Canadian_Diver:
Any item that fits comfortably and works right is going to make any diver more comfortable, more confident, and reduce their SAC ... whether it's a BCD or BPW. I'm sure if you had used a BCD that was initially properly fitted, you'd feel just as confident and not have had the issues you've described.
.....this is where your assumption was made...that had the BCD fit. It sounded very much like an assumption, but I will say I'm sorry if I jumped to any conclusions. As I said I fit into the jacket just fine, tried it on with others to make sure it was the best fit, etc. That's that.
....as for semantics, perhaps "unbelievable" should have been stated as "highly out of the ordinary for me" with respect to things I've done and "very surprising results in a very short period of time" for the reduction in my SAC rate, being comfortable, etc. This is especially the case that I used to dive several dives daily in a BCD prior to my unfortunate hiatus. I realize that man can do many things with an iron will, etc. but that is not the case here. Sky Divng maybe, increasing my SAC rate by being streamlined, more comfortable, etc. doesn't fit that end of the spectrum.
.....I also belive the question was are they a "growing trend". We all realize that they are not
THE popular choice, for several reasons and those reasons vary from opinion to opinion. IMHO they are not popular due to the fact that OW students are not exposed to them very often. When you get out with one where exposure has been very little, they often generate a lot of questions. I also believe that LDSs don't offer them very often unless you're in areas with higher concentrations of Tech Divers. I know that all my surrounding LDS's require you to use a specific group of BCDs that they sale and keep on the show-room floor if you are on staff with their shop. Oddly enough, I have never seen the one store owner in anything but a BP/W with doubles in our local quarry (a whopping 35 feet deep). Sending the wrong message perhaps? I'd be asking if I were one of his OW students, why I should buy his stuff in the store when all he wears is a BP/W with doubles.
My decison to buy a BP/W was based on a guy I buddied with last year. He was a much larger guy than me, smoked like a chimney and was in fairly poor shape. I am a big guy, but not near his girth, nor smoked and I work out several days a week and I have very powerful legs. He took off and wore me down very quickly and his air consumption was much better than mine. I was impressed and asked him about it and he said he had a lot of problems and found once he streamlined he was much better off. His primary change was going to the BP/W. I researched for a good bit of time and then bought an Oxycheq Wing / BP set up. The first thing I noticed was that I didn't feel like I was the Stay-Puff Man any longer, being wrapped in the jacket. The second thing I noticed was the 1 piece harness, once adjusted, contoured to the shoulder width and my back better than either of my BCDs had been. Even after a couple dives, getting used to my new equipment, I noticed I had gained 15 minutes in air time (yes I was a big air hog prior to this point) and I continued to work on up even more. It wasn't a 1 or 2 minute gain here and there. It was some significant time on the tank, gained over a short period of time.
