I have used the PDF (now Snap Dragon) back bands in 5 boats. I tried making my own but never find them as comfortable as the sewn and padded commercial ones. Many kayak stores carry them and they conviently come with all the appropiate hardware and cost about $30. It's one of those little chores I don't want to deal with at the end of a boat building project so I buy them. They last forever. on my first stripper I went for the larger one ( bigger is better) and now I use the smaller one and find no lack of comfort. I found the larger would dig into my back when I was practcing a lay back type of roll.