Back inflate or jacket BC

[Dahodevil]

I have 70+ dives over 20 years and after a long break i'm getting back into diving. I'm needing a new BC. No plans for tech diving, just a casual few dives a year.
All my diving is with a jacket style BC and I am very comfortable with it. I am considering a back inflate but i am concerned about stability at the surface. It seems like it would push me face forward(air in the back+ weights in the front= face in the water). Could anyone give feedback on switching from jacket to back inflate? What BC are you using now and how do you like it?
Thanks , David

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The face forward thing is a myth if you are properly weighted. You only need enough air in the wing to keep your chin out of the water. Then you just lay back and relax. You can also help mitigate this by getting some of the weight off of your hips and higher up over your lungs where it should be by adding weight pouches to the cam bands. I use mainly a back plate and wing but also am very fond of my Zeagle Express Tech. You can customize it to your needs, add a weight system, and those pouches on the cam bands I was talking about. I'd also suggest that before you buy you get with an experienced diver or instructor that actually dives a back inflate and not listen to dive shop BS about how a jacket is better. Some will try to sell you a $600 BC that is full of useless and poorly designed features. An Express Tech will set you back maybe 275 for the basic model. Add $30 worth of hardware and you're done. Here's a link to review of mine with pictures and details on how I set it up.
Zeagle Express Tech Buoyancy Compensator Review

And I'd get in touch with Zeagle Express for the best deal and advice you're likely to get here on the board. Capt. Gene the owner is member here and guy who won't steer you wrong. He is kinda my competition but for your needs and location I feel he'd be better able to serve you. Zeagle Express is the most complete source for everything Zeagle Systems makes

 

[rhwestfall]

As Jim said, a shop that tells you BI pushes you forward doesn't know how to equip someone to use one...

I will say that right out of the box, it may be problematic. You need to get your weighting proper, and play with where it works best to balance weight. Cam band pockets are quite often necessary if the rig isn't equipped with such options.

My first experience with a BI was not great as I was carrying all my weight (24# due to bulky dry suit) in the weight pockets on the front. Yep, I face planted on the surface IF I jammed all the air I could into the bladder to float the way I was used to in a jacket style BC.

 

[Dahodevil]

Jim, Thank you for that article. I will check out the LDS to try on the express tech. I like the simplicity think. Less is better. I was also considering weight intergrated to eliminate one more item to worry about donning before a dive. I seem to always seem to be pulling the belt up during a dive to keep my fins off the reef.
rhwestfall, great info. I didn't think of the cam band pockets. I will probably give the BI a try. I would want to find a light weight system.

 

[oldschool]

I dived with a jacket BC for over 25 yrs, the most recent being a Sherwood Avid. Last year, I switched to a Hollis HD-100 and love it. It is much less restrictive. The face forward thing is a myth if you are properly weighted and inflate the bc on the surface to keep your head above water and not your entire upper torso. I would strongly suggest taking a look at the HD-100 if you are not planning on going with a separate backplate and bag. This is a rec back inflate with intergrated weight system but has some useful tech features such as d rings along the sides of the inflation bag.

 

[BDSC]

I have both a Scubapro jacket BC and I have their Seahawk which is a back inflate and still dive both. (Both are weight integrated) Most of the time I dive the Seahawk. When I first switched it took a little getting use to. It has a pocket on each side at the rear and I typically put a 3 lb. weight in each one. I usually dive with 10 or 12 lbs depending on the wetsuit so that makes it 3 lbs in each of the two back pockets and 3 lbs in each of the front weight pouches. That works quite nicely and the push forward feeling is minimal. But as far as comfort on the surface, nothing beats a jacket BC. It keeps you upright and higher out of the water without having to "lay back" a little. I think you will be fine in either.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

+1 on the Zeagle Express Tech. I have 4 BCD's of various types and had a few more over the years. Overall its tops and every time I travel the small, compact size becomes more and more of a draw.

 

[rdale2]

Back inflate all the way. No squeezing your rib cage and a better buoyancy characteristic making it easier to maintain proper trim. You should look into a backplate/wing setup though.

 

[g1138]

If the cumberbun or waist strap doesn't fit snug to you, the Back-inflate will be able to tilt off your back. Since you'll then have no support to push back against, this can lead to the BC pushing you face first into the water, with you having no leverage to really lean back unless you really kick up and lay on your BC.

Splitting the lead so it's not all on your belt or all on your BC can help to mitigate this. Getting a BC that has a snug waist strap helps even more.
A back-inflate that fits, will push your face first in the water if you go limp, but it's such a small amount of force that really anyone can lean back against it and not even feel strained to go face first. And remember, your BC doesn't need to be fully inflated to keep your head out of the water; so that helps even more.

 

[FM1520]

just a casual few dives a year.

Given the type and numbers of dives you are planing i'm not sure the adjustment to a new type of BC will be worth it, stick with what you know and what you are comfortable with.