C-Boaters with nose plugs?

[Larry Horne]

I believe that at least some of the problem with not hearing people wearing full face helmets is that the sound of one's voice bounces off the chin piece and reflects into the speakers ears, causing them to not speak as loudly as they normally would.

could be part of it..
whatever it is, it is a real pain in the butt.
'Specially when combined with my hearing that's hosed from surfer's ear and nearly 30 years of carpentry.

And oh yeah. there's manky, and there's stanky. I wear noseplugs when i playboat in the city creek. it's stanky. I plug all my holes before playing in there. never wear em anywhere else though.

[OC One Blade]

Are nose plugs cool? Hardly, but I do think they are necessary for some people. I've never used them nor had the need to, but I've noticed that my sinuses are developing a progressive intolerance to the repeated nasal flushings the last couple of years. Maybe I just need to do a better job of staying upright.

I've just returned from a 10 day paddling vacation with the heavy "cement head" feeling of a sinus infection. There was a time when this never would've been an issue. I would imagine that some of the young bucks who are currently thumbing their noses (pun intended) at nose plugs may have to reconsider at some point. I say this because I felt the same way about them just a short while ago.

When you jump in a pool do you hold your nose? (& close your eyes?)

Well now you have me thinking, I dont hold my nose jumping/ diving or even swimming under water... So I dont know how that translates to a nosefull while in a boat

I don't necessarily think this is a good analogy. I still do fine without nose plugs/clips while swimming, diving, jumping, etc. However, the motions and angles inherent to rolling a canoe aren't accurately and consistently replicated by these activites. Being directly upside down, turning and arching toward the surface- oftentimes in turbulent water has always put more water in my nose than other water activities. It's just that it didn't used to bother me. (Haven't tried dribbling air through my nose as some have suggested. Might need to.)

This is a timely topic for me considering my current condition. I've begun to view nose plugs as a necessary piece of equipment rather than focusing on the fact that they are rather goofy looking- and anything that prevents me from losing paddling time is, to me, necessary.

That being said, I suppose now would be a good time to ask those of you who use them what styles and brands are the most comfortable (probably an oxymoron) and effective. And yes, I'm putting funtionality before fashion, so it doesn't matter what they look like.

Thanks

[John Coraor]

Bubbling air out your nose does indeed help avoid rinsing out your sinuses when you roll. My three oldest kids found it easier to do this than to wear noseplugs when they were learning to roll, because they were all (or had recently been) competitive swimmers. After doing 100 laps in practice complete with flip turns you quickly learn how to bubble air out your nose when you turn upside down.

I don't typically wear noseplugs on the river, but I have occasionally put them on when doing some serious play. I also tend to use them when rolling in the swimming pool as chlorine in the sinuses can be nasty.

John

[OC One Blade]

Yep, the pool sessions are the worst, and I can see the flip turns giving you a nose full.

I'll test the bubbling nose theory. I just worry about being able to maintain the necessary awareness to pull it off in combat situations. At my current skill level it takes all of my concentration to keep myself oriented and in proper form to roll successfully in a whitewater setting. It's like anything else I guess, just develop it until you don't have to think about it.

[Todhunter]

Bubbling air out your nose

This. It's second nature.

[icyone]

I used to used them occasionally, until my first trip to the Gauley.

Half way there late Friday night the van in front of us pulled over & the driver, an experienced boater with many Gauley trips under his belt, popped out & ran back to us, saying "I have to go home, I can't go: I don't have my nose clip." I immediately said "No, Dave, you HAVE to come -- we need you. Here, you can have mine.." and I fished it out of my gear bag.

Had a great time on the Gauley & never bothered with nose clips on the river again, altho I sometimes use one in chlorinated pools.

[woro90]

That's what I'm afraid of: getting too used to the nose clip and starting to need it. But I started using one for decked C1 as I found that my roll is quite doubtful if I snort a shot of cold water. I assume it would get better even without the nose clip, as most of my canoeing experience is from open tandems (I swim with style), but learning not to swim is much more comfortable with dry sinuses. I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

[riverratNE]

This is a timely topic for me considering my current condition. I've begun to view nose plugs as a necessary piece of equipment rather than focusing on the fact that they are rather goofy looking- and anything that prevents me from losing paddling time is, to me, necessary.

That being said, I suppose now would be a good time to ask those of you who use them what styles and brands are the most comfortable (probably an oxymoron) and effective. And yes, I'm putting funtionality before fashion, so it doesn't matter what they look like.

Thanks

IMO on noseplugs:
-"Tweakers" (spring loaded nose plugs made by Harmony) are the best, but I lost mine to the river gods in March, and Harmony no longer makes them. I have looked everywhere for them (if anyone knows how to get them, please PM me I'll buy you a beer

-Smiley's- don't bother. They have never stayed on my nose no matter how much I washed my face.

-Cottonmouths-seem to be pretty decent at staying on your nose.

That's just my 2 cents...hope it helps.

-Alexis
The question is not if I'm paddling, but where.

[KNeal]

I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

That's good practice. Helps to build muscle memory.

[hazardharry]

I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

how deep is your tub dude?

[woro90]

I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

That's good practice. Helps to build muscle memory.

I just need both hands to wash my hair and this is the easiest way But many things unrelated to canoeing can be made canoe-friendly, like trying to roll an air mattress in a garden pool while drinking lots of beer and some whiskey. Or bringing a boat to that pool which happened a few beers after the mattress thing.

I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

how deep is your tub dude?

Regular size but usually almost overflowing; I wash my hair by putting my legs out, sliding 2' towards them and leaning my head back, planum occipitale towards bottom, if you need a technical description

[OC One Blade]

-Smiley's- don't bother. They have never stayed on my nose no matter how much I washed my face.

-Cottonmouths-seem to be pretty decent at staying on your nose.

That's just my 2 cents...hope it helps.

Yes, this helps. Smiley's are the only pair I've ever tried. Bought some a while back. You pretty much nailed it. Wouldn't stay on at all. I gave up on them after that. It's good to know that there are better alternatives available.

I may have found a solution that doesn't involve nose clips. Keep a sinus infection. My nose is so clogged right now water couldn't possibly get in- makes you feel like crap though.

[FullGnarlzOC]

I often find that the knot comes loose on my nose plug tether... what knot should I be tying? Nose plugs are expensive!

[Todhunter]

I do bubble air out my nose when taking a bath, though

how deep is your tub dude?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuQDYOrh5wM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[woro90]

I often find that the knot comes loose on my nose plug tether... what knot should I be tying? Nose plugs are expensive!

I don't know how you tie it, do you put a loop on each end of the string? A figure-of-eight loop holds quite well when wet. A bowline secured with single or double overhand knot is good too. Or use a loop of string with two rubber beads on it, holding the two sides of loop together - slide them together in the middle, secure the loop to your helmet with a prussik, secure that by sliding the bead there. The same for the other end.