Snorkle sets

Tetsugen

Instead of paying outrageous prices this year to rent a set, I would like to get my own. Which snorkel set is the best bang for the buck? I'm just looking for the snorkel & mask not the flippers. Thanks!

Everywhereasign

In general, the combination snorkel/mask sets suck. These are made with cheap plastic and have rubber skirts rather then silicone. At best, they rarely seal well and wear out really fast, at worst they collapse against your face or break while snorkeling.

The best mask is what fits your face. The best snorkel is the one easiest to hold comfortably in your mouth and breathe through.

Your best bet is to find a store in your area that sells SCUBA gear, they should have a host of masks that they can let you try on. You want one that will stay on your face without the strap on, suction only. If it leaks and falls off, it'll leak in the water. Snorkels vary, the more money you spend the "drier" they are. This means they'll be more comfortable to breathe off of after clearing them. You'll notice a piece that drops below your mouth towards your chin on good ones, this usually has a valve on it to let water drain out. The longer this piece is, the "drier" the snorkel.

After finding a mask and snorkel you really like, look for them online. You can usually find much better deals then your local dive store will offer you.

When you first get a mask, make sure you clean the glass inside and out using toothpaste (not the gel kind). A fine layer of silicone is on the glass for shipping and will result in fog up if not removed.

Keep in mind that all the above info is based on masks I've bought for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Because I'm using them frequently and often in 80ft of fast moving water, I want one that fits really well and I'm more then willing to pay for the comfort and safety. If you're just planning on snorkeling once a year for a week, you probably would be happy spending less money on a cheaper set.

Djeet

I like the masks where the front "lens" is one piece of glass (as opposed to a mask that looks more like goggles), this maximizes the area through which you can view. Also having side "windows" is nice, so that you have some peripheral view (more important in SCUBA than snorkeling). I don't like purge valve on masks (under the nose usually), they don't seem to work right for me and interfere with normal purging.

And for snorkels, I like the ones that have flexible material at the bend, but again that's more for conveniently getting it out of the way when you're SCUBA diving.