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Cressi Lince 2
- Thread starterBatRay
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Got one. Vision downward is outstanding and sideways is pretty good. My only gripe with it is the seal breaks easily by the cheeks due to thinness there. Very little flex in that area; my face has to be totally relaxed or water will leak in.BatRay said:
Since then I have opted for a Technisub Falco. It has a wider field of vision but a reduced field downwards. I spearfish and peripheral vision is more important for me than up/down. No problem with the Falco.
It fits my face great. It seals so good that I can put more air pressure in it than any mask I have ever tried, which I like to do when trying to handfree equalize. The low volume helps too.
Downward vision, like OregonSpearo said, is good, but my one gripe is the upward vision, like almost all freediving masks, is not as good as it should be. When will the gear manufactures ever figure out that freedivers descend and travel headfirst? We don’t look down to see where we are going or too look at gauges. Therefore the lense needs to be as close as possible to face in the forehead area so the lense can angle up, not down.
I think the major reason the manufactures still tilt the lenses down is because the scuba diving market is so large that if the mask crosses over and is used by scuba divers as well as freedivers, it means substantially larger sales.
If it were up to me I would get rid of the inverted teardrop shape, bring the lense closer to the face on the forehead, and angle the lense up instead of down. Even though it’s much different than I would build it, it still, like it is, seems to be the best mask out there for me.
don
Downward vision, like OregonSpearo said, is good, but my one gripe is the upward vision, like almost all freediving masks, is not as good as it should be. When will the gear manufactures ever figure out that freedivers descend and travel headfirst? We don’t look down to see where we are going or too look at gauges. Therefore the lense needs to be as close as possible to face in the forehead area so the lense can angle up, not down.
I think the major reason the manufactures still tilt the lenses down is because the scuba diving market is so large that if the mask crosses over and is used by scuba divers as well as freedivers, it means substantially larger sales.
If it were up to me I would get rid of the inverted teardrop shape, bring the lense closer to the face on the forehead, and angle the lense up instead of down. Even though it’s much different than I would build it, it still, like it is, seems to be the best mask out there for me.
don
Interesting. Can you compare it to the Big Eyes? Is there a better mask out there? Maybe they should try inverting the teardrop shape in the other direction 
. How is it in terms of comfort and durability? My only frame of reference is the Minima and a Scubapro mask that I hate. Anything would probably be better.
. How is it in terms of comfort and durability? My only frame of reference is the Minima and a Scubapro mask that I hate. Anything would probably be better.
BatRay,
The Lince 2 has a significantly lower volume than the Big Eyes. I think the Big Eyes was designed to be a scuba diving mask first with a volume small enough that freedivers might be able to use. I believe the Lince 2 is also narrower and fits small faces better. The Lince 2 volume is as low or lower than the Superocchio, which was one of the lowest volume masks in its time.
I don’t know any freedivers who have stayed with the Big Eyes. Some might still use it when spearfishing in shallow water. The Minima seems to be a little wider skirt and the vision is very narrow. I don’t like it for spearfishing because I feel like I am missing too much. I have never used the Scubapro mask.
don
The Lince 2 has a significantly lower volume than the Big Eyes. I think the Big Eyes was designed to be a scuba diving mask first with a volume small enough that freedivers might be able to use. I believe the Lince 2 is also narrower and fits small faces better. The Lince 2 volume is as low or lower than the Superocchio, which was one of the lowest volume masks in its time.
I don’t know any freedivers who have stayed with the Big Eyes. Some might still use it when spearfishing in shallow water. The Minima seems to be a little wider skirt and the vision is very narrow. I don’t like it for spearfishing because I feel like I am missing too much. I have never used the Scubapro mask.
don
Yeah I kind of figured that the Minima is best for deep freediving, but wouldn't be too great for much of anything else. It's comfortable, but it also inspired claustrophobia until I got used to it. The Lince 2, the Big Eyes, or the Superocchio seem to be very good for visibility. I'm looking at getting into spearfishing, so that's pretty important. Any particular recommendations from those three?
I have the Cressi Matrix - It fits better than the bigeyes and has a phenomenal field of vision in all directions including upward and to the sides. Interior volume is quite low (even lower in my case due to prescription lenses) lower than the Bigeyes. I'm surprised to hear the lince has limited upward vision - in the matrix I can see my eyebrows at about the same time I see the edge of the mask looking up. Side vision beats anything I've tried (no window masks) - and of course down is limited by your cheeks.
I haven't tried the lince but I have an omer alien - the matrix beats it in peripheral and downward - though the Alien is plenty good down (down view in the matrix and bigeyes is overkill in my opinion - as I said you see your cheeks) - and they are close in upward. The Alien has a more robust seal - important if you are into making faces underwater. I really like the unparanoid field of view of the Matrix however - and it seals well and is comfortable.
FYI - I've heard from a reputable source that handles ALOT of masks the Bigeyes do not hold together well - for my part everything good about the bigeyes is better in the matrix.
Summary:
If you want an absolutely top-notch spearo mask and are worried about fit - I'd go with the Alien. If you've tried the Big-eyes and it fits - and you really like the kick-ass field of view - go with the matrix - it'll fit - has a phenomenal field, and low volume and, according to my sources, won't come apart like the matrix.
The lince2 is a wildcard - I'd like to try one.
I haven't tried the lince but I have an omer alien - the matrix beats it in peripheral and downward - though the Alien is plenty good down (down view in the matrix and bigeyes is overkill in my opinion - as I said you see your cheeks) - and they are close in upward. The Alien has a more robust seal - important if you are into making faces underwater. I really like the unparanoid field of view of the Matrix however - and it seals well and is comfortable.
FYI - I've heard from a reputable source that handles ALOT of masks the Bigeyes do not hold together well - for my part everything good about the bigeyes is better in the matrix.
Summary:
If you want an absolutely top-notch spearo mask and are worried about fit - I'd go with the Alien. If you've tried the Big-eyes and it fits - and you really like the kick-ass field of view - go with the matrix - it'll fit - has a phenomenal field, and low volume and, according to my sources, won't come apart like the matrix.
The lince2 is a wildcard - I'd like to try one.
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Well, I put my regular fins in the closet this week and ordered some Gara2000's for my new freediving exploits. They shouldn't be too stiff for me...I hope. I've got legs like a rhino. Anyway, to the mask. I ordered a Lince 2 also cause I needed a new lower volume mask. I looked at and compared a bunch of brands. My other choice would have been an Omer, but I got the Lince at a good price and figured why not give it a try. I'll let you all know how it works out.
Hey Shark, what were your regular fins? The Garas have a fabulous reputation, and I hope they work out well. Did you order the Lince 2 at the same time as the fins? I too am very curious to know how it works out. But I wonder, what is a 'small face'? I hear this term often. Does this mean a face that smaller than the average man's?
supposedly the lince seal is 9.5 cm across - whereas the matrix etc. are 11 or so. How this actually translates into fit is a bit of a mystery - I think it depends on the overall design and quality of silicone - in other words you have to try it
This site has a list of a bunch of masks - including the Cressi's - their internal volume and skirt width. I'm not sure how accurate the internal volume is - or what units they are using as what I got when I measured my matrix was considerably lower than what they list - even before the lenses were bonded.
They also got the mask pics mixed up with some scubapro monstrosity.
mask volumes
This site has a list of a bunch of masks - including the Cressi's - their internal volume and skirt width. I'm not sure how accurate the internal volume is - or what units they are using as what I got when I measured my matrix was considerably lower than what they list - even before the lenses were bonded.
They also got the mask pics mixed up with some scubapro monstrosity.
mask volumes
Good point, Fondueset. I think there is a better chance a narrow mask will fit a wide face than a wide mask will fit a narrow face. This is because a mask’s sides must contact the frontal portion of a face. So what this means is if you have a narrow face you can probably forget about wide masks, but if you have a wide face, your favorite mask could be wide or narrow. But with all the possible variables of shapes and sizes, what it all comes down to is trying them.
Too bad most of us in the U.S. don’t have freediving stores we can try masks on at.
Don
Too bad most of us in the U.S. don’t have freediving stores we can try masks on at.
Don
No Kidding! I was shocked to find a pair of Cressi Gara's in one of the two local dive shops. The things had been there for at least two years! They were amazed when I bought them (good price!) Now I'm like some strange new life form when I go in there 'psst...look Jimmy! That's called a FREE-DIVER..')
I bought my Cressi matrix online - I tried the bigeyes at a local shop - it didn't fit - but the Horizon did (too much volume). I called an online shop and the guy tried them all on - he said the matrix was between the bigeyes and horizon in terms of fit - so I figured it was a safe bet Actually at that time the Matrix was brand new and not even in their catalogue - so it was sight unseen. Of course you can allways send them back - figure that adds another $12 or so to the price both ways.
I will say the Omer masks probably fit anyone - the silicone is extremely pliable and soft. I'd like to see them work on the peripheral vision just a little - but they get really high marks from me.
I bought my Cressi matrix online - I tried the bigeyes at a local shop - it didn't fit - but the Horizon did (too much volume). I called an online shop and the guy tried them all on - he said the matrix was between the bigeyes and horizon in terms of fit - so I figured it was a safe bet
Actually at that time the Matrix was brand new and not even in their catalogue - so it was sight unseen. Of course you can allways send them back - figure that adds another $12 or so to the price both ways.I will say the Omer masks probably fit anyone - the silicone is extremely pliable and soft. I'd like to see them work on the peripheral vision just a little - but they get really high marks from me.
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I use a Bigeyes almost exclusively and can confirm the problems that others have, Leaky and not very strong looking.I occasionally get leaks but a slight repositioning usually cures it.
Field of view is excellent and I have no complaints spearfishing with it.
I am planning on looking at the Alien if I get a chance in Spain.
Field of view is excellent and I have no complaints spearfishing with it.
I am planning on looking at the Alien if I get a chance in Spain.
As far as shallow fins go, I've got Mares Idea3 open heel and Mares Velocity. The Ideas got messed up last week...left them out in the sun by accident!!! No problem though. Most of my snorkelling/freediving to now has been in water 10-30 ft. Now that I plan on going deeper for longer I got the Gara2000's. Should definitely give me some extra power and speed going down. Need to acquire a decent wetsuit next when I've got the cash on hand. Anyway, the Lince is coming via UPS on Thursday. Gonna see if I can do some testing this weekend. Will let you know how it goes. Later
Cool! Your freediving depth sounds about like my present range. My fins are Sporasub H Dessaults, and they're comfy and powerful enough. They did however get left in a hot car, and now the footpockets are smudgy. I hope that's not structural unsoundness! I look forward to hearing about the Lince.
LOL - eyebrow thing
I was playing with these two masks yesterday. The matrix bottoms out pretty close to as far as you can move your eyes - you start feeling fairly intense strain right about the time you hit the peripheral edge of the mask.
Trouble with prescription lenses on the matrix and family is the angle - you end up overcorrected where you are looking most - which is at a slight upward angle - this is probably a slight problem with any mask, but is excacerbated by the angled lenses on these. (got my lenses at prescriptiondivemasks - great place!) I wish I'd submitted a stepped down prescription - but it's also nothing that can't be managed.
I was playing with these two masks yesterday. The matrix bottoms out pretty close to as far as you can move your eyes - you start feeling fairly intense strain right about the time you hit the peripheral edge of the mask.
Trouble with prescription lenses on the matrix and family is the angle - you end up overcorrected where you are looking most - which is at a slight upward angle - this is probably a slight problem with any mask, but is excacerbated by the angled lenses on these. (got my lenses at prescriptiondivemasks - great place!) I wish I'd submitted a stepped down prescription - but it's also nothing that can't be managed.
Well, the Lince 2 came via UPS today and I tried it on dry. Not getting wet till Saturday or Sunday. Out of the water it fits and seals very well and I have a fairly wide face and broad cheekbones. Field of view seems to be very good for this type of mask and they weren't kidding when they said it was low volume. I will post again once I have tried it in the water! Cheers.