back inflation v. jacket style

[scubafire]

What are the differences between the two? (besides the obvious: one inflates on the back) Which is better...back inflation or jacket style?
Thanks.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

It's largely a matter of personal preference.

Jacket style BC's are more common and are usually slightly easier to get in to. But they also tend to be a both less streamlined and cannot be adjusted to fit the diver as securely so they tend to feel a bit looser and less stable. Some back inflates can be adapted to work with doubles and are stable enough to do the job well, while others cannot. Very few jacket style BC's are suitable for use with doubels.

In the water, I feel that a back inflate is more stable (the wing is above your center of gravity), and more streamlined and consequently swims better than a jacket style BC. On the surface however, unless your weight is very carefully adjusted using trim pockets, etc, most back inflates tend to tip you forward when fully inflated so for a new diver wanting more comfort on the surface, a jacket BC may be preferrable. On the other hand, some jacket style BC's will squeeze you when fully inflated on the surface and can be uncomfortable.

 

[jfoster33702]

 

[aboalreem]

I am going Tec, so I chose back

 

[SmileMon]

if you're planning tech in your future, get a bp/w and get used to the feeling/drawbacks.

 

[alo100]

It's largely a matter of personal preference.

Jacket style BC's are more common and are usually slightly easier to get in to. But they also tend to be a both less streamlined and cannot be adjusted to fit the diver as securely so they tend to feel a bit looser and less stable. Some back inflates can be adapted to work with doubles and are stable enough to do the job well, while others cannot. Very few jacket style BC's are suitable for use with doubels.

In the water, I feel that a back inflate is more stable (the wing is above your center of gravity), and more streamlined and consequently swims better than a jacket style BC. On the surface however, unless your weight is very carefully adjusted using trim pockets, etc, most back inflates tend to tip you forward when fully inflated so for a new diver wanting more comfort on the surface, a jacket BC may be preferrable. On the other hand, some jacket style BC's will squeeze you when fully inflated on the surface and can be uncomfortable.

May I have a question?
About the stability at surface for back inflate or bp/w and there anything decent that we can add on the shoulder pad to keep the balance like the Seaquest "fusion". I noticed that somebody has suggested that anything we add on to the setup has to be careful choice, as it can make it dangerous. Then assume that this is not about the 1 piece setup that we are talking about.

The reason is, 1st somebody seems to have mentioned about it before, 2nd when I looked at some of the rebreather and chatted with the users here, there are rebreathers actually have this shoulder float support with exhaust valves.
What is everybody's opinion on that?

 

[spectrum]

What are the differences between the two? (besides the obvious: one inflates on the back) Which is better...back inflation or jacket style?
Thanks.

A jacket is often sold to or bought by a new diver. Frequently they get a poor fit and it feels like a bag of worms. At this point the either give up on diving, dive poorly or invest in a harness bassed system (BP&W) that they adjust to fit.

The BP&W is a modular approach that lets you replace components such as the harness or wing for different kinds of diving or when one fails. Being configurable it is the prefered platform to rig for doubles and technical diving where more and heavier gear must be carried.

While no BC is intended mainly for surface flotation a jacket will tend to get your head a bit higher. A wing will get up up safe enough but if you over inflate the all that lift out back will inevitably force you forward, so inflate conservatively. Having a non buoyant steel cylinder out back is also helpful. Either format will let you float on your back.

Most jackets have enough air cell out back that when swimming prone you are diving with back inflation any how. Streamlining can vary, I have seen some some big floppy dumbo wings or back inflate bladders that sure didn't look streamlined to me.

Fit is almost everything. In a jacket you must buy the right one. A harness will configure to a very wide range with a little TLC.

My conclusion..... For single tank recreational diving if jacket BC buyers put as much angst and research in to the purchaseas BP&W divers there would be many more happy jacket divers.

FWIW I dive a Sherwood Avid, a jacket, it fits and dives fine though I wish I had a bit more room when diving dry. I do have fleeting fancies of owning a BP&W at some point.

Pete

 

[PerroneFord]

2nd when I looked at some of the rebreather and chatted with the users here, there are rebreathers actually have this shoulder float support with exhaust valves.
What is everybody's opinion on that?

Those aren't "shoulder floats"

 

[spacemanspiff1974]

To get a better idea of those sholder floats, I would suggest looking at the diagram on this web page...
http://www.steammachines.com/aa0-PrismTopaz.asp

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Back-inflate is better and not really different at all. A lot of people don't even notice if they have one or the other. My folks bought Zeagles after OW class and never had to adjust to it or got face planted in the water or any of the other things people heavily exaggerate here. Back inflates are easy and will allow you to progress farther as a diver. BP/W rigs are the best of the bunch. They put the weight and the floatation right where you need them, are the most streamlined and the least positively buoyant.

There must be thousands of pages of discussion on this subject here. Did you do a search?

In the end, I think this board tends to cause people to overthink the issue. Back-inflate really is less bulky and for that alone is a better BC.