MK4 vs MK5 & Mini Regulators Explained

Choosing the Right CO₂ Regulator for Your Kegging Setup

If you’ve ever stared at a wall of CO₂ regulators wondering “do I actually need the expensive one?” — you’re not alone.

At CraftBrew, we test gear the only way that matters:
on real kegs, under real pressure, with real beer on the line.

This guide compares:

• MK4 vs MK5 regulators
• Mini 360 vs Mini Duotight
• Mini Inline Duotight regulators

So you can choose the right tool — not just the shiny one.

MK4 vs MK5 Regulators

These are full-size, primary CO₂ regulators — typically used at the bottle or manifold.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Our Take

• MK4 is the sweet spot for most homebrewers
  → rock-solid, affordable, zero drama
• MK5 shines when:
• running multiple kegs
• force carbing faster
• feeding manifolds or secondary regulators

If you’re running 1–3 kegs: MK4 is more than enough
Bigger system or faster gas demands: MK5 earns its price

Mini 360 vs Mini Duotight Regulators

Mini regulators are all about portability, compact builds, and pressure fermentation.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Our Take

• Mini 360
• Great visibility from any angle
• Ideal for fermenters, spunding, pressure control
• Mini Duotight
• Cleaner installs
• Faster to build
• Perfect for kegerator door mounts or tight spaces

Choose Mini 360 if you tweak pressure often
Choose Mini Duotight if you value clean, simple setups

Mini Inline Duotight Regulators (The Silent MVP)

This is the regulator people underestimate — until they use it.

Why inline regulators are brilliant:

• Install directly on the gas line
• Regulate pressure per keg
• No extra hoses, no bulky mounts
• Ideal for mixed carbonation levels

Best Use Cases

• Serving multiple beers at different pressures
• Secondary regulation inside a kegerator
• Compact travel or picnic setups
• Pressure fermentation on FermZilla / Unitank-style systems

Trade-off

• No big dial
• Set-and-forget mentality required

But once dialed in?
They just work.

Which One Do You Need?

Quick Recommendation Guide

Final Word from CraftBrew

There’s no “best regulator” — only the right one for your system.

We stock these regulators because:

• we use them ourselves
• they’re reliable
• and they solve real brewing problems

Browse regulators and fittings on CraftBrew.nl
Or hit us up if you want help building your setup — we love this stuff.

Precision. Passion. Beer.