Sunglasses - OK for surfing?

[clinton]

Going surfing for the first time. I need glasses or contacts to see well, and I hate wearing contacts. So can I wear my prescription Oakleys when surfing? Are there special straps that surfers use to make sure they sunglasses stay on (these sunglasses don't float)?

What are the cons of wearing sunglasses instead of contact lenses? The obvious pro is UV protection.

[isaluteyou]

By BY Oakleys I went surfing wearing a headband and one wipeout and it was gone

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Laser eye surgery....I lost a pair of my oakleys just playing in the waves on breaking onto the beach with a girl last month....There is no way I am wearing glasses out to surf with...

[SoCal WaterSpout]

After surfing only a handful of times, I would say no. The minute a large, powerful wave comes (and trust me, it will come), it will rip them right off your face.

Same reason I won't wear a bikini while surfing...

[Brisbanebound]

After surfing only a handful of times, I would say no. The minute a large, powerful wave comes (and trust me, it will come), it will rip them right off your face.

Same reason I won't wear a bikini while surfing...

Same reason I spend so much time watching girls in bikinis when they are out!!!

[Stone Fox]

I've never had any problems, but then I wear a cheap plastic pair I bought at a shop in Croyde. Cost about £5, and they gripped really tight on my head.

You can also buy spec-cords. (will post a pic in a minute when I've worked out how to use the camera on my new phone) that hold 'em on your head.

*edit*

Thinking about it though, I BET if I tried wearing an expensive pair I'd lose 'em first time out.

I once bought the diving version of the G-Shock, it had two seperate interlocking canvas and velcro wrist straps.

It came off the very first time I dived into bray lake and sunk.

[RUSS-D]

check out a pr. of Sea Specs. I have a couple of prs. and they work well. I have had them out in chest to head high waves as the Sun was getting low on the horrizon. Everyone else was squinting to see, besides me. Only draw back I have found is on cold days. They tens to fog up from the heat of your face meeting the cold air. Otherwise I would say just get some cheapo shades, and go for it. If you lose them, it didn't cost you much.

[robboxedit]

After surfing only a handful of times, I would say no. The minute a large, powerful wave comes (and trust me, it will come), it will rip them right off your face.

Same reason I won't wear a bikini while surfing...

BOOOO......

[TicTac]

After surfing only a handful of times, I would say no. The minute a large, powerful wave comes (and trust me, it will come), it will rip them right off your face.

Same reason I won't wear a bikini while surfing...

Same reason I spend so much time watching girls in bikinis when they are out!!!

Its portsmouth, in winter, you wont be seeing girls in bikinis out in the swell for a long time yet

[Driftingalong]

My advise would be to suck it up and were the contacts...that's what I do.

[tomcat360]

I tried it once or twice, I just used some croakies and didn't lose them, but they don't clear after a duck dive, and I don't need any correction, so I stopped surfing with them.

Do your contacts ever pop out or get sand/salt beneath them? I've never needed to wear them, it seems like it would be such a pain. That's one thing I have and appreciate, my eyes, and for that matter, my general health.

[Driftingalong]

I havn't had any problems. I just don't open my eyes under water.

[RUSS-D]

I'll say it again, SeaSpecs are the way to go. They will stay on your head in the waves, they are 100% UV rated, and are comfortable to wear. I realy like mine, they are great for Sunset surfing here on the Gulf, and Sunrise (DP) on the East Coast. Oakley makes a pair of water glasses also, but they are WAYYYYYYYY overpriced, and I talked to someone that has had both and he says the SeaSpecs are a lot better. He is why I bought mine.
http://www.seaspecs.com/

[Bub]

I wore Speedo swim goggles surfing before. The were suctioned on my eyes and really tight around my head. A wave still knocked them off my face. I just wore them around my neck for the rest of the session. I had trouble seeing the waves with all of the water droplets on them anyway. They really only help seeing underwater but impare vision out of the water.

[liamcooper101]

I've not been surfing too long but I've got to a point where I rarely wipe out real bad any more. What I've gone for is the Old Youth zebra wood wayfarers. Because they are made from wood they naturally float but I also use a croakies so when I do go it doesn't take me long to spot them. They look awesome, have full UV protection and are polarised. I get free postage because I'm in the EU but they are based in the UK. http://www.oldyouth.co.uk is there site and These are the ones I went for http://oldyouth.co.uk/wood-sunglasses-shop/zebra-wood-sunglasses/ I know the ebony wood ones don't float because they are dense but the zebra and bamboo do.

[billie_morini]

Liam, Wow, where have you been?! You've just replied to a 10 year old post!

[RedLine]

Unfortunately, no I had this experience and it was awful

[OlegLupusov]

The only way to keep the sunglasses is to attach them to the wetsuit by the zipper stripe.
Even, so adjusting them all the time could annoying.

I use regular sunglasses (in smaller waves) and contacts.

Without wetsuit I lose them all the time. And even with the wetsuit they break after 1-20 sessions. As a rule, I use either cheap or free promotion sunglasses. So, no financial bleeding here.