You’re gonna get the “go to a store and try stuff on - the best kit is the one that fits you best” response.

As others have said, it’s a very individual issue. I have had many masks over the years and replaced them for different reasons, none of which were lack of quality. My face is a little narrow, but not super narrow, so finding the right fit was difficult.

A few years ago I settled on an Atomic Aquatics Frameless 2 (at a dive shop) and loved it. Finally a mask that didn’t leak! I also got a Fourth Element snorkel at the same time and it’s definitely the best snorkel I’ve ever used.

Last year my mask sadly got a teeny tiny little tear on the inner skirt which resulted in salt water pouring into my eyeball. Do not recommend. So I ordered the exact same mask and it didn’t fit the same way! Thus began my online search for “the right one” because I honestly didn’t have time to go to a dive shop in my area. After a few incorrect purchases, I ended up with a Fourth Element Seeker and I love it so much. I was able to send a couple of the other masks back for refunds.

MASK FIT IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE NO MATTER THE QUALITY. The brand on the mask doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t fit. And proper defogging is key for the same reason.

For fins, when I was scuba diving I had full length Cressi fins with the adjustable heel strap and had no issues. I currently use Cressi full foot short fins because they fit in a suitcase. If I wasn’t such a strong swimmer, I would be more comfortable in my scuba fins.

Definitely learn to kick correctly. For snorkeling that is usually very slow and mild swing at the hip with minimal splash or knee bend (strong currents may require more effort but it’s also no fun to snorkel in strong currents or rough water). It also doesn’t hurt to learn a proper frog kick as well in case you end up in very shallow water or start scuba cave diving!

Unless you’re the luckiest person alive, no one kit will fit you.

Good luck!

Got my kit (Cressi) from Amazon for $50 at least 10 years ago and it’s still great. Hubby has been through two $100+ masks purchased from dive shops and still isn’t happy.

Go to a dive shop, find a mask that fits and try both clear and black skirts. My son likes clear, I like black, it’s just preference. Snorkel really isn’t that important, just depends on what features and name you want on it. Fins is an entire book.

Avoid a kit. The probability of somebody picking a mask, snorkel, and fins that all work the best for you, putting them in a nice package, and mass selling them is pretty slim.

Its unfortunately not a one size fits all thing. You'll need to try it at a store to know if it will fit your face. Otherwise, you can buy a bunch of different options and trial. Brands like cressi, oceanic, oceanways, scubapro are all quality, but not all will fit your face. Working with a professional store will be best if you want to buy something youll be happy with.

The one that fits my face is typically the best.

The reviews of other people's success doesn't mean much if it's constantly flooding on my weird shaped melon.

You're going to get a lot of people telling you to go to a local shop, and they're not wrong. But another alternative is to order several masks from Amazon, pick one, and return the others.

To answer your question, though, a medium-sized low-volume frameless mask like the Hollis M1 will fit a lot of people. Not everybody, though, and you won't know which group you fall in until you try it preferably under water.

I personally like the Omer zoom or Mares dual snorkel. Simple J snorkels with no stupid valves and have comfortable mouth pieces

I have the Riffe stable snorkel and love it. I swore off purge valves for a long time, but this one seems to be well designed, is extremely comfortable, and all the parts on it are user replaceable (and affordable), so if the purge valve does go out, you’re not boned.

I think the the J tube vs purge value is more circumstantial rather than a preference thing.

When I dive on the coast its normally in shallow water, 3-10m deep and requires a lot of weight which sits you very low in the water on the surface, using a weight vest only exacerbates the problem. When doing a breath up it only takes a little bit of chop and youre getting water down your snorkel which is anything but relaxing. Purge valves completely alleviate the problem.

The float valves at the top however I would definately avoid.

Mako has good ones. Any one works really, like most people say, the simpler the better.

https://www.cressi.com/catalogue/cressitech.asp?id=714

i'd go with the cressi set

I'll echo what the others have said, do not go with a full face mask. Definitely use standard snorkle goggles and snorkle.

I went to Hawaii last year and brought my own gear. I had goggles and a snorkle laying around, so I ordered a pair of Cressi fins from Amazon. The ones that I bought are easily twice as long as the ones in the Cressi set, which I really enjoyed because I was able to freedive to deeper reefs and see fish that other people likely missed from the surface. However, that was my personal preference and I'm sure those fins will work just fine for surface / beginner snorkeling.

If you want any tips for the big island, I'll be happy to share. Hawaii is mind-blowing. Literally mind-blowing.

I stayed in Waikaloa btw.

JUST GOT BACK FROM THE BIG ISLAND!!!

My husband who is a sceptic of most activities FELL IN LOVE with snorkeling on the beach near Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. We were not staying there but there is public parking you can use as a visitor. We stayed there all day and used traditional snorkeling masks.

The beach is so pretty it is unreal and the biodiversity was amazing. They also have manta rays that visit at night.

Do not buy a full face mask.

They have a pile of flaws, and can be really dangerous (potentially even fatal) due to CO2 build up.

Outside that, provided the mask fits you should be fine. I know people who have used cheap "get started" kits for years.

A mask that fit you (with tempered glass), with a comfortable snorkle, and fins that fit you well. You should try the mask before buying. The one you get online might not fit you.

Hi. Mask always choose one that fits ur face and feels confortable. Snorkel same with its mouthpiece. Something that feels confi in your mouth. About purge valve, i dont like it, but that personal. Fins i would recomend full feet if u gonna sk from sandy shore or boats, but consider booties and open hill if you gonna walk through rocky areas or such. Much convenient. I would check for diving fins instead of snorkeling only (snorkel mini blade fins have ridiculous thrust) There are good ones with a respectable blade size that are still travel friendly.

What everybody else said, but to add snorkels. Dry snorkels have a float that shuts off if there's a wave, but it also shuts off if you tilt the snorkel at the right angle. So if you look up too far you can't get air. So I prefer a semi dry snorkels with a pirge valve on the bottom, then learn how to blow water out if it gets in.

FIT FIT FIT are the three most important criteria for a mask.

Simple snorkel is best; no splash proof, no purge; learn to use a snorkel.

FIT FIT FIT are the 3 most important criteria for fins. Full foot if the water is warm enough to allow it, or you want to wear them over an exposure suit.

Actually everything will do the job. You can get Sets for hundreds of bucks but a 40$ set will be fine too. You have to choose for yourself what you need or want. This applies on every piece of gear

Rip board

I love everything about this. Including the "rip board" people.

I'll take rock riding a beater over the umpteenth "look at my new board" preseason post any day and then some.

This is the proper use of a skate banana.

A rock-board is an essential piece of gear

I keep my other snowboard in my car's roof box so it's with me when needed.

Clearly half of the people on this comment section ride twice a year and dont know anything about rock boards

That specific snorkel looks like a Toyota TRD "Desert Air Intake" based on the shape vs an aftermarket one like an ARB Safari. Pretty sure you can't buy it new anywhere since Toyota discontinued it, so used is the only option.

Except these factory "snorkels" on the trds are made for dust and not sealed for water....

It's gonna look sick when you roll up at Costco with that on there.

That’s an ARB Safari. You can buy it on Amazon or a thousand other places.

We've had some crazy raining where I live in the past week and the city center was flooded 3 times. Every time this hapenned there were cars with flooded engines. I'm actually considering installing one just to avoid being in such a situation. It looks stupid but hey, itdoesn't hurt with anything and if you ever get the hood underwater your engine is safe.

I like the snorkel better as well. Fits with the boy with the harpoon on the backpack and the scuba diving gear if you color match their equipment

There’s no question. Snorkel.

Snorkel, 100%. Makes ‘im breave gud

Personally I went with the Zipper, shut the grot up for sneakin'.

But if you go snorkel you need to name him scuba steve

Depends.

Do you want a Ninja Grot or a Navy SEALS Grot?

There are no wrong answers.