Switched from a Kirby Morgan to an AGA mask for a job in the Gulf last month

I always swore by my KM but the AGA was lighter and let me move my head way easier during a 6 hour pipeline repair. The face seal was better too. Anyone else make a swap and find one clearly beats the other?

2 comments

2 Comments

david_henderson63d ago

Was the face seal on the AGA actually that much better in rough seas? I had a buddy who said the KM kept leaking on him during a bad weather job but he never tried the other mask.

rayc383d ago

Oh man, I gotta push back hard on this one. In my experience, that AGA face seal is a headache waiting to happen. I've seen guys swap over and regret it the first time they get hit by a side swell. The KM's seal is way more forgiving when you're getting tossed around. The AGA might feel lighter on the surface, but once you're working in any kind of current or chop, that lighter weight works against you. The mask shifts, and suddenly you're fighting a leak for three hours instead of focusing on your job. I'm not saying a Kirby Morgan is perfect, but I'll take a heavier, stable mask over something that wants to pop loose every time you turn your head. Your mileage may totally vary, but I've seen too many guys tinkering with AGA straps mid-job to ever trust one for serious bottom time.