Chavodel8en
Contributor
The LDS owner's comment about sleeping on a steel pillow only makes sense when you are surface swimming on your back.
I recently switched to a BP/W because my BCD fell apart after 15 years of loyal service (see link to thread).
Maybe plastic isnt a good material for BC construction
Ive only got 2 dives on the BP/W. I cant say that the hike to the beach was any less comfortable. You are carrying 50+ lbs of gear -- its always fatiguing. Now, Im wearing 8mm of suit, so more padding than you in Florida. But I dont think I need the padding, and especially not on my back. When you are walking, most of the weight is on your shoulders, not really on your back. If you wanted to, you could add neoprene sleeves on the straps. The reason I chose a BP/W was to eliminate buoyancy -- maybe not as much of a concern for you.
I did have a long surface swim on my back, and I must say, I was more aware of the BP beneath me. It wasn't uncomfortable, just different. When I swam on my back with my old back-inflate BC, I was more angled in the water, with my legs deeper in the water. Whereas w/ the BP/W, it had me in a more horizontal posture on top of the water. I just had to adjust my swimming style. Or maybe I shouldn't have the wing fully inflated, so the lower section of my back can sink into the water. In any case, no biggie.
If you don't surface swim on your back much, this may not even be an issue for you.
I recently switched to a BP/W because my BCD fell apart after 15 years of loyal service (see link to thread).
Maybe plastic isnt a good material for BC construction
Ive only got 2 dives on the BP/W. I cant say that the hike to the beach was any less comfortable. You are carrying 50+ lbs of gear -- its always fatiguing. Now, Im wearing 8mm of suit, so more padding than you in Florida. But I dont think I need the padding, and especially not on my back. When you are walking, most of the weight is on your shoulders, not really on your back. If you wanted to, you could add neoprene sleeves on the straps. The reason I chose a BP/W was to eliminate buoyancy -- maybe not as much of a concern for you.
I did have a long surface swim on my back, and I must say, I was more aware of the BP beneath me. It wasn't uncomfortable, just different. When I swam on my back with my old back-inflate BC, I was more angled in the water, with my legs deeper in the water. Whereas w/ the BP/W, it had me in a more horizontal posture on top of the water. I just had to adjust my swimming style. Or maybe I shouldn't have the wing fully inflated, so the lower section of my back can sink into the water. In any case, no biggie.
If you don't surface swim on your back much, this may not even be an issue for you.