Tusa Paragon S mask leaking (2 of them!)

[soerenbalko]

This is an interesting finding - I wasn't aware that the glass is replaceable. If you don't mind, can you take pictures/videos of the gluing process? I would like to figure out where exactly are you planning to glue this and I will try doing the same. I have 2 masks sitting around gathering dust. The strange part if that I know a bunch of other folks with the same mask (including my wife) who don't have any leaks at all (I have tried my wife's mask and it works great).

Will do. The plan is to put a bead of silicone glue to the skirt where the glasses are pressing against it. And perhaps doubling this up with yet another bead from the inside of the mask to create a seal there too.

TUSA’s construction is IMHO flawed by only putting screws into the frame at the bottom. They should have added more screws all around the frame. Instead, there are only plastic clips, which hold the frame in place, but do not create a tight seal between the skirt and the glasses.

I will try to remember to make some photos or a video of my attempt to fix this problem.

 

[soerenbalko]

Here’s a video of my repair:

 

[soerenbalko]

In my estimation, the TUSA Paragon S is simply a bad design. The frame does not press the glasses hard enough against the skirt to create a tight seal all around.

I did a first test to check whether my “repair” was effective. Holding the mask against my face and breathing in through the nose indicates that the mask is now tight. That wasn’t the case before. A test in the water is still to come.

 

[the_jaguar]

@soerenbalko thanks for posting the video - this is super helpful. If I am not mistaken, I believe you have a Tusa Paragon, not the Paragon S - The S is the version with a single glass pane, but I am guessing the S is also designed the same way where the glass is just placed on the mask and then secured by the frame. I will try taking the screws out and check when I get a chance in a couple of weeks.

 

[Joneill]

In my estimation, the TUSA Paragon S is simply a bad design. The frame does not press the glasses hard enough against the skirt to create a tight seal all around.

I did a first test to check whether my “repair” was effective. Holding the mask against my face and breathing in through the nose indicates that the mask is now tight. That wasn’t the case before. A test in the water is still to come.

As the poster above indicated, you are referring to this as the Paragon S but what you show is the Paragon. The Paragon S is the newer single lens mask while the original Paragon is a dual lens mask - neither version of the Paragon is frameless. I have both and have not had leakage - though now use the Tusa Zensee Pro which is a frameless design.

 

[soerenbalko]

As the poster above indicated, you are referring to this as the Paragon S but what you show is the Paragon. The Paragon S is the newer single lens mask while the original Paragon is a dual lens mask - neither version of the Paragon is frameless. I have both and have not had leakage - though now use the Tusa Zensee Pro which is a frameless design.

Thanks for pointing this out! Yes, it’s a Paragon (non-S). I went with a traditional dual lens design in order to fit optical lenses.

Not sure if the single lens version (“Paragon S”) is substantially different in how the seal between the skirt and the glass is accomplished. But unless it is glued in from factory, they should IMHO not only press the lens against the skirt.

 

[lexvil]

I’ve always liked the paragon, I switched to the D mask because I could actually buy lenses for it, unlike the paragon but when I just used readers I liked being able to remove the lens to do the work. If your mask has a leak at the lens and they won’t fix/replace it it says more about the company than the design.

 

[soerenbalko]

I’ve always liked the paragon, I switched to the D mask because I could actually buy lenses for it, unlike the paragon but when I just used readers I liked being able to remove the lens to do the work. If your mask has a leak at the lens and they won’t fix/replace it it says more about the company than the design.

Fair enough. However, I took out the lenses and reinserted them, painstakingly making sure that I create a good seal. But no dice! When holding the mask against my face and breathing in, it was sucking in air from the side. I then manually pushed the lenses harder against the skirt and that would close the leak. In my opinion, the plastic clips are simply insufficient to create a strong force that pushes the lenses against the skirt.

 

[lexvil]

Fair enough. However, I took out the lenses and reinserted them, painstakingly making sure that I create a good seal. But no dice! When holding the mask against my face and breathing in, it was sucking in air from the side. I then manually pushed the lenses harder against the skirt and that would close the leak. In my opinion, the plastic clips are simply insufficient to create a strong force that pushes the lenses against the skirt.

Agree that this may be the case on your masks but not on mine, they should replace the masks. On another vein, can you (to late since you’ve already glued in the lens) shim the clips to put more pressure on the lens?

 

[soerenbalko]

Re shimming the clips: re-attaching the frame is quite fiddly as it is. I don’t think that I would manage to do that.

I don’t mind the lenses now being glued in. The mask will hopefully last me a long time now. I will neither need nor want to ever replace those lenses. If my eyesight deteriorates then I will move to another mask. Or return to what I currently do, which is to use bifocal contact lenses.