I can't get enough air thru my nose in the cold. So I breathe thru my mouth. I have been using a scarf over my mouth, or something knitted in the cold and it really helps. Now the question is, is there something better.

Rod

There are some neck/face only hats that have semi permeable face plates for breathing to get a little less condensation. Some balaclavas are also made that way. So far this year I haven't needed that personally but some years it is needed until the lungs get used to the cold.

Use a balaclava. The material is much easier to breathe through than a knitted scarf. How could does it get where you live?

There is actually a plastic respirator that is designed for really cold weather athletics. It's kind of a heat exchanger of sorts that goes on your chest under your clothes and you breath through a mouth piece that pulls in air through the system that your body has warmed. I can't remember what it is called. You'd have to do a google search. I think you could rig something up pretty cheap though. Like a small backpack lined with foam holding some kind of light heat exchanger with a mouth piece of some kind.

I tried searching that product i was talking about but it may not be on the market any longer. It was discussed on this forum a few years ago. You might look at something like this:

https://gizmodo.com/5454880/coldaveng...you-breathe-in

It can get could (cold) the day in question was about 30 ish. It is the dry throat and upper lungs, annoying. I got a better balaclava, it smells after an hour, but washed regular it seems ok. I was wondering if anything better.

Rod

I can breathe inside my rain cape, and just see over the top of the collar ..

and I have a fleece Neck Gaiter I can pull over my nose and mouth..
for thr dryer cold.. At 0C.

Review some history by searching on respirator:

https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=6840600

A regular respirator without filters, a neoprene mask, and the heat exchanger methods and equipment are often discussed, in addition to cloth coverings.

I use the respirator approach below 15F. While it's not necessary from a health point of view (most people can breathe safely at far lower temperatures), I wear it for the comfort as it helps shield the skin and pre warms the incoming air a trifle while keeping my teeth from being achingly cold if I breathe through the mouth one too many times.

I use this from Turtle Fur :

https://tinyurl.com/bpcxmn6

and I actually had to trim some fabric away from the mouth area to let my big goatee hang out. Has worked well for me down into upper single digits (F)...

Here is a skiing accessory that works well. It's called a "Snowdana"

and can be adjusted anyway you like while riding. It is made of a nice fleece comes in a lot of styles and keeps the face and neck comfy without making you look like a mass-murderer (just a bandit).


Marc

I use a neck warmer that has a built in part to go over the lower part of your face that you can breath through. Don't need anything in 30deg weather though. I use this in the 10deg and below stuff.

I get a pretty sore throat if I go on a longer ride. A 30 minute ride I am fine. The longer ones are a problem. I can take the camelbak but then my back gets very sweaty even in the cold.. Or hit a convenience store when I empty the 2 bottles. With the neck warmer I loose less out my lungs so I can ride farther before stopping.

Rod

Would a surgical mask work for you? Or one of those dust masks from Home Depot?

Sounds like the neck warmer is working for you??

I use a beardhead for really cold, and just a normal balaclava for standard cold.

I have both dust masks and 3m half mask respirators and the latter breathe way better than the former.

Without the filters on the half mask respirators are just perfect for mouth breathing in cold weather.
I personally use neoprene half face masks as it works fine too for me.

Yes, it is working, and it sounds like it is the best I can do. I have to wash it as soon as I get in or it begins to smell. So I just do my other stuff too. It seems strange you can be cold and sweating at the same time, but that is what happens. I am staying warm though. Nothing gets so cold it hurts, which is good.

Rod

One of the best strategies for winter riding that I have used is to go on shorter/faster rides. That is when the roads allow it. You can accomplish high degrees of fitness on a hard 15-30 minute time trial. Combining this strategy with your neck warmer may be a winning combination. Although you will sweat more. And if your ride is a commute it may not work to push pace beyond what is safe. Still, for many of us, the difference between a hard ride and an easy one is only maintaining a 2-5 mph faster pace for at least a 10-15 minute interval.

IMO if your not breathing mostly thru your mouth your not working hard enough. I must cover my mouth
to attempt some air warming per injury yrs ago. My solution to date is a long hand knitted scarf with two layers covering the mouth.. also a good wrap of the throat section too. Yes one sweats.. but that degree of effort given the necessary winter clothing means trapped heat... and water loss to perspiration.

I sew the nose opening of a seirus neoprene mask. Now the cold air warm up more because it enter via the holes of the mask for the mouth. The distance the air must do to reach the nose has increased

Some neoprene face masks have a mesh of small ventilation holes in front of your mouth. They block enough wind to keep your face warm but allow you to exhale normally, which prevents blowby along your nose which can fog your glasses. I have the glasses fogging problem with both of my balaclavas unless I'm very careful with placement and how I exhale.

I have noticed that half masks that you attach on the back of your head like this one seems to lead to less fogging problem than the other balaclavas that i have because I can tighten up as much as i want so that no gap remains between the top of the half mask and my nose preventing my exhaled breath from fogging my goggles.
That plus double lens goggles and no more fogging problem most of the time (except if i'm not moving for at least several minutes or indoor with the goggles on)
https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Half-...=neoprene+mask

For the foggy glasses problem I put an exhaust tube on the exit valve of the half-mask respirator without filters, moving it down vertically to mid-torso (sump pump drain hose by the foot at the hardware store). I wind up with frost and ice on my torso, but it melts/dries between rides. Looks comical, but then winter commuting is in the dark for me most of the season, and I prefer the comfort of the half-mask when it gets down below 15F.

The Cold Avenger face mask works great for me. Good ventilation and no sucking in cloth in your mouth (when inhaling) with scarves or traditioal balaclavas.

Try a neoprene face mask by sierus;

The Neoprene masks don't help much, because they have holes in them for you to breath in---and you are still breathing in ice cold air.

Try a Neoprene mask for warmth with a Buff rag (Merino wool is what I use) over the top:

https://www.buffwear.com/index.php?route=common/home

This material is thinner and doesn't get nearly as wet, soggy and cold as a fleece balaclava. I also use a Shemagh if I need more warmth, one like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Rothco-SHEMAGH...tactical+scarf

You can tie a Shemagh in all sorts of ways, you don't have to use it as a full head wrap.