WHAT SNORKEL GEAR DO YOU NEED

While it is every business dream to sell you the most expensive snorkel gear available, purchasing the most expensive item out there may actually be a mistake. The same can also be said of buying the least expensive snorkel gear. Now that I have thrown you into a complete state of confusion let's rephrase the original question from "What snorkel gear do I need?" to "What snorkel gear meets my needs?". The answer to the re-phrased question is comfort and fit. If the snorkel gear does not fit properly, you will be uncomfortable which in turn can turn a magnificent snorkeling adventure into a snorkeling nightmare. While comfort and fit are at the top of the "what to make sure of" shopping list, there are some other things that should also be at the top of that list. Materials used in the manufacture of snorkeling equipment is also important.

Snorkelers of this author's generation may remember a time when snorkel masks were made using black rubber, they may also remember that the black rubber of those snorkel masks did not have a very long lifespan. For the once-a-year or occasional snorkeler, this meant that there was a possibility that they would have to purchase a new mask every year. This had a tendency to put a dent in the old pocket book that you wished wasn't there. Whether the snorkeling manufacturers were trying to avoid consumers developing a negative perception of snorkeling or not, they eventually started to experiment with materials other than black rubber.

The newer materials for snorkel gear such as silicone, resist many of the elements that caused the black rubber to break down which in turn increased overall equipment life. Silicone had the greatest impact on the snorkel masks. Because silicone is a more costly material, the items in which it was used, did carry a higher price tag but having snorkel gear lasting a lot longer made the increase well worth it. The snorkeling equipment manufacturer's also began to add enhancement such as purge valves in masks and snorkels. Criteria for selecting a snorkel mask should at minimum include a silicone mask skirt and adjustable strap and vewing lenses in the mask should be tempered glass. Minimum criteria for a snorkel is a silicone mouthpiece. Minimum criteria for fins would be comfort and fit which is also the criteria for snorkeling vests. Once you have the minimum covered, you can explore the enhancements and features of the snorkel gear to see if they are something that you might desire.

For more detailed information on snorkel gear, read How to Select the Right One (series), Snorkeling Masks, Snorkels, Snorkel Fins and Snorkeling Vests. We have designed them to help you make a more educated decision.