Thread: face masks
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Old 10-28-16 | 06:37 PM
  #11  
jamesdak
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Originally Posted by Tim_Iowa
I've used various face coverings, both light weight and heavier fleece.

The biggest challenge is moisture management whenever you cover your mouth and nose.

Your breath will coat the inside of your mask and soak it eventually. That breath has to escape somewhere, so it will fog up your goggles as it escapes around your cheeks.

And, you breathe a lot more when you're cycling than you do when fishing or hunting (what most of these products are designed for). I guess that's my big critique of the SA co website; if you wear their mask with goggles like they show while cycling, your goggles will be completely fogged within minutes.

Some masks have ventilation holes or mesh to help mitigate the moisture build-up, but they still get soggy after >30 mins.

My solution:
snowboard goggles +
nose/cheek mask +
lycra, fleece, or wool neckscarf/tube/buff pulled up to my lips

Basically, what this guy is doing.
http://www.outeru.com/wp-content/upl...1/IMG_3138.jpg
It leaves a gap for the breath to escape while shielding your cheeks and chin.

That company, OuterU, sells a FaceGlove that seems well-designed for the task.

Currently, I use a smaller, moustache-like piece that velcros to the goggle itself. Mine was called the "Original Pinch" and I bought it from KayaSport in Canada. Their site is no longer active, but this product (Wizard Warmer) seems pretty much the same thing.

But I may buy an OuterU Faceglove for this winter, it seems like a good solution.
^ A lot of good info here. I tried wearing a light mask that attached to a fleece cap like in my running days. But it's too easy for your breath to leak out around the nose and fog up your glasses. Or when really cold you'll actually freeze the insides of your glasses with one misdirected exhale. Not fun at 20 mph suddenly being blind. For me I wear the mask below my lower lip and leave the month and nose free. This works for rides up to around 2 hours in temps below zero. You do have to consider wind and any falling moisture too.

The key for me is growing a scruffy beard. It lets the condensed breath form on the hairs but pretty much keeps it off you skin. Seems to actually help with keeping the face warm too.

The beard also holds the mask off the skin and leaves an air space to help hold heat too.

Basically I'll look like this after a ride but still be actually quite comfortable. Oh and I ride outside year round pretty much daily no matter what the weather. It really isn't that hard to keep warm while riding and you'll probably be surprised how little you wound up wearing.

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