Sunglasses interfering with headset

[Plasmech]

I imagine we've all experienced this:

When wearing sunglasses, which is something I almost have to do because I have very sensitive eyes, everything is a LOT louder because they interfere with our headsets sealing properly against the skull.

Is there any way around this...for example, is there some sort of device that effectively puts the lenses in front of the eyes without using the ears as support points?

I imagine the pro's deal with this somehow and don't endure very noisy flights every time the sun is shining.

[FlyingStone]

I personally don't have trouble wearing sunglasses and headset at the same time, but if you're looking for an effective solution, give this a try.

[Deeday]

A decent headset with gel ear seals should do the trick. At least it does it for me (and I wear prescription lenses full time).

[Pilot DAR]

The pilot's shop should have little foamies produced by David Clark called "stop gaps". They work well (and might even float your sunglasses it they splash while you're float flying!)

[IO540]

I rest my sunglasses on the top of the headset

Looks a bit odd but nobody can see me

Otherwise, you need very carefully chosen frames which are very thin. Oakleys etc are no good, for this reason.

[Pilot DAR]

Looks a bit odd but nobody can see me

EASA/CAA see all......

[BackPacker]

A very thin frame in combination with good gel seals works for me. But I have seen a lot of people with these stop gap thingies too. It just looks funny outside the plane.

Alternatively, go for in-ear headsets like the QT Halo or Clarity Aloft.

[dublinpilot]

I've the same problem with prescription sun glasses (or ordinary ones!). Gel ear seals on my headset but the problem still exists. It's exagerated because my headset is ANR, so any leak interferes with the ANR.

I find the DC Stop gaps mentioned a few times in this thread work perfectly.

Can't recommond them enough.

[Zulu Alpha]

Clarity Aloft

[maehhh]

Bose X + RayBan = never had any Problems

[172driver]

I have prescription glasses in Ray Ban Aviators frames and a Bose-X. No problem whatsoever.

[IO540]

Thick sunglasses cause 2 issues: noise entering the headset earcup, and a headache after maybe some hours. That's why I stopped having glasses under the earcups.

[p1andy]

prescription ray-ban aviators with seinheisser headset. No problems with the glasses as the frames/legs are really skinny

[corsair]

Prescription Ray Bans and David Clarkes with gel seals work well for me. But I do sometimes wear ear plugs as well. But then I can spent up to eight hours a day behind a large noisy engine. Even with the best noise reduction that wears you out.

[flyingfemme]

Silhouette Titans and any old headset that's around.

[Morris542]

Currently I wear my ski-glasses whilst flying and they are quite "thick". The noice levels do increase when I wear them but I only notice the difference when I either put them on or remove them in flight. I do need to get a thinner pair of sunnies though...

Is there any way around this...for example, is there some sort of device that effectively puts the lenses in front of the eyes without using the ears as support points?

What like this? Might be a bit over the top in the average cessna...

[IO540]

Can't see why.

I like the oxygen delivery system. I don't suppose he bought it off aerox.com for $200.

[Old Akro]

This is why Randolph Engineering make Bayonet temples and why the US Airforce use them as standard issue. Short of this some of the new styles use bayonet temples.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Morris542

Currently I wear my ski-glasses whilst flying and they are quite "thick". The noice levels do increase when I wear them but I only notice the difference when I either put them on or remove them in flight. I do need to get a thinner pair of sunnies though...



What like this? Might be a bit over the top in the average cessna...

The helmet I used to wear when I worked for the RAF had clear and dark flip-down visors, and the fittings could be swapped around so that we could wear it with either an oxygen mask or a boom mike - so worked just as well in both a Bulldog and a Hawk. No reason you couldn't wear something like that in a Cessna if you got an adapter for the different intercom system.

Overkill perhaps, but in the safe sense.

But no, I don't think I'm about to start doing this myself - headsets seem to work fine for most light aeroplane flying.

G

[wsmempson]

I have an old pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer's, which I use without an problems; I bent the arms over a steaming kettle to get them to sit flat against the side of my head with no bends or airgaps. They work perfectly with DC's or Bose-X headsets, but aren't much good any longer without a headset!