Anyone had any experience with the range of sunnies on the market that you can supposedly wear in the surf? Just after some feedback if anyone has used them and how they go after a decent wipeout etc. Not keen on wearing my normal sunnies when surfing on the SUP as I am sure I would inevitably lose them! Also ,any feedback on Caps for the same that don't look ridiculous
Oh how nice it would be to have to ponder such purchases! I live in the 'old' south wales with rain, cold and sh1t waves :)
I use a Starboard cap that has a chin strap, use it every surf - haven't lost it yet. Not too concerned how it looks but more how it keeps the sun off my face and it does that well.
Also have a pair of Sea Specs that I sometimes use on glarey days - these work well if you keep them out of the water but tend to get messy when they get wet.
I use Silverfsh Surf Sunglasses every time I paddle & after five years have never had any problems even in big surf
Last summer I started wearing a ripcurl hat with a chin strap to keep the sun off my bald patch One day in bigger surf I came off and the hat acted like a parachute under the water and nearly ripped my head off. Half a dozen trips to the physio eventually fixed my neck. Now I just shave my head in the summer and lather my scone in sun cream
I use a FCS bucket hat - has neoprene straps that come over the ears etc and it is comfy. I use it to keep sun out of the eyes and sun off the head......it stays on in medium surf...never tried it in anything bigger really but I've seen guys in powerful surf with no hassles. Worth a go I say.http://www.secretspot.co.uk/wetsuit-accessories/wetsuit-hoods/wet-bucket-hat-sand-20634.aspx
It has a clip thing at the back to stop you losing it if it comes off....however, I've no effin idea where you attach the clip
on small days, plenty here, I just wear a normal cap, no strap. float good enough when you come off. A mate bought the sea breeze surf sunnies and they came off first session. He said they seemed good, so basically if you are in any decent surf and coming off I dont think there are any sunnies that will stay on. I would also imagine the water and salt drying on both sides of the lens gets annoying?
I use my old Prescrition sunnies with a neoprene band and the ends taped on really well. You can get them at specsavers. I just wrap my wetsuit zip cord 3 or 4 times around the very tightly fitting neoprene band with a half hitch. Alternately a rashie with about 500mm of top quality round 1mm elastic and a small hole in the collar of my rashie has as worked excellently up to around 6 ft. ALWAYS wash your glasses in fresh water after a session. You could do the same thing with el cheapos first up if your nervous, it extends your session in the water and is fantastic on the glarey days. My apologies in advance,
but hats are for lawn Bowlers, caps do the job and can be attached with the same things as the sunnies. There is no excuse for wearing a hat unless you have skin cancer as I know many of us do, I keep on getting a benign one coming back every two years
Helmets are legitimate as they provide protection if you feel you need it. There are so many really great non oily spray on sunscreens know, why bother with a hat? The sun screen keeps whats left of my hair in place as well
. Cheers George Looney
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I've had the Oakley Waterjacket sunnies for about 12-13 years now, and reckon they're pretty good. The trick is using new hydrophobic solution to keep the water from sticking to the lenses. If its fresh and you apply it properly you get a good 45 to an hour of good vision. Yes, they're expensive, but they go the distance and the lenses are so good ive used them for driving....and you have the added bonus of looking like a complete psycho (or kook) in them. Just remember to leave them in the car.
My wife took the breeze sunnies to the maldives and didn't like them, though you couldn't really say she gave them a good go.
Similarly I've had a rip curl brimmed hat for the same time and I reckon they beat caps hands down. Brims not too broad so you can still see the lip, but your ears and neck dont get fried either.
I always wear a hat in the surf ...... there's nothing like sitting with a loved one in the chemo ward every second Friday and seeing the skin cancer patients, to make have a good, hard look at yourself.
I just wear a truckers cap or the like .... use the cord from the zip on my wetsuit and tie it in a knot at the back of the cap .... when it comes off it doesn't go far....
oh and yeah ... if it's good enough for Tom Carroll .......
I wear a Seal Skinz hat almost all year round. It's water and wind proof so it keeps me warm in winter without having to go to the extreme of wearing neoprene hood. I just tie it onto the zip puller, or onto a loop of ribbon on the chest zip wettie.http://www.sealskinz.com/UK/watersports/kj361-waterproof-cap-black.html
In summer I wear a bucket hat with a chin strap. I tried all the surf caps I didn't like them.
Apart from protecting your head from sunburn the brim of the hat can knock out most of the sun glare from early/late sessions. Just tilt you head down a bit.
For sunglasses I buy Seaspecs. You get three pairs for $100.
Don't buy expensive water sunglasses. You will scratch them. You will lose them. You will damage bits and pieces of them. The worst sunglasses I ever bought were $300 Oakley Waterjackets.
Do clean them thoroughly before use with warm water and detergent. Dry them and polish then clean. That will reduce fogging and glare problems.
Don't bother with coatings like RainX and Anti Fog. They don't really work on sunglasses.
When your glasses fog up just dunk your face in the water to clear them.
Do leash them onto your wettie. The head strap by itself is not enough to stop them getting lost.