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Senior week events are up and we bought tickets to go White Water rafting here. It's a class 3/4 rafting trip. My question is this: I wear glasses, will it be ok for me to wear them while on this kind of rafting trip? I have contacts but I haven't worn them in months so I'd prefer not to have to wear them. And no, I can't really get around without my glasses. Thanks!
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Tie them on with string at the front of each arm, not the back (the guides usually provide) or buy one of those elastic holders. With either one, you'll be fine.
Without, well, let's just say there are a pair of -9 cylinder glasses at the bottom of the Maury River in Virginia.
If you have an old pair, it might be a good thing to wear them, but it's pretty safe with the string or elastic.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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What are cylinder glasses? Glasses with a cylindrical correction (aka a correction for astigmatism)?
Posts: 1621 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Whitewater likes to shake any unsecured items off of you.
Wear your glasses and make sure you got a big ol' nerd strap on them that keeps them on you, then make sure the strap is also tied to your clothing, not just hanging on your neck.
There's a lot of up and down in whitewater, and -- depending on your position in the boat -- you can get some good air. Stuff can come off from around your neck. Whee!
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Contacts can also be iffy—if you take some hard spray to the face, they could shift on you and you'll be blinded for a bit. That hasn't happened to me when whitewater kayaking, but it's possible (that happens to me all the time in tubing and waterskiing).
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Do they sell any kind of windshield wiper sunglasses that could go over glasses? Because that would be awesome.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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No, but there are anti-fog solutions which will help your glasses shed water rapidly. And the odds are that the rafting outfit or a nearby business will rent or sell anti-fog rafting goggles which will fit over glasses. Get 'em. They'll also protect your glasses in case of a fall. I'm certain that I've been spared at least a few nasty bumps&scars because the goggles took the impact instead of my face.
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I'm probably going to check the Outdoor Edcuation part of Cornell or see if someone can take me out to the Eastern Mountain Sports or something. The trip isn't until May 24 so I have time.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I'm glad you started this thread, because I was wondering this myself. I'm going rafting in August, and I almost always wear contacts wherever I go.
I was planning on only bringing with me a waterproof disposable camera and goggles for my eyes during the actual rapidy parts of the river.
Wasn't there a Harry Potter spell that kept the water off your glasses? Use that.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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My husband and I have often gone white water rafting and we always either tied on our glasses or used one of those elastic straps for glasses. I also may have worn contacts a couple times, but my eyes are very sensitive to the sun, so I still needed the "nerd strap" to hold on my sunglasses.
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