Power Kite Forum

SeaSpecs don't float

Kamikuza - 5-5-2011 at 07:06 PM

Not unless you consider rocks to float :wow:
3 pairs now decorate the bottom of Lake Biwa; after the first, I tied the second 2 pairs onto my wetsuit zip leash but they still managed to come off and sink in the milliseconds it took to get my head above the water and look for them when I felt them come off.

Bugger.

So ... do I buy another set and rig up a decent leash or try another brand?

I've looked at Zeal, Wiley-X and Fuglies and they all seem over-priced IMO especially considering the odds they'll end up in the lake :o although photochromic & ballistic lenses are le cool. 720-armour makes some nice glasses - hydrophobic and anti-fog but there's only one place I've found them and they're not cheap either :o

AD72 - 5-5-2011 at 07:43 PM

I have been looking for some kind of eye protection as well while out on the water. My eyeballs get fried after a mid day session on the water. I got some cheap anti fog goggles and they fit the bill for buggying but no good on the water because they do fog up. I was thinking of getting one of those water helmets with a baseball helmet size brim.

indigo_wolf - 5-5-2011 at 07:44 PM

Sea Specs probably float in someone's tub or pool.... perhaps less so in the pounding surf.

Are you wearing a helmet? This might restrict some decisions regarding flotation.

Floater straps are an option if you have the clearance. WTF do they make them black instead of something high-visibility.

If both leash attachment points slip you are still done.

Another option is checking the rehab supply places for closed cell foam tubing (brightly colored). They are used to build up the handles of kitchen utensils and such for people that have had hand surgery, arthritis, or other ailments that limit grip.



They come in different diameters. Find a suitable diameter cut to a preferred length and slip onto the eyeglass stems to increase floatation. Make sure that you get some where the inner diameter of the tube is a snug fit for the stems. A dot of hot glue or CA will further prevent slippage.

Cheap?? Heck you haven't bought that many kites in the past couple of months :lol: time to splurge.

ATB,
Sam

Kamikuza - 5-5-2011 at 09:48 PM

Apparently, they DO float - in salt water :dunno: there's plenty of options and the SeaSpecs do work nice - and the buy 2 get one pair & shipping free deal is great! But ...

UV block and polarized are great ... I'd love some chromic thingies though!

I've got the Protec helmet but I only wear that when I got the camera on ... glasses won't come off with that on - they seem to be sucked up off my heads when I plop down bum first ...

:P yeah but a kite is an investement that you don't expect to lose in a few seconds - 3 pairs in a month? Bah humbug.
And there weren't any waves - my first almost butter-flat session on the lake! It was so good!

Rehab supply places in Japan :lol: you may as well wear a sign that says "HEY look at me - I did something wrong in a previous life so now I'm all retarded and stuff" :( I could buy a fishing float but that thing'd bang me around the head all the time.

The straps are already attached on the SeaSpecs too ...

Kamikuza - 5-5-2011 at 09:53 PM

Seems you can't get chromics that are polarized either ...

indigo_wolf - 5-5-2011 at 10:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kamikuza
Rehab supply places in Japan :lol: you may as well wear a sign that says "HEY look at me - I did something wrong in a previous life so now I'm all retarded and stuff" I could buy a fishing float but that thing'd bang me around the head all the time.


Duuuuuude.....

700K people in Japan have RA. I expect industrial accidents also add to the rehab population. But since I don't want you to have to wear any funny signs, we'll keep looking.

Since I probably won't be able to convince you to glue some of these onto your sunglasses :sniff: :sniff: :sniff:... we'll take a pass on those too..

Small EVA fishing bobbers come in a variety of smaller sizes:
http://www.sunsohu.com/article/fishing-tackle/net-float/346/PVC-Float(Net-Float).html

Will check on another alternative when the stores are open tomorrow.

ATB,
Sam

Kamikuza - 5-5-2011 at 11:05 PM

Was quoting the prevailing belief system here :o

There are no industrial accidents in Japan - considering you can be fired if you don't hold the handrails walking up and down the stairs :lol: you'll just have to trust me that there are simply no shops like what you have back there in the developed world ...

I actually got a float like that for the GoPro but never used it ...

Am about to buy some Sharks. Maybe. Might be worth it for the hydrophobic lenses ... hey it's only money :lol:

Kamikuza - 5-5-2011 at 11:40 PM

Well! You CAN get photochromics AND polarized! If you pay for it ... note the "aqua" versions are $40 dearer and don't have my colour - Wasabi Green :lol:

http://www.zealoptics.com/2010/generatePageSun.php?name=swap...

ripsessionkites - 6-5-2011 at 01:24 AM

how about polarized swimming goggles. hehehe

I was going to mention the Oakley Water Jacket, but they are the same as the Sea Specs.

i say just get a pair of sunglasses that hug your face and add those sport extensions on the legs and you should be fine.

too be funny, how about you just land those HUGE JUMPS. :bigok:

bigkahuna - 6-5-2011 at 01:48 AM

I loose sunglasses while kiting all the time. I've tried attaching floats to the croakie (I like Indigo Wolf's idea, but I used "key chain floats" that you can find in a marine store for cheap) but once the glasses fall off, they're almost impossible to see on the surface if there's any chop at all. I now just buy the cheapest glasses I can find, drill holes in the tips for a bit of fishing line, and either make it tight on my head or tie it to my rash guard. I was in Walmart yesterday, and they're selling polarized sunglasses in the fishing supplies section for $5 a pair. I've also used the el cheapo, tinted, eye protection glasses that they sell in big box hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot). They look like regular sunglasses, except have better eye coverage. I still manage to loose at least one pair a season, but at least it doesn't hurt my wallet as bad.

PHREERIDER - 6-5-2011 at 05:13 AM

i find them all the time! i currently am still up +5 pair. rarely loose them anymore.
25 cents worth of small bungee cord is the ONLY thing that works!

like BK get a low buck set , drill, tie on with the bungee and go!

did some really neat shrink tube stuff and bungee cord on a few sets.

NOT too tight ...spend some time on the fit well worth it. i can not go with them! got have eye coverage!

me thinks the topic ran a few months back, BUNGEE cord!

ragden - 6-5-2011 at 05:28 AM

What I dont understand is how you are losing them? I wear my sea specs all the time, and have never lost a pair. I did have them come off once when the strap came apart and they fell forward off my face. Granted I am normally have either a hood on, or a helmet that helps keep them secure... I'm just wondering what you are doing that is causing you to lose them so fast....
:)

bigkahuna - 6-5-2011 at 05:37 AM

I'm in the surf all the time and they come off during a bad wipeout. Half the time my focus is on getting back up before the next set comes through and I'm long gone before I realize that the sun is suddenly brighter than is used to be. :P

During peak tourist season, I can usually pick up a dozen or so sunglasses that people leave on the beach (that and broken beach chairs, jeesh, is no one under 300 lbs any more?). If you don't mind the look, you can always find free ones that way. ;)

PHREERIDER - 6-5-2011 at 05:45 AM

nothing like PHREE!

same here!

rocfighter - 6-5-2011 at 05:56 AM

Kami have you tried superglue?
But seriously check out a web site called zennioptics.com We get all of our glasses there now and the prices are great and they ship them to you.

Kamikuza - 6-5-2011 at 06:23 AM

Sunglasses aren't that popular here - I'm the only one on the beach that wears them AT ALL including driving into the car park ... it's a Japanese thing :wow: so I won't be finding any washing up on the beach :( even my own pairs - I've been looking and have found OTHER people's reading glasses, but not mine :dunno:

Every time, it's been a bum-first splashdown and they've been sucked up off my head, but by the time I pop up again and look around - they're long gone :( it'll have to be some kind of leash but - what do I do in summer? Make a hole in my rash guard?

Ordered some 720-armour Sharks from chainreactioncycles.com ... I'll see how long it takes to lose expensive ones with a long strap!
http://www.720-armour.com/_english/13_360/shark.php?phpMyAdm...

Kamikuza - 13-5-2011 at 07:59 AM

Got some Wily-X SG-1 glasses/goggles from eBay for like $60 ... arrived the other night, got to try them today ...
The fog up real easy but clear quickly when you pull them away from your face. Otherwise, they work good ... and stay tied to my wetsuit zipper leash :D

The Sharks also arrived tonight! Woo hoo! Hydrophobic coating should be cool ...

SlasherQuan - 13-5-2011 at 10:42 AM

I picked up a floating strap for my glasses....they slide over the legs of the glasses and can cinch up to the back of your head, the few times I have been in the water with them they have worked great. Take it for what its worth, cause you spend way more time in the water than I do

canuck - 29-5-2011 at 07:34 AM

hey Kami, i saw this ad for Kurtis Surf Goggles and thought of this thread.

Too bad one pair will set you back the same amount as 6 pairs of SeaSpecs :thumbdown::thumbdown:

indigo_wolf - 29-5-2011 at 07:47 AM

Yikes!!! I thought ESS was spendy. :o

ATB,
Sam

Kamikuza - 29-5-2011 at 05:32 PM

Yeah and the Kurtis things look butt-ugly IMHO :D I went looking at mountains of different glasses online, but SeaSpecs still seem to be the cheapest and most effective over all ...

I got the 2 pair of Wiley-X things and the Sharks to try - had 2 or 3 sessions since I got the Sharks but every day has been cloudy as, so haven't worn them :( the Wiley-X did come with clear UV blocking lenses though, should try them.

You'll know when I use them :lol: they're in my glovebox so I won't forget them like I have done in the past ...

Kamikuza - 31-5-2011 at 12:42 AM

Got out on the water and remembered to take the Sharks with me :lol:

Very good anti-fog, I'm sure the little holes in the lens help. Better than the Wiley-X's so far. Full head dunking made a little fogging that cleared as soon as I got moving.
The Hyrdrophobic lens coating works well until the dirty spots the water leaves start to build up but that wipes off easy.
Very comfy - don't even notice they're on at all and they wrap around the face nicely too. The rubber on the nose and top/bottom of the frames is comfy but not intrusive.
Field of view not restricted noticeable - I never tried to peer over the top like I have done with the others ...
Stayed on the head ok when I did a bum dunk, the method I lost all the Seaspecs with. It wasn't from as great a height though as the wind wasn't up to much. And I had them leashed to the wetsuit ;)

So far, very good glasses, I'm greatly impressed. I got mine from ChainReactionCycles.com who seem to be the only internet vendor ... 720-armour.com told me they're working on Shark ver 2 so if they're better - they'll be pretty bloody good!

Kamikuza - 3-6-2011 at 12:54 AM

Aw ye-eeeeah!

Just got an email from 720-armour.com asking me if I'd like to try their new Sharks - gratis. How's that! :bigok:

indigo_wolf - 3-6-2011 at 06:41 AM

Thought of you :rolleyes:

Kurtis Surf Goggles

Found the video after canuck mentioned them above... still spendy, but looks to float nicely (@0:47).



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gath Helmets (Australia)

Retractable Full Visor





Gedi Half Visors (available on compatible helmet models)




Factory installed GoPro Mount



ATB,
Sam

Kamikuza - 7-6-2011 at 05:54 AM

Kurtis already ruled out cos they ugly. Gedi helmet is pretty cool but mad expensive IIRC. And they fog up ...? There was some major flaw with them that I forget now ...

The glasses arrived! Red frame this time, and the only update I can notice so far is the strap at the back - it's SeaSpecs style, not the cord like the old one. The cord is long enough to larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head to the tag in my t-shirt - built in leash!

Kamikuza - 11-6-2011 at 07:25 PM

Finally got to try out the Sharks ver 2.0 last night ...

My version 1's have a long string 'head strap' which is actually pretty handy - I can leash it to the tag in my t-shirt without movement being restricted. Version 2 has a head strap that kind of looks like the SeaSpecs, but has velcro adjusters ... otherwise, superficially at least they look identical.

Tried them out last night on the lake - they're just as good as the old ones - and Version 1 are excellent glasses! They're much more comfortable on my face than the SeaSpecs and the lenses are a little bigger, so there's no frame to distract your eyes - unlike the SS or the W-X ...

Anti-fog is excellent - I dunked myself several times and the hydrophobic lens shed the water instantly and they didn't fog too bad ... still in the water with my head downwind in the wind shadow, I lost maybe 30% vision to the fog but as soon as I turned my head into the wind, the venting did their job and they cleared 100% again. When you're up and riding, there's no fog. I'd say a better than SeaSpecs (which were pretty good due to the frame shape I guess) but miles better than Wiley-X. Air temp was 21°C, water was probably 15 - everyone else was still in wetsuits ;)

And - they float! In fresh water too :) they sorta bob lens down; I think the strap is the cause. It'd be easy to replace with one of those ones in the link above too for even more float. As it is, they bobbed around the surface of the lake, going under the waves on the shore line and popping back up again. The frames are red so it's easy to see when I'm standing above them ... out on the water might be another story but at least there's a chance now they'll drift into shore!

The strap also held the glasses on my head perfectly - no loss to suction when I ass-first splash down!

Excellent UV blocking - I didn't put enough sunscreen on and now have reverse panda eyes :o

Lenses are nice and dark in the sun and they cut the glare on the water really well. They're probably too dark for close to sunset and the cloudy day we had last night (big thick bank of cloud the sun hid behind for 30 minutes) but luckily, you CAN change the lenses! There's a nifty catch on the front of the nose piece that opens and then you pop the lenses out forwards ... on the webpage there's clear and the yellow options but chainreactioncycles.com, whom I got the Version 1 from, didn't stock them so I didn't test them.

So - looking for sunglasses, don't mind spending a little more money to get some good ones? Try the Sharks - they're awesome!

Very comfortable glasses, you forget you're wearing them at all!

Kamikuza - 11-6-2011 at 07:35 PM

Oh the cons? Well ...

On the version 1's, the strap/string leash is integrated and can't be removed. You can remove the strap on the 2's but if you wear either one as regular sunglasses you may look a little dorky!
Water spots on the lenses ... yes, the hydrophobic lenses sheet bulk water instantly but water spots leave gunk on the lens and after a couple of hours, I guess you'd have to clean or lick them. But no matter what I've done to lenses with Rain-X etc there is simply no getting around the residue issue ... by the time they need a good clean, I'm probably ready for a break and a drink anyway!

AD72 - 14-8-2011 at 04:49 PM

Do you have any insight when the shark II will be shipping? My eyeballs are burning out of my skull from yesterdays all day sunny session on the water.

AD72 - 14-8-2011 at 04:52 PM

There is no way I could get away with one of those Jedi helmets at my local site without a lighsaber to fend off the ridicule.

Kamikuza - 14-8-2011 at 07:15 PM

Dunno, I'll email my contact :D

I'm selling my Wiley-X glasses/goggles dirt cheap - I think they retails for $180 and I paid $100 for them. UV cut, polarized and bullet proof :D $75 shipped ;)

Kamikuza - 14-8-2011 at 11:55 PM

Sometime in October :thumbup:

indigo_wolf - 15-8-2011 at 01:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AD72
There is no way I could get away with one of those Jedi helmets at my local site without a lighsaber to fend off the ridicule.


Rock the saber.... you know you want to. :roll:



ATB,
Sam