I dive both, including a sidemount rebreather.
My answer will always be the same… backmount doubles.
If your legs can’t handle it (unless is it a medical issue), do strength training (which will help out regardless).
I have less than 1mm of tendon attached left in both knee caps (I can’t lift my feet up without grabbing them to put on fins)… never had an issue with backmount 130/104’s.
If you need a slimmer profile in the water, go sidemount (this can also be for streamlining for video, which is my preferred way of shooting video, in sidemount).
If you already have a BPW setup, the equipment purchase is minimal compared to more tanks, a harness/rig and reconfiguring every hose that attaches to a regulator.
Just get a 2nd first stage (presumably you already have a DIN setup), a doubles wing (~40lb for 7.25” tanks, ~60lb for 8” tanks), a second matched tank, bands and a manifold and you are good to go (equipment wise)
With sidemount, you will require a new rig, a second tank, change nearly every hose you have for a different length (SPG, bungied 2nd stage, inflator hoses) a 2nd first stage, and a 2nd SPG.
Backmount is easier, quicker and more efficient for getting in/out of the water. Every time I grab my doubles, I always have a feeling that I forgot something, as it is less things to bring, and faster to get diving.
Boats can be a challenge…. In doubles and sidemount. It takes some really good mentoring, and/or experimenting with how to maneuver with a very wide profile on a boat.
Every technical class I take, I always try to get a day off class from a boat… it brings on challenges and has conditions that are different otherwise than a shore/quarry/spring will have.
But, I also enjoy diving my sidemount CCR…. A lot!
_R
My answer will always be the same… backmount doubles.
If your legs can’t handle it (unless is it a medical issue), do strength training (which will help out regardless).
I have less than 1mm of tendon attached left in both knee caps (I can’t lift my feet up without grabbing them to put on fins)… never had an issue with backmount 130/104’s.
If you need a slimmer profile in the water, go sidemount (this can also be for streamlining for video, which is my preferred way of shooting video, in sidemount).
If you already have a BPW setup, the equipment purchase is minimal compared to more tanks, a harness/rig and reconfiguring every hose that attaches to a regulator.
Just get a 2nd first stage (presumably you already have a DIN setup), a doubles wing (~40lb for 7.25” tanks, ~60lb for 8” tanks), a second matched tank, bands and a manifold and you are good to go (equipment wise)
With sidemount, you will require a new rig, a second tank, change nearly every hose you have for a different length (SPG, bungied 2nd stage, inflator hoses) a 2nd first stage, and a 2nd SPG.
Backmount is easier, quicker and more efficient for getting in/out of the water. Every time I grab my doubles, I always have a feeling that I forgot something, as it is less things to bring, and faster to get diving.
Boats can be a challenge…. In doubles and sidemount. It takes some really good mentoring, and/or experimenting with how to maneuver with a very wide profile on a boat.
Every technical class I take, I always try to get a day off class from a boat… it brings on challenges and has conditions that are different otherwise than a shore/quarry/spring will have.
But, I also enjoy diving my sidemount CCR…. A lot!
_R
