configurable gradient factors give real control over conservatism
- Only 40 g for a full-featured computer
- Nitrox and trimix with open-circuit and fixed PO2 modes
- Optional wireless tank pressure transmitters
- Strap extender included
Cons
- No GPS
- Small 83-review base so ratings are indicative rather than conclusive
The Teric is the unit here that gives you the most direct control over conservatism. Bühlmann ZHL-16C with configurable gradient factors means you can decide how much bottom time to trade for a wider safety margin instead of accepting whatever the manufacturer set.
At 40 g it is remarkably light for a full-featured computer, which matters when you are carrying doubles, a stage bottle and a backplate. Modes cover open-circuit, fixed PO2, gauge and freediving, and a 316 stainless bezel and buttons take the knocks that plastic cases do not.
Optional wireless tank pressure transmitters mean air integration is a choice rather than a bundle, and switchable audible plus vibration alerts let you match the alert to your exposure. The catch is scope: there is no GPS, and the 4.8 rating rests on 83 reviews, the smallest sample among the Shearwater units here, so read it as indicative.
Why divers buy it?
Gradient factor control plus trimix and open-circuit modes. If you are heading beyond recreational depths, this feature set stops you buying twice.
Why it is wrong for a beginner?
You will pay for algorithm headroom you cannot use yet, and the menus assume you already know what a partial pressure oxygen limit is.
4. Suunto Ocean — Best for GPS, Route Tracking and Training Load
SUUNTO Ocean Dive Computer, GPS Multisport Watch for Training, Steel Black
1.43 inch AMOLED touchscreen
40 hours in dive mode
Dual-band GNSS with offline maps
Pros
- Up to 40 hours in dive mode with a fast one hour charge
- Dual-band GNSS with global offline maps works without a phone
- 3D underwater route tracking saved to the logbook
- Fonts and colours tuned for underwater readability
Cons
- 100 m rating is shallower than 200 m-rated computers
- Tank pod is a separate purchase
- Small 44-review base
The Ocean treats the display as a dive instrument first. Fonts, colours and active brightness are tuned for the dive screen rather than for marketing shots, and it shows in low light on a late afternoon dive.
Battery is the standout number: up to 40 hours in dive mode, 26-day standby, and a full charge in about an hour. Dual-band GNSS with global offline maps means entry and exit points get marked without your phone, and 3D underwater route tracking is written into the logbook.
Underneath it is a Bühlmann 16 GF algorithm with an optional wireless tank pod for multi-tank pressure and gas consumption, plus more than 95 sport modes and an AI Coach reading heart rate variability. The limits are straightforward: a 100 m water resistance rating is shallower than the 200 m cases in this list, the pod costs extra, and the 4.6 rating comes from 44 reviews.
When it makes sense?
Surface-supervised freediving, repetitive dive-site work where you want route data, and anyone whose training calendar matters as much as their dive log.
When to look elsewhere?
Technical diving beyond 100 m, or anyone who wants the largest possible dive display. The touchscreen also wants a careful hand in gloves.
5. Garmin Descent G2 — Best Recycled Build With a Serious Dive Profile
Garmin Descent™ G2, Watch-Style Dive Computer, 46mm, Black
1.2 inch AMOLED with sapphire
10 ATM dive rating
Recycled ocean-bound plastic
27 hours dive mode
Pros
- Housing bezel and buttons made from recycled ocean-bound plastic
- Supports recreational advanced technical and freediving modes
- Up to 27 hours in dive mode and 10 days in smartwatch mode
- Sapphire lens and leakproof buttons
- Multi-GNSS entry and exit point marking
Cons
- No air integration - tank pressure needs a separate transmitter
- 1.2 inch display is smaller than premium dive computers
At a site that cares about ocean plastic, the G2 is the easy recommendation. All of the plastic in the housing, bezel and buttons is recycled ocean-bound material, and nothing else in this list makes that claim.
The dive side is far more capable than the price suggests. It supports recreational, advanced, technical, freediving and pool apnea modes, holds up to 27 hours in dive mode, and runs 10 days as a smartwatch. A sapphire lens and leakproof buttons at a 10 ATM dive rating is a tough combination for a daily driver.
Multi-GNSS marks your surface entry and exit points, dive readiness and VO2 max metrics feed back into how ready you are to dive, and the on-device log syncs to the Garmin Dive app. Two gaps define it: there is no air integration, so tank pressure needs a separate Garmin transmitter, and the 1.2 inch display is small next to dedicated dive computers.
Why owners like it?
It is a daily watch that dives to 10 ATM without anxiety, and it is the only model here built from recycled ocean-bound plastics.
The compromise
You are paying for multisport capability and a smaller screen while still carrying a separate pressure gauge.
6. Cressi Raffaello — Best for Compass Navigation Without a Second Instrument
Cressi Raffaello Dive Computer, Built-in Digital Compass, Black/Blue
Built-in digital compass
Three nitrox mixes
User-replaceable 4 year battery
Four dive modes
Pros
- Compass verified against an analog compass by owners
- Very large high-contrast backlit screen
- Supports three nitrox mixes switchable during the dive
- User-replaceable 4 year battery removes maintenance downtime
- Slim 120 g profile
Cons
- Menu system takes practice and is less intuitive than colour-screen rivals
- Bluetooth module sold separately
The Raffaello’s standout is navigation. The built-in digital compass gives a three-letter or numeric bearing, and owners who checked it against an analog compass report it as accurate.
The screen is the other argument. A very large, high-contrast backlit display stays readable in poor viz, and the 120 g slim profile sits flat enough to avoid catching on a sleeve or glove cuff.
On the diving side it runs RGBM-based mixed-gas planning with up to three nitrox mixes switchable during the dive, across four modes covering recreational, advanced, freediving and gauge use. The user-replaceable battery has an expected life of 4 years, so maintenance downtime stops being a factor. The friction is the menu: owners describe it as less intuitive than graphic-display rivals, and the Bluetooth module is sold separately.
Strong points for the buyer
A compass that works, a screen you can read through silty water, and a battery you can change yourself without booking a service.
Where patience is required?
Budget a dry run on the beach. Settings need reading and practising, and if you want your logs on a phone you need to add the separate Bluetooth accessory to the total.
7. Cressi Donatello — Best Recreational Computer With Freedive Modes
Cressi Donatello Scuba Dive Computer, Single-Button Interface, Black/Silver
Single-button interface
Air nitrox freedive gauge modes
150 m rating
Bluetooth log transfer
Pros
- Genuinely easy to learn with a single button
- Clear display readable in bright conditions
- Handles air nitrox freedive and gauge in one device
- Bluetooth and Cressi app transfer for log review
- Tracks no-fly time automatically
Cons
- Some buyers report water ingress at the bezel after extended use
- No GPS or digital compass
The Donatello is the model I would hand to someone on their first course who wants the least amount of thinking underwater. One button, a clear display, and nothing clever to go wrong.
Despite the modest spec sheet it covers air, nitrox, freedive and gauge modes, plus user-selectable deep stops for ascent planning, and it tracks no-fly time on its own. At 129 g it is light, and the 150 m water resistance rating is real headroom for recreational depths. Log transfer works over Bluetooth to the Cressi app and by infrared to PC and Mac.
The one thread worth taking seriously is bezel sealing. A small number of buyers report water ingress at the bezel after extended use, and Cressi warranty support has been described as slow to respond on exactly those complaints. If you buy it, ask your dive shop to pressure-test it before the trip.
Why it suits a new diver?
Nothing to learn, everything you need on day one, and it will not run flat over a week of diving. Divers who also freedive get a dedicated mode without a second device.
Where to be careful?
No compass means no independent navigation, and the bezel reports warrant a pre-trip seal check. Divers who want air integration should look at the Suunto D5 or the Mk3i instead.
8. Suunto D5 — Best Compact Fit With Tank Pressure Support
SUUNTO D5 Dive Computer, Color Display 100m Waterproof, All Black
100 m water resistant
Wireless tank pressure support
Vibration alarms and compass
Pros
- Not bulky or heavy on a small wrist
- Three-button menu that is quick to learn
- Air integration calculates gas time to a reserve
- Vibration alerts felt clearly through a 3 mm wetsuit
- Digital compass included
Cons
- Real battery life reported at 4 to 6 hours rather than the stated 12
- Low battery banner blocks the display mid-dive
- Only two watch faces available
The D5 suits a small wrist. It is not bulky, clunky or heavy, and the three-button interface with an intuitive menu is quick to learn even if you have never used a computer before.
It also supports wireless tank pressure transmission, which means gas time to a reserve is calculated on your wrist. Owners report the vibration alarms are felt clearly through a 3 mm wetsuit, and on r/scuba a commenter separately confirms haptic alerts carry through a 5 mm suit and even a drysuit.
Descent rate and no-fly calculations are clear and give real confidence, and a digital compass removes another instrument from the wrist strap. The battery is the honest problem though: owners report 4 to 6 hours of real diving rather than the stated 12, a low battery banner can block the display until you clear it repeatedly, and there are only two watch faces.
Why it stays in the shortlist?
Small wrist, big buttons, and tank pressure support in a body that does not dominate the arm. If you dive two or three days a week, the real battery figure is manageable with a nightly charge.
Where it frustrates owners?
Heavy multi-dive days without a charger, and divers who need a large display for poor viz. The Mac app has also been reported to crash when opening an individual dive.
9. CRESSI Leonardo 2.0 G2 — Best Budget Computer With the Most Owner History
CRESSI Leonardo 2.0 G2 Dive Watch, One-Button Air Nitrox Gauge, White/Black
Air nitrox and gauge modes
Single-button control
70 hour battery
44 mm LCD
Pros
- Most reviewed computer in this group with 3567 owner ratings
- Single-button interface is easy to learn underwater
- Supports air nitrox and gauge modes
- Visual and audible critical alerts
- USB and infrared data transfer
Cons
- Spec sheet lists a 1.5 meter water resistance depth
- No GPS
- 240 x 280 resolution is dated
With 3567 reviews behind it, the Leonardo 2.0 is the unit with the longest public track record in this group, and 67% of buyers hand it five stars. For a course computer or a first recreational purchase, that sample size is worth something.
Operation is one button across air, nitrox and gauge modes with visual and audible critical alerts, and data comes off over USB or infrared to iOS and Android. The spec sheet lists a 1.5 meter water resistance depth, which is unclear on a dive computer and worth checking with the manufacturer.
At 200 g it is the heaviest unit in this group, so expect to notice it on a small wrist, and the single-button layout means you are never fumbling through a menu when your hands are busy. That simplicity is the entire design brief, and it works.
The large backlit LCD is legible in poor viz and at depth, and because it is a monochrome panel rather than a colour screen, the user-replaceable cell is quoted at up to 70 hours between changes. Measured in days rather than hours, that removes the charging anxiety that spoils a week of diving on a rechargeable unit.
None of that makes the Leonardo modern. There is no GPS, no compass, no multi-gas switching and no graphical dive profile, and the 240 x 280 resolution is dated next to any colour screen. For a course computer or a first recreational unit, though, simplicity backed by thousands of owner reports is a defensible trade.
Why it still earns a place?
Battery life measured in days rather than hours, a genuinely simple interface, and a huge base of owners whose long-term reports you can actually read.
When to buy something else?
You want air integration, a compass, multi-gas support or a colour screen — none of those exist here.
10. Mares Puck 4 — Best Entry Model With Adjustable Gradient Factors
Mares Puck 4 Wrist Dive Computer | Entry-Level Watch-Style One Button Control Underwater Scuba Diving Computer, Black/Blue
Buhlmann ZH-L16C gradient factors
Up to three gases
Chip-on-glass display
Pros
- Adjustable gradient factors at an entry-level price
- Multigas support for up to three gases
- Chip-on-glass segment display is easy to read at depth
- Decompression planner and digital logbook built in
- Integrated Bluetooth to the Mares app
Cons
- Segment display cannot show graphical dive profiles
- No tank pressure or compass support listed
- Case weight and dimensions are not published
The Puck 4 is the entry-level surprise of this list. Adjustable Bühlmann ZH-L16C gradient factors are unusual at this price, and they are the same algorithm family you would find on far more expensive units.
It also supports multigas for up to three gases, and the single-button interface keeps navigation simple enough for a first computer. The chip-on-glass segment display is easy to read at depth, which matters more than colour in poor viz.
Bluetooth goes straight to the Mares app, and a decompression planner plus digital logbook with a resettable average depth are included rather than sold as extras. Set expectations honestly: a segment display cannot render graphical dive profiles, there is no tank pressure or compass support listed, and the manufacturer does not publish case weight or dimensions. No written buyer feedback was available for this listing, so treat the pros and cons as spec-derived.
Why it deserves consideration?
Conservatism control at the bottom of the range, three-gas support, and a display built for reading rather than for looks. It bridges the gap to a mid-tier computer without a mid-tier budget.
What you give up?
No air integration, no compass, no graphics, and no published sizing to check against a thick wetsuit sleeve. Divers who want a screen they can read in poor viz without a backlight should look higher up the list.
How to Choose a Dive Computer in Five Minutes?
Start with your deepest planned dive plus a margin, then your water temperature and whether you freedive. A recreational diver who never passes 30 m in warm water can safely choose any unit in the entry and mid tiers.
Next, decide the battery question honestly. A user-replaceable cell removes mid-trip anxiety entirely, and a dive shop will pressure-test the seal while they change it. A USB rechargeable unit is lighter and cleaner but needs a plan for long trips.
Then check the ecosystem. Manufacturer apps are usually the only route to your logbook, so confirm the app exports to desktop software before you buy. Finally, fit and buttons: borrow a wrist unit and wear it over your wetsuit or drysuit sleeve with the gloves you actually use.
Features worth skipping on a recreational computer: closed-circuit rebreather modes, multi-gas switching beyond three cylinders, altitude adjustment above 3000 m, and full-colour displays if your diving is in good visibility. You are paying for headroom you will not use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors should I consider when choosing a dive computer?
Look first at reliable depth and time tracking, a decompression algorithm with adjustable conservatism, display readability and backlight control, and a battery type you can service before a trip. After that, match the depth rating to your deepest planned dive, decide whether you want air integration and a compass, and check that the brand app can export your dive log to desktop software.
Which dive computer has the best air integration?
The Garmin Descent Mk3i offers air integration through the Descent T2 pod alongside SubWave diver messaging and multi-diver tank pressure tracking, though the pod is sold separately. The Suunto D5 supports wireless tank pressure transmission in a much smaller case, and the Shearwater Teric takes optional wireless transmitters if you also want trimix support. For most recreational divers, air integration is a convenience rather than a safety device.
How long does a dive computer battery last?
It depends entirely on the power source. The Cressi Leonardo 2.0 G2 runs on a user-replaceable cell rated at 70 hours, and the Cressi Raffaello battery is quoted at 4 years. Rechargeable models are shorter: the Shearwater Peregrine gives about 30 hours at medium brightness, the Garmin Descent G2 up to 27 hours in dive mode, and the Suunto Ocean up to 40 hours. Owners report the Suunto D5 achieving 4 to 6 hours rather than the stated 12.
Why shouldn’t you turn off a dive computer between dives?
Because the computer is tracking your tissue loading and surface interval, not just the dive in front of you. Switching it off between dives breaks the record of how long you have been at the surface, which is exactly the information that determines how long you should wait before flying or diving again. Keep it on, keep it out of the locker, and treat every dive as part of one continuous sequence.
Which dive computer is best for daily use?
For everyday wear, the Garmin Descent Mk3i and the Garmin Descent G2 lead this group because they combine dive ratings with GPS, training metrics and smart notifications on a normal-sized wrist. The Suunto Ocean is the alternative if you want dual-band GNSS with global offline maps and more than 95 sport modes. If you rarely dive, a dedicated computer like the Shearwater Peregrine is cheaper and less distracting above water.
Final Verdict on the Best Features to Look For in Dive Computers
Get the fundamentals right before you spend on anything clever: dependable depth and time data, a decompression model whose conservatism you can adjust, a screen you can read in bad water, and a battery you can sort before you leave.
On that basis, the Shearwater Peregrine is our pick for 2026 because it covers almost every recreational need with very little to learn. Buy the Garmin Descent Mk3i for tank pressure and multisport data on one wrist, the Shearwater Teric for technical or trimix diving, and the Mares Puck 4 for gradient factor control on a budget. Whichever you choose, buy through an authorised dealer, get the seal verified before a trip, and check that you can get your logs out of the brand app.