I have always ran eq with something. My first cycle was eq/winny. Absolutely a great cycle. The only thing I ran was nolva afterwards for pct. Usually, it doesn't arimotise as badly as test, I wouldn't even say 50% noticeable bloat, more like about 25% of test. When I use test, i bloat, and I bloat big time, even when running arimidex 1mg e0d throughout the cycle starting at week 3.
But, my first cycle at 400mgs a week 1-12, winny 50 ed 6-12, I probably had a small amount of bloat..I mean, hardly anything. My last eq cycle consisted of eq 500 a week 1-12, 1-4 ot 40ed, and 6-12 masteron 300mgs a week and didn't run any arimotase during the cycle except pct hcg and nolva.
The catch with eq is that the higher you run it at, the more negative sides you'll get like high bp due to rbc multiplying and less sleep. Sure you'll gain a few more pounds, but if your goal is only to look hard as a robot and veiny as hell, use 400-600 and you'll be fine. Some suggest running proviron throughout the cycle for bloat (minimal) and added hardness, etc. I personally have never ran proviron, so I can't speak from experience there.
If this is your first eq cycle, just run it at 400 or 500 for the first 8 weeks. Let your body adjust to it - check out the sides. For me, sleep is sometimes difficult. If you are not having any sides by week 8-10, increase it to 500-600 for the remainder of your cycle.
I have to admit, from personal use and experience, eq is always hard to recover from - nut size etc if you don't have any hcg on hand. Hcg is hard to get - but if you have it, then start running it at the end of your cycle with your pct and your naddies should come back fine, but be aware, your bp might be a tad on the high side for a few months also due to the increase in rbc.
I have ran primo in the past and i bloated more on primo at 400mgs a week than I did on eq at 600. Muscle retention for me was about the same, but the eq is always the king of hardness esp. comparing it to primo. Primo made my muscles hard, but not like eq after a 12 week cycle. My source told me a long time ago, in his opinion, eq at 400mgs is like running primo at 800mgs and for the bang for the buck, eq will always win. I personally found this to be true.
Between Oral Turinabol and Eq, it's a hard one for me to decide which I love the most, since both give great pumps, intense workouts...but if i had to decide, probably eq cuz it lasts longer in your system (ot's effectiveness fades out after week 5) and the veins are better looking..that's why, i run both together now.. if you want ultimate hardness go with the ot/eq cycle.... but..eq by itself is also pretty good..