Has anyone used the half or full face visor for Gath helmet? I am as much interested in sunburn protection as eye protection. My usual is cheap sunglasses and zinc/titanium on my face. My latest pair of sunglasses doesn't slide into the helmet as nicely. Also the bottom edge gets sunscreen from my cheeks, which over time becomes a film inside the sunglasses, reducing vision. It would be nice to eliminate sunscreen on my face, via a visor that blocks UV. The half-face visor has a cut-out for the nose - which means the nose might still be getting sun (though sunscreen wouldn't smear as much onto the visor as it does on sunglasses). I've heard the full-face gets water up under it when you crash - so maybe when you're half-submerged, water splashing inside the visor could be a breathing issue / annoyance. Overall though, seems like it might be better than sunglasses. Half / full - anybody have experience with these visors? Also, do they tilt-up? The info doesn't cover much. It seems to indicate that even the clear ones block UV (many plastics absorb/block UV).

Yes, use a smoke tint one all the time windsurfing. I spray it occasionally with a furniture polish to help it repel water. Yes no more sunburn or sore eyes from the sun. No issues either with water being held in the visor and they do retract but it can cause scratches.

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L8Start said..
Has anyone used the half or full face visor for Gath helmet? I am as much interested in sunburn protection as eye protection. My usual is cheap sunglasses and zinc/titanium on my face. My latest pair of sunglasses doesn't slide into the helmet as nicely. Also the bottom edge gets sunscreen from my cheeks, which over time becomes a film inside the sunglasses, reducing vision. It would be nice to eliminate sunscreen on my face, via a visor that blocks UV. The half-face visor has a cut-out for the nose - which means the nose might still be getting sun (though sunscreen wouldn't smear as much onto the visor as it does on sunglasses). I've heard the full-face gets water up under it when you crash - so maybe when you're half-submerged, water splashing inside the visor could be a breathing issue / annoyance. Overall though, seems like it might be better than sunglasses. Half / full - anybody have experience with these visors? Also, do they tilt-up? The info doesn't cover much. It seems to indicate that even the clear ones block UV (many plastics absorb/block UV).

yep I use the half face smoke visor and it will do what you need. you need to wash it in fresh water to make sure the salt doesnt go all crusty on it after use. Flips up and down fine while your riding and yes the bit over your nose will get zinc all over it.

Yep i used pull down visor on Garth. didnt bother cleaning it and after 6 months couldnt see through it.
I pull it down still as a brow shade now with helps heaps.
I would say you need to look after it if you want to pull it down and use over time

Thanks all. I ordered... chose a web site specifically because it said they had it in stock. Mistake. They didn't have it in stock. I could have had my local shop order it and save both time and shipping. Now I'm waiting for the order to ship - which depending on where they get it from, could be months. Debating whether I should just cancel order. I feel sorry for businesses trying to survive in this climate, but at the same time, I'd rather support my local shop - especially if I'm going to have to wait for shipping from now, who knows where?! Note: why didn't I go with my local shop in the first place? 1. they didn't have it in stock via web site 2. small item; didn't seem like such a big deal. But paying half again for shipping... ugh.

Can't comment on the visor itself mate, but have had the same thing with ordering. Ordered from somewhere that listed as 'in-stock' but didn't, cancelled immediately and local shop got it pretty quick and didn't charge for shipping.

Wouldn't think twice about cancelling the order and getting it through your local-more likely to actually get hold of it this year that way too. Support local and all that as well!

Use rain shield on both sides of visor for crystal clear vision, cheap product from auto shops, just spray and wipe

Hi L8start,

never been a fan of the Gath helmets, always found them uncomfortable around the ears, the visors scratch easily, unless treated carefully and you keep maintenance up.
we sell the Forward WIP goggles which are quite popular amongst the kite racers.




DM

I've been experimenting recently with a cheap tinted visor purchased via eBay ("Oversized Goggles Full Face Cover Shield Polarized Large Huge Mirror Sunglasses" $11 from Melbourne) for full-face sun protection, and it seems to be quite successful!
I removed the arms and the nose thingy and just fastened the visor onto my Gath helmet with velcro. Not able to flip up or anything but can put helmet on/ off with it in place. I had some concerns about possible fogging, or losing feel of the wind on my face but it has enough gap at the sides to ventilate really well. no fogging at all so far (not sure yet how it'll be in cold weather.)
Sure helps keeping sun off the face and keeping the sunscreen from washing off, and there's room inside for glasses or sunnies as well if they were needed.

I have a Gath and it's a real smart thing to use. I use it far less than I should. But, visor-down, it is perfectly usable. Not entirely relevant but a few years ago I saw a photograph in a kite mag of a woman kitesurfer in Hawaii. She was on her way back out and had taken off the should off from an incoming wave. I should add she was wearing a brief bikini.

I'd judge she was about 3M airborne, legs apart and had the aspect of a sort of human aircraft. Behind her was her board on a leash stretched to perhaps triple its unstressed length. This has little to do with a Gath. But the principal of protection of the head is undeniable. The question I need answered is what can protect against this kind of instance? It was simultaneously horrific and hilarious... the latter only because the photo would never have been punished if the results had been as dire as they might have been.

I bought a Gath half visor for my surf convertible. I found it virtually useless over about half a dozen sessions. I have taken it off. I might try it again but I doubt it.

- The top of the helmet scratches the visor when you push it up.
- Bits of the helmet get in the way when trying to clean the visor. It's much easier to clean and handle sunglasses than to manage a big visor attached to a helmet.
- It doesn't sit neatly halfway up (the surf convertible doesn't take the ratchet fitting).
- When at it's lowest raised setting the nose protector is in the middle of my field of view. It's annoying. It doesn't stick out far enough to make a decent sunshade.
- The smoke visor is not dark enough to cut out sun glare.
- The visor sits out too far from your face so that reflections, water droplets and dried salt are right in the field of view. Sunglasses sit close to your eyes so you can more easily see between drops.

I am tempted to try the visor with Rain-X. I swore off Rain X in the past because it was not very reliable for sunglasses. It might be better with a visor. Problem is Rain X at $23 costs almost as much as the visor $28.

It's fairly effective to drop into the water and swoosh the visor clean, same as any other glasses.
It's not a nuisance having the visor permanently mounted and raised on the helmet (other than being one more fragile thing to take care of).
Riding with your back to the sun and a clean visor is kind of cosy and nice. You don't really need glasses or visor in those conditions.

My favourite eye protection are:
- Lips Typhoon glasses (expensive) The arms have a thick bit that causes a pressure point under the ear pads of the Gath helmet.
- Seaspecs (or any other lower priced water sunglasses). Just drop in the water from time to time to clean them. Quite compact and low profile.
- Spex Amphibian spexusa.com/product/spex-amphibian-eyewear-black/ I bought these in the early days of kite boarding and never used them. I dug them out last year and found they were pretty good. Very easy to push up on your head or down around your neck. Secure them with a leash. Drop into the water to flush clean.

Have been using the full visor for a few years now. It is so much better than any glasses. Firstly, no fogging, secondly, no straps. Also much better vision after water splash, perfect Sun protection(!) and additional impact protection for your face. As far as ware and tear is concerned, if you take care of any other piece of your kitesurfing equipment, why should you not do it with this one? Love it

yep had myne for 10 years constant use. visor lasted 6 months before frosted from salt and cracked. they are replaceable but not sure how much.

I use a 20 year old gath with a slide down full visor. The visor is hard to see through so i pull it down only part way - set the bottom edge at just above eye level. This gives me full view of the water but shades the direct sun. Works fine - until dusk anyway.