Talus Cold Avenger Face Mask
November 17, 2011
Once the temperatures hit the mid teens I turn to balaclavas; if they keep heading south I switch to a face mask. This is the best one I’ve tried so far, since it lets the moisture-laden exhalations out instead of funneling them up to fog up my goggles and build up inside in the form of sweaty slime. It took a full hour to get a fog started on my goggles today in single digit temps which was a nice change from the mere ten minutes of open vision I usually get with my regular balaclava. It was great to have airflow going without getting my face immediately soaked by the blowback from my own breath (don’t worry, I chew gum so at least it’s nice and minty).
I have been taking the ColdAvenger out on my cold weather bike rides, and it has indeed been cold, with temps just now getting back into double digits for the first time in a week or so. I don’t have any asthma conditions or breathing problems, but I really liked this face mask for just plain comfort. It was a little tight over my nose but one can adjust the nose piece if you so choose. I, personally, am too lazy and would rather just suffer. I rode with the valve fully open because all the panting was creating so much condensation but you can adjust the airflow by turning the valve. I never felt as if my breathing was constricted and it really felt quite normal for the most part.
The Cold Avenger fits around your head like a big blood pressure cuff, with a wide swath of Velcro as a closure. This isn’t my favorite part because if you have long hair, as do I, you run the risk of serious tangle-age as well as the standard cautions against bringing such a device anywhere near your base layer. I also found it hard to disengage the Velcro and take the mask off while wearing the requisite giant mittens that such temperatures require, so maybe the addition of a loop or something would be helpful. I took to just pulling the mask down to perform tasks like eating and drinking and the all-important farmer blow. It wasn’t as easy as it is with a regular balaclava, and it messed up the goggle/Avenger configuration a little, and I noticed that I was drinking less due to the hassle factor and that’s probably something to be aware of. Hair management was a problem and I couldn’t do much else other than fasten the Avenger over my hair which was kind of a sweaty mess at the end of the whole thing. This might suck in the backcountry where there’s no easy way to dry one’s hair. Frankly, though, if it’s cold enough that you have to cover up your face you’re better off with this than anything else or at least as far as I can tell.
Original Buff
June 21, 2009
Buffs are well-known from that TV show, you know, the one that gets me scornful looks when I mention it. I want to talk about the Buff, and so I have to mention the show so they know what it is, so then they give me a look and say “you watch that show?” For the record, no, I do not watch that show, or any shows for that matter, or any television at all, mostly because I get really disgusted at the way television programs people to want stuff and buy stuff and act like the people on TV and look like the people on TV, etc. So it is a tad ironic that I’m a huge fan of the Buff which got its start on TV. Of course no one else watches that show either, so the Buff usually gets called a “do-rag” instead. Whatever. I think that TV show really gives the Buff a bad rap because I really love these things. They come in any conceivable color and pattern, and can be manipulated in any way you want. I usually wear them under my bike helmet to keep flyaway hairs in check and soak up all the sweat. They are perfect for this as they aren’t too tight or too heavy.
They also come in several different lengths and weights. You can use the winter wool weight as a balaclava, hat, neck gaiter, or anything else really. The lighter ones can be hats, hairbands, bandannas, bandeau tops, bracelets – there are infinite possibilities. I’m tossing out my old standard bandannas – there’s a new kid in town and it’s far and away a better option. The Buff isn’t just hype!
Patagonia R1 Balaclava
July 24, 2008
So, it snowed on the mountains above town today. July 23. Snow. Summer hasn’t even arrived yet around here, and now it’s over. Nothing to do but accept it, so let’s talk balaclavas. We’re going to need them soon.
The R1 balaclava is hands down the best balaclava I’ve ever worn. Ever! And I’ve worn a lot of…okay, that’s just ridiculous, I’ve only worn a few, but that’s plenty to tell me that normal balaclavas are kind of weird, usually too tight, not warm enough, and pretty much just feel like you dragged your brother’s old sock over your head and are peeking out the holes made by his nappy toenails. But enough about family – this ‘clava is so good that I just couldn’t understand why there are any others out there. It’s not even ridiculously expensive! Cheaper, in fact, than many other extremely inferior balaclavas, which is kind of weird considering that it’s made from Patagonia’s venerable R1 fabric, which is, in turn, not cheap. So, yay! Excellent, highly superior balaclava for normal, average balaclava price.
It’s soft, it’s warm, it’s maneuverable (you can wear it as a neck gaiter, a hat, or a balaclava – for real, not just “in theory” like other balaclavas). It’s light and compressible. The eye hole has a dashing “ninja” shape, so the R1 balaclava can double as part of your Halloween costume, or your day-to-day samurai outfit, if you’re into that. It’s toasty warm and somehow manages to not immediately develop an under-nose crust while you’re skiing. I’m not techy enough to figure out how the fabric holds the nose crust at bay, so I’ll just say it must be a miracle.
It’s hard to find in a size small, as most ladies would probably need, which is the one bummer about it. I’ve actually never seen it in a size smaller than a medium, and after turning to the All-Knowing Internet, I was unable to find a retailer who carries the R1 in anything but medium or large. The medium is a tad roomy on my wee pinhead, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the size small, and report back if I find that they do, in fact, make it in a small. If they don’t, I’ll just grouse about things like “why call it a medium if there’s only two sizes” and “hello, not everyone has a melon for a head” and “my ‘sexy ninja’ costume looks stupid with a slightly baggy balaclava.” But role-playing aside, at least I’ll be warm and comfy with the R1 protecting my face and head from the nasty elements (which will be here any day, if the snow is any indication).
