Where/what are these 4 dollar pouches from? Did you ever attempt lexan?
I'm on the verge of completing a switch from the plastic backpack to a SS backplate. Of course the price has gone upAll that's left is to add some weight pockets to the plate. I was going to make them but I got some from China for $4 each and they already have both Velcro and side-release buckles which is exactly what I had in mind. I just need to find some stiff, waterproof, unbreakable sheet of something to mount them on so they can be easily screwed onto the backplate.
I bought the SS backplate mainly because it is less bulky than the plastic with the lead weights. I'm hoping to be able to get all of my dive gear into my carry-on bag but for local diving I still like the $10 versionIt is still intact and ready to dive other than the wing has been switched to the SS plate but can be switched back in a couple of minutes. My only regret is that it doesn't accommodate lead weights as easily and neatly as @aquacat8 's "killed poodle." No doubt I will eventually cast one big weight that screws onto the backpack. I've been eyeballing a $160 wing but I'll probably end up buying a second snorkel vest. I"m just waiting for LeisurePro to have it on sale again
I've only taken it on a couple of dive boats so far but nobody has said "what the hell is that?" or "you are going to die" so the appearance must be professional-looking enough. Other than the fact that the BC (snorkel vest material) is not as heavy-duty as a typical back wing I don't see any reason why it would not be just as reliable and safe to use as most other wings. To me it looks sturdy enough and any bladder could become punctured.
If any newly-certified divers are reading this, please keep in mind that I dove for about 45 years before I ever used any BC so to me this is mainly to satisfy the requirements of a BC on dive boats etc. Also, I just got a new Super-Stretch 7mm wetsuit which I expect to compress more at depth than my old 1/4" Farmer John so having a few pounds of lift at the beginning of the dive may come in handy. My snorkel vest BC has about 19-20 pounds of buoyancy in fresh water so that would be a little more in salt water. Ultimately I will be able to ditch weight in 5-6 pound increments if needed but don't expect to ever dump any weights unless I get attacked by a giant octopus or some other unforeseen disaster.
