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Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

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tautologies
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Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby tautologies » Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:02 pm

hi. So I used to get some Seaspecs knock offs that I would get in bulk from ebay (from a FL supplier?). I can't really find them anymore so I am reaching out here.
I think I've been lucky...my vision is still 20/20 with no cataracts etc. However I do need to protect my eyes now.

I do not really want to pay an arm and a leg because they break and I am absolute shit at treating sunglasses good. My last pair lasted a session before breaking in a crash.

So peeps..what do you have in terms of advice for some eye protection?

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby jeromeL » Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:09 pm

I have a like 3 or 4 pairs of seaspecs, bought a few spare lens too. On their website they sell lens only for 1 of the model, some model have different shape frame so don't get those.

so far I lost only 3 lens in 3 years, mostly faceplanting on landing some kiteloop :) Never broke the frame though.
You just pop the lens into the frame.

Some of my buddies buy very cheap sunglasses and put a string on it. THey dno't care if they break or loose them they are like less than $5. I think they are still UV protection and such not sure.

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby FLandOBX » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:45 am

"Now go out and get yourself some big black frames
With the glass so dark they won't even know your name
And the choice is up to you cause they come in two classes:
Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses.........." ZZ Top

I use SeaSpecs when I kite, but at all other times, I feel like a rock star in my cheap sunglasses. :cool2:

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby FLandOBX » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:51 am


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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby pj sofine » Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:42 am

I just buy safety sun glasses from home depot,10$ or so,got some that are quite stylish. :dance:

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby Sun » Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:08 am

pj sofine wrote:
Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:42 am
I just buy safety sun glasses from home depot,10$ or so,got some that are quite stylish. :dance:
I second this wholeheartedly. I had a nice pair of Reef sunglasses, until I lost them. I had a pair of Seaspec sunglasses, until the lenses popped out. Got a second pair of Seaspec sunglasses, with a floating strap, until I lost them. Not even the strap on the Seaspecs helped to keep them on my head.

In a fit of desperation I bought several cheap 3M tinted safety glasses, and to make sure I did not lose them as easily, I added a cord between the earpieces. Since I do not relish the idea of being strangled by the cord if something gets caught, I used the cord from ear plugs which is a breakaway style.

And son of a bitch, they are better than the Seaspecs ever were. I have not lost a single pair. Also, they are one molded piece of plastic so the lenses cannot pop out of the frame like the stupid Seaspecs. And water does not even splash around the frame into your eye.

Literally all you have to do is drill a hole at the end of each earpiece, pass the ends of the safety cord through either hole, and knot the cord ends. I like to put a dab of glue on the knots to make sure they do not come undone.
The cords are sized perfectly for me so that I can do the following: Put the cord over my head around my neck with the sunglasses behind me, twist the sunglasses 360 degrees behind my head with my fingers such that the cord makes one wrap, I then slip the sunglasses over my head on to my eyes. This way the cord holds the sunglasses down. You may have to trial fit this to get the length of the cord right.

It is legitimately better than any other pair of sunglasses I have used for kiting. Even got my buddies convinced to do the same thing after I let them try a pair. The bonus is that it is cheap enough for you to make enough pairs so that you can stuff a pair into each kite bag. That way you can never forget them.

Pretty much the only drawback is that you have to do a bit of work to get them set up, and they are not polarized. I don’t miss the polarization though.

See here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M00LF ... th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000E260 ... th=1&psc=1
Last edited by Sun on Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby tautologies » Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:18 am

Sweet. I'm trying the 3M ones.

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby jeromeL » Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:35 pm

tautologies wrote:
Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:18 am
Sweet. I'm trying the 3M ones.
actually some review said they asked manufacturer and they confirm it does have UV protection.

I wonder what happens if you face plant with those though. I guess it should work out since they are made for taking hit...

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby Sun » Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:29 pm

jeromeL wrote:
Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:35 pm
actually some review said they asked manufacturer and they confirm it does have UV protection.

I wonder what happens if you face plant with those though. I guess it should work out since they are made for taking hit...
Yes, almost every pair of lenses you can put on your eyes blocks UV light. The 3M glasses are polycarbonate, which filters out nearly all UV. UV is bad, and if ever you find anything that does not filter it, do not use it for your eyes.

Polarizing is a different matter. That is a surface coating, and wanting it mostly depends on personal preference. I prefer to not have it, because I do not like how it changes the way waves/chop looks when kiting. It does help with glare when driving though.

And as for impact resistance, I feel pretty safe with these. On top on being rated for impact per ANSI Z87.1, the lenses are the same molding as the frame. When my Seaspec lens popped out, I remember being thankful is did not get shoved into my eye.

Granted, I have not heard of anyone getting hurt that way. For what it is worth, I have not had any difficulties with these 3M glasses myself. Had a few hard hits too.

Stay safe.

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Re: Eye protection -> tips on cheap and good-ish sunglasses for kiting

Postby PullStrings » Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:54 pm

Sun wrote:
Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:29 pm
Polarizing is a different matter. That is a surface coating
No. It's a film sandwiched inside a sun lens

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