I have tried on the Lotus i3 in store but have not dove with it. I do own the Soul i3. The Soul i3 is a hybrid rather than a back inflate but the wrap harness and such are all the same. The Lotus i3 will pack a bit better but the Soul i3 is not exactly bulky either. I just prefer hybrid-jacket style and pockets. The Lotus i3 I tried on felt the same as my Soul i3 in terms of fit, comfort, and sizing.
I love, love, love it. The i3 system itself is awesome in my opinion. Easy to use and frees up your arm much faster and is much easier to use if you need to access it in a more restrictive drysuit and such. I also hate having the traditional quick inflate hose by my face and not always being in the same place. The lever is always in the exact same place! If you have a sensitive computer you also won't get beeped at for ascending too fast or otherwise changing depth readings like can happen if you raise arm up over head to release air from traditional inflator hose. You can stay horizontal and it still releases air. Lots of people I know around here were skeptical but after seeing me in my Soul i3 and my husband in his Axiom i3 (and trying them out) we have a lot of long-time diving converts and i3 owners amongst our dive friends. This includes a couple former Zeagle Zena owners! Ha.
The harness system is very comfortable. It is most noticeable, or actually NOT noticeable, in the water. It is that comfy! The swivel buckles on the shoulder straps work well over larger chests but would be just as fine over smaller ones. Aqualung has really spent a lot of R&D on actual women's specific fits and options, not just scaling things down and calling them "women's specific". If you shore dive the harness & padded lumbar area are very nice. The tank attachment also balances the tank weight nicely on your back.
I measure right in the mid-range of their XS/SM sizing and that is what I have. It fits well over a 3mm or 5mm and adjusts to make room for a drysuit (Fusion Tech with Thermal Fusion undergarments). I tried a MD that a friend ordered but it was huge and bulky on me so the chart seems pretty accurate. My husband is mid-range for M/L Axiom i3 and it fits him great. The Large is huge on him.
No problems with lever getting caught and no one I know has had any issues. The lever is small enough and fits close to your body and it is not THAT sensitive. You do need to actually lever it. You would have to be wrapped up enough that any kelp would keep you stuck down anyway! Were those who said that actually diving with it as that sounds like the people we know who never tried it and are resistant to anything new and said things like "you could accidentally inflate it and shoot to surface when you mean to deflate" or "a shark might come by and bite the lever off".
You still have dump valves and a quick release hose system if it ever kept inflating. As well as an oral inflator. No different than with a traditional quick inflate hose system in terms of possible emergency procedures.
Oh, and the tank attachment system is great! If you use the same size tank all the time, you can set it and forget it.
I ordered mine without trying it since no one around here had it. I was one of first in country to get it. But, my husband works at a dive shop so it would have been easy enough to send back. It is good to be able to try before you buy but depending where you are this is not always possible. I would see if anyone is willing to order one in for you so you can at least try it on. If it does not work and they decide to ship it back you may have to pay a small fee but at least you know!
