Tuesday, March 19, 2024
FreedivingReview: TiTAN Freediving Nose Clip

Review: TiTAN Freediving Nose Clip

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The Nose. Anatomically speaking, a Nose is a fleshy protuberance that houses the Nostrils, those twin passages that, combined with the mouth, provide for the passage of air to the and from the lungs during inhalation and exhalation, which is a good thing. The Nose also allows for the passage of water just as readily, which is not a good thing.

The average person may not think much about their nose. Unless it is a handy prop for one’s glasses, running from a cold, sore from a punch, or frozen from a Winter’s day, the nose pretty much does its job with little fanfare. While they come in all shapes and sizes, from rounded to angular, majestic to insignificant, wide to narrow, they are, in the end, just a bump on the face…for the average person.

Freedivers, on the other hand, think about their Noses quite a bit. To the casual observer, Freedivers are daring heroes of the depths, adventurous souls who brave the seas without the aid of submarines or scuba tanks, the real-life version of Aquaman. Unlike their tank-dependent brethren, Freedivers accomplish their feats of derring-do with a single breath, slipping under the waves to swim, kick or pull themselves to incredible depths…or traverse epic distances, as they carve through competition pools like dolphins.

Unlike dolphins, who don’t have a Nose, and can close their air-hole off with a handy ring of muscle, freedivers often need a noseclip. During depth competitions, the noseclip allows the freediver to equalize “hands-free”, keeping a streamlined position and minimizing wasted energy. In pool competitions, the noseclip allows the diver to wear only goggles, or nothing else on the face if they so choose. This allows for a more streamlined profile as well.

History

Noseclips have evolved into a wide array of sizes, weight, and construction. Some divers use nose clips designed for competitive swimmers. World Record freediver William Trubridge famously uses a simple Speedo Competition Nose Clip.

This stainless steel wire, with thermoplastic rubber pads on the end, works for Trubridge, who has a regally narrow nose. The simple, bent-wire clip is more than sufficient to close his nostrils and allow for hands-free equalization. But for the rest of us, a more robust and hard-clamping clip is necessary.

The current trend has seen the advent of various types of ratcheting cross bars joining two nose pads together. They can be tightly cranked down by the diver and typically feature robust silicone, thermoplastic or rubber pads to cushion the nose. Usually constructed from molded thermoplastic, these type of nose clips have become popular over the last few years, and their brightly-colored forms can be found dangling from lanyards around many competitive freediver’s necks.

Though a vast improvement over the spring and rubber blob noseclip used in the movie Le Grand Bleu, the new generation of clips are rather bulky and the pads wear out or become dirty and mildew over time. Freedivers demand a noseclip that will not slip off, has few moving parts and is low maintenance.

Jean-Marc Barr in Le Grand Bleu
Jean-Marc Barr in Le Grand Bleu

Evolution

The TiTAN noseclip represents the newest evolution of the nose-clip and is the brainchild of Marcus Greatwood, founder of NoTanx, a UK-based Freediving Training school.

The TiTAN Nose Clip
The TiTAN Nose Clip

Recognizing the need for a lighter, more robust noseclip, Marcus enlisted the genius of Industrial Designer Matt Longbottom, who crafted what may be the ultimate noseclip design. Produced by Betatype in their London-based advanced additive manufacturing facility and designed to be a minimalist’s dream, the TiTAN noseclip is constructed of 100% Titanium, making it exceptionally light and nearly indestructible. The many-teethed ratcheting crossbar allows the freediver to adjust the clip as tightly as they want and the unique, no pad design of the nose-pieces are amazingly “grippy”, staying in place on any shape of the nose.

The TiTAN Nose Clip
The TiTAN Nose Clip

What We Thought

This reviewer wore the TiTAN noseclip in both pools and on depth dives. With a broad and not particularly regal nose, grip and comfort were two characteristics we were especially keen to evaluate. After completing 20 lengths of DYN in the pool, the TiTAN was still in place and still bearable to wear. The weight of the titanium construction was appreciatively lighter in feel than many other nose clips we have evaluated and the thin design offered no discernible resistance in the water.

Taking the TiTAN noseclip to the nearby dive site, we removed it from the chic blue velvet bag it had been provided in, dropped a line off a float and banged out a quick half-dozen dives to around 30 meters, racing to stay in front of a fast-approaching thunderstorm. The TiTAN was slung around our neck on the provided lanyard, ratcheted down on the end of our nose and clung like a limpet throughout the dives. The doughnut-shaped nose-pads were amazingly grippy without any additional pads, never threatening to slide off, even with the addition of sunscreen to our face.

Wearing and Testing the TiTAN
Wearing and Testing the TiTAN

While few of us think clipping a vice to the end of their nose is “comfortable”, there are degrees of acceptability. Many nose clips trade efficiency and a streamlined profile for bulky nose-pads. Other nose clips, especially those designed for swimmers in the pool are just not able to stay clipped on with sufficient force to allow hands-free equalization.

The TiTAN uses a unique, textured titanium doughnut-shaped nose-piece. By cutting out the extra weight and giving a broad surface area to “squeeze” the nose, the TiTAN grips tightly, but spreads the pressure out, resulting in a surprisingly comfortable feel. After an hour in the pool and an hour diving a line, the TiTAN not painful to wear.

BUY NOW – TiTAN Nose Clips

Features

  • 100% Titanium
  • Soft, contoured, ergonomic design
  • Conceived, designed and manufactured in London, UK
  • Hypoallergenic, completely resistant to UV, saltwater & wear
  • Super slimline design while remaining incredibly stiff, lightweight & durable

Price

The TiTAN sells for £64 GBP (~$85 USD / ~€73), which includes worldwide postage.

BUY NOW – TiTAN Nose Clips

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Performance
Looks
Comfort
Value For Money

SUMMARY

Compared to other high-end, performance nose clips, the TiTAN has a steep price, but for competitive freedivers who must be able to rely on their noseclip staying on at depth, or as they glide through the pool, the price is acceptable. The sheer comfort, lightweight, stylish construction, and bulletproof material make the TiTAN a truly functional work of art.
John Griffith
John Griffithhttps://www.deeperblue.com/
John Griffith is an avid SCUBA and Freediver based in Southeast Florida, with over 34 years of experience in the recreational, military and commercial dive fields. Retired from military service, John completed Bachelor Degrees in both Business Administration and Journalism, a M.Ed and PhD in Education. John is a driven conservationist and social activist...with a great passion for sharks, cigars, rum and writing. John is an Associate Editor with DeeperBlue.com.

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Compared to other high-end, performance nose clips, the TiTAN has a steep price, but for competitive freedivers who must be able to rely on their noseclip staying on at depth, or as they glide through the pool, the price is acceptable. The sheer comfort, lightweight, stylish construction, and bulletproof material make the TiTAN a truly functional work of art.Review: TiTAN Freediving Nose Clip