face masks
 

Anybody use those SA Co face shields ? They have two styles one that you can use as a beenie, bandana, scarf, face shield, and the other is made of fleece that is supposed to keep you warm. I as a newbie have never ridden in real cold temps and I was wondering if these would help.

How cold have you gone? How cold are you looking to go?


I don't bother with anything on my face until it gets down to around 20-25F. Below that, something like a balaclava or a Buff is welcome and needed.

I have ridden in temperatures around -15 C in perfect comfort. I would not think about covering my face until it was so cold that I would be risking frostbite if my face were uncovered,but that would be well below -25 C. I have cross country skied at temperatures as cold as -30 C with no face covering

Here is the Sub forum section to look through archived back threads on this topic .. Winter Cycling - Bike Forums

those look thin, so they might help when it's chilly but not when it's COLD

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 Their site is no longer active, but this product (Wizard Warmer) seems pretty much the same thing.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.

I commute year-round, and 2 years ago I pushed my low temp thresh hold back down to 10F. I use a thin nylon balaclava. For me, even at 10F the main objective is to keep the wind off my skin as opposed to holding in heat. between 15F and 10F I cover my mouth and nose and breath out with an exagerated overbite to keep the moisture away from my glasses. I also clean my glasses with soap and water blow dry them which leaves a thin invisible film of soap which helps prevent fogging. I would assume there is a low temperature point at which I would need to hold in heat around my face, but fortunately it doesn't often get that cold here in Colorado Springs, and at this point I wouldn't want to ride below 10F, which it only does a few days each winter; not like the midwest where I grew up and you may have a week where the high temp doesn't break 0F.

I usually carry a disposable medical face mask in a baggie along with some tissues and my asthma inhaler. It's the type with elastic straps that hook over the ears. Good enough for our occasional cold dry days that aggravate my asthma. Adds just enough moisture and dust resistance to help, and doesn't get soggy from my breath or sweat. No worries about cleanup, I just toss and replace 'em after use.

Disposable medical/surgical masks are available with designs too, if you don't want to look like a rolling surgeon or patient.

I'm apparently not one of the super-manly-men that have posted previously. Because even in what is the very mild winters of Southern California, I still keep one of those "buffs" rolled up in my saddlebag on especially cold days. Frankly, a 2-hour long continuous blast of 30º air in the mouth is just unpleasant. And while it might have to get down to absurdly low temps (something like -19ºF) before frostbite is a risk, having the tip of my nose feel like it's going to fall off is a sensation I can live without.

I just use one of these: 12-in-1 headband because it's cheap, and it works. Keeps my nose and lips wonderfully unfrozen.

Used my fleecy neck gaiter for the first time this year on my morning commute in the low 40's. When it's colder the gaiter is helpful pulled up higher on my face.

^ 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.

http://www.pbase.com/jhuddle/image/162200883.jpg

I need to cover the bridge of my nose, vent for my breathing, & have an open area for safety glasses. this worked for me down to 17 degrees