Sidemount VS Backmount

I would like to start a Sidemount VS Backmount pros & cons thread.
Note that this review is for diving with no more than 4 tanks, but I am mainly interested in regular 2 tank dives, with the occasional stage dive.
In your opinion what are the pros and cons?
I have dived extensively both, but now out of personal preference I would not go back to backmount.
I am in a continual argument with other cave explorers here (DR)with the sidemount vs Backmount thing but when you need to be flexible and have maximum redundancy it rules I think.
What do you think?

Well, backmount has the weight advantage, but I have to go with sidemount on reach alone. I think sidemount will win a split decision but will have to go the whole 10 rounds.

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Originally Posted by phillip1

I would like to start a Sidemount VS Backmount pros & cons thread.
Note that this review is for diving with no more than 4 tanks, but I am mainly interested in regular 2 tank dives, with the occasional stage dive.
In your opinion what are the pros and cons?
I have dived extensively both, but now out of personal preference I would not go back to backmount.
I am in a continual argument with other cave explorers here (DR)with the sidemount vs Backmount thing but when you need to be flexible and have maximum redundancy it rules I think.
What do you think?

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We'll, I can't say definitely that sidemount is always the most effective, but I will probably never dive backmount again unless that is the only option. For me, the comfort & flexibility of diving sidemount as well as the and ease of dealing with problems, far outweighs any benefit of backmount. I can't see myself ever going back. That said, I still do most of my diving on CCR, which I guess is backmount anyway!

Regards,
Randy

Sidemount offers more on the comfort end of things IMO.

For example would you rather put on doubles and walk 500 yards through uneven terrain or carry 1 tank and make 2 trips?

I dont care for how cluttered your chest area can get in sidemount v.s. a standard hogarthian setup on backmount.

if you have a tangle some place I think your more likely to be able to see and or reach it in sidemount though this may not always be the case.

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I mostly dive CCR now, but a few weeks ago, I took a sidemount course with Brian Kakuk. The initial motivation was to get into caves such as Ralph's cave (Abaco), which are absolutely stunning, but definitely require sidemount (a back-mount diver, if he could make it in there at all, would leave a trail of destruction behind him).

I must say, I really like side-mount. It's so comfortable and simple. Some say that sidemount is more difficult than backmount, because you have to change regulators every 200-300 psi or so. I didn't find this very difficult, and it's definitely not more difficult then the endless valve drills to shut down the manifold. With sidemount, you have true redundancy, with backmount, you don't.

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Originally Posted by marclaukien

I mostly dive CCR now, but a few weeks ago, I took a sidemount course with Brian Kakuk. The initial motivation was to get into caves such as Ralph's cave (Abaco), which are absolutely stunning, but definitely require sidemount (a back-mount diver, if he could make it in there at all, would leave a trail of destruction behind him).

I must say, I really like side-mount. It's so comfortable and simple. Some say that sidemount is more difficult than backmount, because you have to change regulators every 200-300 psi or so. I didn't find this very difficult, and it's definitely not more difficult then the endless valve drills to shut down the manifold. With sidemount, you have true redundancy, with backmount, you don't.

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I hear that too, it is increased task loading to monitor two air sources, but I think that if anyone finds it difficult to monitor two air sources maybe they should not be cave diving!!!
This comes mainly from people who have never tried sidemounting.
It is way more simple than a stage dive with backmounts.

My pros;
Complete air redundancy
Safety
Complete access to critical components at all times
Ease of transport
Comfort
Getting into tight caves easily
You get a set of 2 tanks and can dive anywhere in the world
Simplicity (yes it is a really really simple thing)
Very fun way to dive

Cons;
A bit more difficult to get proper trim than backmount.
Other than that I see no disadvantages at this point.

In simplicity I see the comparison as this

backmount=configured to dive some caves
sidemount=configured to dive the vast majority of caves

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Originally Posted by phillip1

Cons;
A bit more difficult to get proper trim than backmount.
Other than that I see no disadvantages at this point.

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Actually, I found trim easier. Since the tanks are lower on your body, you automatically get a more stable trim. It's also simple to make you less butt-heavy or head-heavy by moving the cam straps on the tanks backwards or forwards.

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Originally Posted by eramosakarst

In simplicity I see the comparison as this

backmount=configured to dive some caves
sidemount=configured to dive the vast majority of caves

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I agree, still I would dive all caves sidemount no matter how tight or large the cave may be, I personally don't see the point of backmounting anymore, it's just a hassle for no advantages.

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Originally Posted by marclaukien

Actually, I found trim easier. Since the tanks are lower on your body, you automatically get a more stable trim. It's also simple to make you less butt-heavy or head-heavy by moving the cam straps on the tanks backwards or forwards.

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I agree, but I had to learn here by myself and I found it a bit less straightforward than backmounting in that respect.