Snapped my thrid and final backup pair of kiting sunnies this weekend. I need another pair (and probably a backup). I can't see for long in the WA sun and bright white sand; my eyes just water after an hour (and have the terigiums (sp?) to prove it).

Most glasses (cheap to pricey) are crap' quite a few delaminate; fog too easily.
The Oakley Waterjackets are just amazing, but I lost a lens and can't seem to find a replacement. Those things were the best ever.
The Seabreeze ones seems ok. Had hit and miss. One pair was the last one I had till now and epic, and another delaminated after a year (lens coverings coming off).

I had a "sundog? Saltydog? some dog one that was very good but can't find them anymore.

I also had sea-specs, but the removable frame was just to uncomfortable (And I eventually snapped the frame in a boat (Head meets bimini pole in unexpected wake chop). no big loss although they were very pricey. The lenses seemed good. the frame PITA.

Any advice for 2020/2021 -- quality that lasts?

righto. not cheap, but it seems solid. The website was in one of my research tabs. Didn't look into it back then.

Hardcarve1 said..
Lip Typhoon

There are many combinations of lenses. Which one do you recoomend for bright Aussie sun (especially the sun setting over the water?) - I am guessing I am after a LEVEL 3 smoke?

The Typhoon (~$300) vs the Surge ($150). Essentially the same product (frame shape is different), and the preimum is to go from PolyCarbonate lenses with the 3 coatings to a Zeiss Lens ?

Don't waste your time looking at anything else, especially if you already have issues with your eyes from excessive sunlight. Spend the money, it is a very small cost for eyesight insurance and buy the Lip Typhoon. I have now had them for a few seasons and highly rate them. Admittedly you will never find the perfect solution to eye protection as occasionally they will fog up (usually because I drag the back of my wrist across the lens and suncream gets on them) but they are the best I have found. There are now a number of us using these and everyone rates them (one mate bought the cheaper Surge version and now wishes he spent the extra and got the Typhoon). I have had sessions without them and have come of the water with really sore eyes. These things save me. Especially around glarey beaches like Lano, Dongara and the like, and when foiling.

I have had a couple of issues with these glasses (broke a clip that goes around the neck band and an issue with lens - all probably user fault) and the after-sales service has been brilliant. Both times at no expense to me, the company has without question replaced these parts free of charge.

Been on a similar never ending journey to find a good solution. The Oakley XL sliver worked well for me for a while , but I lost a pair in waves and another pair to scratches, so I went back to cheapies.

I tried Knock Arounds and they delaminate after a couple sessions, and then I accidentally stumbled onto a pair of Sunclouds on sale. Not sure if they are US only, but apparently smith owns them and they sell smith glasses after smith retires the shape. The lenses have been fairly hydrophobic and haven't scratched too easily. Hope that helps

Thanks for all the advice. Ended up going with Lip Typhoon and the mirror blue lenses (had the surge in the cart, but capitualed for the Zeiss upgrade in the end)

I got them off the Aussie distributor Goggleman in the end. goggleman.com.au/collections/kiteboarding-windsurfing/products/typhoon-watershades-11-colours?variant=2074352484364

I rang the listed number on the site and David picked up. He was very knowledgable and we changed my order from smoke to inlcude a mirror coating, to reduce sensitivity on my eyes. [He went as far as swapping out the lenses in stock to match the frame I wanted]. There is a 15% off orders over $250 (~one typhoon / 2x Surge).

Its a pretty big investment for me. Let's see how they go. I'll update here after I try them in the WA sun and surf.

A bit off topic but i reakon theres two things that are critical if you want to aviod fogging up glasses

one is wipe your face with a t shirt before you put the sunnies on... even with no sunscreen on theres always grease/sweat on your face that runs around your eyes and makes sunnies fog up

2nd tip is if you are going to use suncream, dont put any on your forehead ... itll run down into your eyes/glasses for sure. I wear a bucket hat to aviod the forehead burn which looks stupid as fk but i dont care as long as i can see. So put your sunnies on first, then cream up everything south of them :)

i just wear regular sunnies, not watersports specific ones, and have no issues. took me about 8 years of kiting with dodgy fogged up glasses to work that all out though.

Maui Jim Waterman are good ones as well but not cheap either. I also have LiP Surges.

Ebay has replacement lenses from genuine shop

From anyone who understands a bit of optics, I need some advice.

I like polarised lenses and I use them in overcast weather as well, no problem. On the other hand, wearing them I can't seem to judge accurately how much water is above the reef in our pristine WA ocean. It seems kind of "too transparent". I wore non-polarized lenses many years ago and I could judge the water depth much better, but then I did not have the clarity....

I wonder if someone can put "light" on this. I think, it is something to do with the polarizing layer on the lenses... but not sure.

The problem is real, because there are times I think I will be hitting the reef when there is plenty of water, just to loose a fin the next run a bit further up on an area that looks the same.

For many years I've been rolling with tinted safety glasses that are about $10 to $20.
The work just as well as expensive glasses and I dont care at all if I smash or loose a set. I might smash or loose 1 set per year.

PS I use the neoprene old man band so if they get knocked down they dont fall off. I also wear a helmet that stops them falling off too.

Dangerous said..

The big selling point of polarised lenses is they filter any light reflecting off a surface, including reflections off the surface of the water but it is this reflection that allows you to see the surface you're kiting on. Without it, you're just looking at a body of transparent liquid so your perception of the waves and chop is compromised. They're great for almost everyone as they reduce glare so they feel better to the eye but not for kiteboarders. I've queried Seaspecks about this and they sent me non-polarised lenses which made a world of difference but there's no mention of it on their website.

Thanks, Mate, that really is. I will check Seaspecks and others.

I'm still using SeaSpecs from 2008! I've got two pairs. I've glued on the head strap twice, best I found to fix that was silicon and haven't had to re-glue since. Haven't had any delam or anything. I treat them like sh!t, and they do fine. They never get a wipe with anything more than my towel and when the sunscreen is too bad, a wash with some dishwashing detergent.

Definitely if kiting nice clear water then i find polarised lenses muddle up visibility of the chop a lot and non polarised lenses seem clearer. But if you are kiting some churned up or silty water in a bay then I found it makes very little difference. Using polarised Dirty Dog Curl 2s currently and they are ok 90% of the time. Have some non polarised Bolle Tracker 2 with the 'twilight lenses for those times they aren't, although the Bolle's need rainx applied occasionally to stop fogging.

Dangerous said..

The big selling point of polarised lenses is they filter any light reflecting off a surface, including reflections off the surface of the water but it is this reflection that allows you to see the surface you're kiting on. Without it, you're just looking at a body of transparent liquid so your perception of the waves and chop is compromised. They're great for almost everyone as they reduce glare so they feel better to the eye but not for kiteboarders. I've queried Seaspecks about this and they sent me non-polarised lenses which made a world of difference but there's no mention of it on their website.

I had my first session today on a non-polarized pair of glasses. Not Seaspec, just a pair of good quality safety glasses with 25% grey tinting.
It was a world difference. It was great to judge the dept above the reef and ride through the shallow without much worry. It certainly lets through the sun's reflection from the water way more than a polarized, but it wasn't disturbing, especially because the glasses filtered all UV. The quality of the glasses were superior, water repellent and permanent non-fog. I hope they will last.
This is certainly the go...