Face masks - what's good?

[dan_pdx]

Looks like the spring sales are coming on, so it's finally time for me to pick up a face mask. I held out for a long time, but after getting mild frostbite on my face (no permanent damage, but a layer of skin died/peeled away) in January, I'm a believer.

So, anyone have any advice? Neoprene, fleece, or wool? I'll be wearing it with a helmet and goggles - are there any that work particularly well (or poorly) for this?

Thanks!

[crashnburn'd]

I would get the kind that make it look like your face is a skull like this one



another favorite of mine is the angry clown

[Sphinx15]

[/IMG]

[Steven S. Dallas]

Yeah, I'd go Angry Clown. Or Mexican Wrestling, if available.

[Hutch]

Come on, guys. Those look ridiculous.



http://catalog.thelevitationproject.com/

[crashnburn'd]

Yeah, I'd go Angry Clown. Or Mexican Wrestling, if available.

oooh... Those are always a good choice.

[igBand]

And don't forget to pair them up with these:



I know they say they are for dogs, they go quite nicely with a neoprene face mask.

[pechelman]

and to give a serious answer

ive got a windblocker fleece one from campmor with an elastic drawsting ive had for 2 seasons thats just now starting to show wear
considering it was 9$, i like it a lot

its very similar to the north face one (i think that one at least)
its got windstopper in the front and regular fleece in the back
its also got a drop down contoured front so when its pulled up to your nose\goggles, theres still plenty to drape down over your neck

for really cold\windy days i just break out the 'clava.
probably used it twice though in the past 2 years.

the only thing thats a little annoying about the windstopper
is that sometimes it can make breathing hard, but once you figure that out, its no big deal.
plus with that barrier, if you have it tucked and sinched right, you can exhale and warm up your entire face

however, the alternative to this breathing issue, is that it will never freeze over like regular fleece will because it doesnt subject the moisture from your breath to freezing air.



edit
this one
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...0226&langId=-1

this is the north face one
http://www.basegear.com/north-face-w...ck-gaiter.html

heres one from ems thats a good option too
although maybe has less coverage up front when pulled up to your goggles
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_d...45524442591073

[igBand]

And to give another serious answer:

Mrs. igBand has a Mountain Hardware balaclava that she loves on the really cold days. Fits well under the helmet and can be pulled up and pushed down as needed. Not windstopper, but still pretty thick and warm (polartec powerstretch I think).

http://www.usoutdoorstore.com/outlet...balaclava.html

[igBand]

Oh...and this my first time ever posting this, but

Shouldn't this be in TechTalk? C'mon dan_pdx.

[dan_pdx]

I would get the kind that make it look like your face is a skull like this one



another favorite of mine is the angry clown

Hell, if that's the look I'm going for, I just omit the mask and helmet entirely!

[Sinecure]

Masque are best. Tight-fitting neoprene keeps moist breath from going up into goggles and fogging them.

[irul&ublo]

Looks like the spring sales are coming on, so it's finally time for me to pick up a face mask. I held out for a long time, but after getting mild frostbite on my face (no permanent damage, but a layer of skin died/peeled away) in January, I'm a believer.

So, anyone have any advice? Neoprene, fleece, or wool? I'll be wearing it with a helmet and goggles - are there any that work particularly well (or poorly) for this?

Thanks!

choose one that hides the most of your ugly mug from the rest of us.

[JohnF]

[ill-advised strategy]

[mnflyfish]

Back to the serious answers for a second. I picked up a Turtle Fur one at REI because it's still -5 here in MN and they were on sale. I went with the full on 'clava and it fits nicely under my helmet and does the job. That and it's easy to wash. It was around $10.

Jay

[dudermcgavin]

This is a product from 2B out of Avon, CO. Keeps you warm and dry without fogging your goggles or the frozen snot sandwich. Check out www.2bmask.com

[QuikR12]

This is a product from 2B out of Avon, CO. Keeps you warm and dry without fogging your goggles or the frozen snot sandwich. Check out www.2bmask.com

Ok sick product, I would buy one, if... I got two for that price point. $29.95 for a facemask is spendy. Why not give 2 for one, yeah it sounds almost like an infomercial... "but wait, if you call now, we'll include a 2nd 2B mask, FREE!"

Seriously though, I guarantee sales volumes increase dramatically, but you also need more color choices. Basic color swatches beyond black.

I do want one (or two) but don't wanna pay 30 bucks for it.

[DasBlunt]

was going to buy....but stopped short on the price. 30 is just about 10 too much, great idea though.

[cmsummit]

It's only my nose that I have to really look out for, so I just took a neoprene face mask and cut off the entire bottom of it. The result is a strip that covers my nose and the upper parts of my cheeks. I'll wear a neckwarmer and pull that up over my lower face when I'm riding the lift. Then I can just drop it down for when I'm actually skiing so I don't fog up and have to breath through anything.

[Sinecure]

Wow. Thread revival and spam at the same time. Thanks JONG.

edit:

Oh, and that thing is fucking retarded. It attaches to your goggles. So when you put your goggles up on your head/helmet because it made them fog up (I don't believe your bullshit claim that they won't fog), or just because you are going inside, or some other reason - you won't be able to see shit because your stupid fucking mask just covered your eyes.

Get the fuck out you fucking spammer JONG.

[Colorado_Freeskier]

And to give another serious answer:

Mrs. igBand has a Mountain Hardware balaclava that she loves on the really cold days. Fits well under the helmet and can be pulled up and pushed down as needed. Not windstopper, but still pretty thick and warm (polartec powerstretch I think).

http://www.usoutdoorstore.com/outlet...balaclava.html

I have one of these...highly recommend it. I've tried a bunch in my time and this is the only one that doesn't feel like it is suffocating you but still warm, really comfortable.

[arewolfe]

Patatonia's R1 Balaclava is the best I've found. Doesn't get as moist as fleece or neoprene. Great stuff.

[QuikR12]

Oh, and that thing is fucking retarded. It attaches to your goggles. So when you put your goggles up on your head/helmet because it made them fog up (I don't believe your bullshit claim that they won't fog), or just because you are going inside, or some other reason - you won't be able to see shit because your stupid fucking mask just covered your eyes.

Get the fuck out you fucking spammer JONG.

It looks pretty easy to remove/put back on... or just flip it up and tuck the bottom into the top of the goggle. fog claim subject to testing tho.

[donkeykong]

i just got this:

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/e...0022-600&FSR=1

i like it because it has a hinge so you can wear it multiple ways and if it gets hot you can pull it down easily. i have yet to try it out on the mountain though.