BEFORE YOUR SESSION
Like most things in life, a little effort goes a long way to preserve your equipment and ensure you get the most out of every session.
It’s a good idea to get into a routine before heading out onto the water by doing a final maintenance check on your equipment and apparel, hydrating your body and applying sunscreen.
For watersports eyewear, we recommend the following routine before you hit the water:
- Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before you start your session / before you put on your watershades. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that emit vapours for a while after application. These vapours can be very sticky and may attach to the inner surface of the lenses which could obscure your vision. Allowing the sunscreen to absorb into your skin will minimise any vapour effects.
- Perform a visual check of the lenses to ensure they are still securely seated in the lens grooves. Look especially around the rim where the frame meets the lens and check for any sign that a lens might be partially dislodged from a previous wipeout. If in doubt, grab your microfibre bag, place it on top of the front surface of the lens and apply downward pressure with both thumbs. If a lens was out of alignment, it will make a resounding click as it slots back into place.
- Putting on your watershades should be the last step before heading out onto the water. Don’t forget to cinch the leash toggle tightly to the back of your head for the most secure setup.
- Avoid putting the sunglasses on your head at all times. Hair and the skin on your scalp contains oils, and these oils will likely disrupt the performance of the hydrophobic layer. If you need to remove the sunglasses for a moment, release the leash toggle at the back of your head and let the sunglasses hang in front of you.
DURING YOUR SESSION
HANDS OFF!
If you’ve followed our best practice cleaning procedure, your watershades will be immaculately clean and your hydrophobic coatings (both inside and out) like new.
The last thing you want to do now is compromise their condition before you head out onto the water. Some handy tips here:
- Once out on the water, never touch or wipe the lenses with your fingers or clothing. Like hair, skin contains oils which will disrupt the hydrophobic layer.
- If you are having a long session and notice salt spots beginning to form on the lenses, a simple way to reset the lenses is to take a 20 second break from what you’re doing, sit back in the water and dunk your head under the water for a few seconds. This will dissolve and wash away any dried salt particles. You’ll be amazed at how effective this simple trick is.
WIPEOUTS
We’ve all been there – catching an edge, mistiming a landing, unexpectedly getting caught inside a wave set. Wipe-outs are unavoidable when we’re pushing and challenging ourselves. The forces unleashed when a wave closes out on top of you can be huge. Likewise, striking an object while foiling can violently catapult you into the water. Events like these often disorientate us and can even leave us a little shaken.
It’s at times like these that our equipment can also be challenged. If you hit the water with force and your watershades are pulled off your head, then the chances are that the water has exerted a significant amount of pressure on the lenses as you drag them through the water. In extreme cases, this can lead to a lens popping out. In less extreme cases, a lens might become partially dislodged, but unless you briefly inspect your lenses after the wipe-out, you would never know about it. Until the next minor bump that is when a lens disappears after a seemingly innocuous fall.
After a wipe-out, get in the habit of composing yourself and checking all of your kit before powering up again. It’s good practice to compose yourself after a big fall (as long as it is safe to do so).
With our watershades, lenses can only pop out from the font, so briefly check the front side corners of both your lenses. If you notice a lens corner has popped out, push on that corner with a pinkie until you hear an audible click.
AFTER YOUR SESSION
Washing down your watersports kit can be a bit of a chore, especially after a long and challenging session, but like anything in life, the more you put in, the more you will get out.
We’d like to re-iterate our product care tips so that your watershades can remain in top condition and continue to perform as you would expect.
You should treat your sunglasses no differently from your other watersports equipment. This means thoroughly washing down with fresh water after every session to remove all traces of salt, sand and other rogue particles.
For the best results, we recommend regular cleaning of the frame and lenses using a mild and diluted detergent. This will reset your lens coatings back to factory condition, especially the all-important hydrophobic & oleophobic coatings.
Follow our best practice cleaning procedure:
1. Submerge the sunglasses (with necklace and leash still attached) in a bowl of fresh water for 3-5 minutes. Then rinse with a tap.
2. With the sunglasses still wet, apply 80% diluted detergent to your thumb and index finger and then rub the detergent onto both inner and outer lens surfaces.
3. If you are using sunscreen, you should also remove any sunscreen residue left on the rubber parts, especially at the nose and bridge area.
4. Once the cleaning is done, rinse thoroughly under a tap and leave to dry (don’t buff the lenses yet).
5. When fully dry, inspect the lenses (in particular the lens rims) for any remaining residue and if clean, buff the lenses with the supplied microfibre bag on both sides.
5 DO'S AND DON'TS
DO
- Only use the supplied microfibre cloth / bag to buff the lenses
- Remove sunscreen from your frame and lenses after each session
- Thoroughly rinse and clean your lenses with fresh water after each session
- Store your sunglasses in the microfibre bag and EVA case in a cool place between use
- Briefly inspect your lenses after every wipe-out to make sure a lens has not become partially dislodged
DON’T
- Don’t use your t-shirt, paper towel or any old fabric to buff your lenses
- Don’t use any chemicals to clean your lenses. They may damage the lens coatings
- Never leave your sunglasses on the dashboard of your car
- Don’t touch or wipe your lenses with your fingers when you are out on the water
- Don’t buff your lenses before you have checked that all traces or salt & sand are removed
