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From: Sylvia Jacobs <grannie13_at_webtv.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Eyeglasses for sea kayaking
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 18:58:06 -0700 (PDT)
I must wear glasses on the water. I enjoy the beauty around me( the main
reason I'm out there) and, of course, I have to see what hazards lie
ahead. The problem is that I have lost 2 pairs of prescription glasses
in as many years. Both times I capsized in large surf which swept the
glasses with Croakies right off my head. Someone has suggested running a
cord from the frames to my PFD...I'll probably do that. Since I am in
the market for new glasses I would to know how others secure their
eyeglasses. I saw some sport "goggles"...heavy plastic frames with an
elastic strap in place of the temples. Has anyone tried these for sea
kayaking? JAKE

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From: Peter W <peterw_at_usa.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Eyeglasses for sea kayaking
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 08:22:19 -0400 (EDT)
On Wed, 21 Apr 1999, Sylvia Jacobs wrote:

> I must wear glasses on the water. 

> The problem is that I have lost 2 pairs of prescription glasses
> in as many years. Both times I capsized in large surf which swept the
> glasses with Croakies right off my head. 

A fellow I know who taught sailboarding reported trouble with Croakies,
too. He swears by Chums now. Chums has a nice Web site
(http://www.chums.com/) where you can see their rather full product line
and order retainers easily. The fat "Original" and thin "TechnoCrat"
models would be my safe picks, though I confess to no real tests like
yours, not yet. The good thing about those Chums models (I haven't
actually seen a TechnoCrat) is that there's a bead that lets you adjust
how tightly the glasses are held. Back the bead off on shore, but when you
set out, snug those glasses to your face. I wouldn't trust any eyeglass
retainers that weren't designed that way, including other Chums brand
retainers (ala the "Classic", "Diplomat", "Librarian", etc.)

-Peter

The Intel Pentium III chip: it's like a surveillance camera in
your computer screen. Watching you. All the time. Every day.
Boycott Intel. Now.  http://www.privacy.org/bigbrotherinside/

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From: K. Whilden <kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Eyeglasses for sea kayaking
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 12:08:16 -0700 (PDT)
I wear glasses when I paddle on the sea and on the river. I never use
croakies, because these come off the frames much too easily. Instead, I
believe whole heartedly in the 'Chums' brand of eyeglass retainer. These
come in several different diameters to fit different diameter frames, and
they can cinched down to fit just behind the head. This is an important
point, because cinching means that they are less likely to fly off your
head. So far, seven years of surfing, whitewater rivers and rodeo has not
resulted in a single loss of glasses retained with Chums. Not a bad
recommendation, eh?

If you do buy a new pair of glasses, try to avoid the thin metal style
temple unless the connection to the glasses part of the frame has a large
joint that the chums can grip. Also, if you ever forget your chums, just
make a retainer strap with a 1 inch wide strip of duct tape. I used just
this method all last weekend on the river. Finally, helmets, which are an
excellent idea in the surf, really help your glasses to stay on your head
where they belong.

Cheers,
Kevin

	 ___________________                                                            
	/   Kevin Whilden   \
       |Dept. of Geosciences ___
       |University of Washington \
       |kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu| 
        ________________________/                       

On Wed, 21 Apr 1999, Sylvia Jacobs wrote:

> I must wear glasses on the water. I enjoy the beauty around me( the main
> reason I'm out there) and, of course, I have to see what hazards lie
> ahead. The problem is that I have lost 2 pairs of prescription glasses
> in as many years. Both times I capsized in large surf which swept the
> glasses with Croakies right off my head. Someone has suggested running a
> cord from the frames to my PFD...I'll probably do that. Since I am in
> the market for new glasses I would to know how others secure their
> eyeglasses. I saw some sport "goggles"...heavy plastic frames with an
> elastic strap in place of the temples. Has anyone tried these for sea
> kayaking? JAKE
> 
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> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
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> 

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