Face Masks: Yes or no?

[ski diva]

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they don't do anyone any favors. On the other, they really make a difference when it's ungodly cold out. This past Monday when it was below zero, I was pretty glad to have one on. Two seasons ago I suffered from some frost burn, so I've kind of become pretty protective of my skin.

I have three looks that I'm brave enough to share with you:

Face Mask #1: the traditional mask, with a pointed nose and breathing holes. Looks like the Tin Man (except black):

Face Mask #2: This is my "Darth Vader" look. Actually, it's a better mask than #1. It actually has a "thermal conversion module" that warms your breath as you inhale, so it makes you feel much warmer all over. Ugly as sin, though.

And here's the traditional gaiter, which I wear most days:

So how do you feel about face masks? Do you ever wear one?

 

[oragejuice]

Awww, you forgot one!

Hahaha, about my facial expression. But BANDANAS! I know, most of you think they are silly. But... it's my preference, alllll the time.

Edit: I feel like my body is just a thermo-machine. I hardly get cold when I'm skiing, the coldest I've skiied is 11degrees, and I was wearing a hat, shell, down vest and a base layer. Hmmm.

 

[Jilly]

Similar to the gaiter is a Bula bandana that I just have fallen in love with. Its microfleece and colourful. But if its really cold, I'll add a nose pinch too it.

There is also another look I see around Tremblant. The gaiter pulled up over the mouth and a paper napkin over the nose and held in place with the goggles. Does the same thing as the nose pinch, but not as classy!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Anything's better than nothing!
Did bandanas for decades.
Now, under helmet, polyfleece balaclava, which can cover mouth & nose if desired, not if desired. (in addition to neck warmer)
Overall effect? Ain't pretty, gets the job done
version 1 covered

version 2 - one person covered, the other not

Frankly, if I didn't have the get-up, the day wouldn't happen. I'd freeze.

 

[PNWSkier]

I have no pictures but I could not ski without something over my face. I'm such a wimp! 80% of the time I have my neck gaiter pulled up.

 

[ski diva]

There is also another look I see around Tremblant. The gaiter pulled up over the mouth and a paper napkin over the nose and held in place with the goggles. Does the same thing as the nose pinch, but not as classy!

A napkin??? I guess that's handy, when your nose runs. Or when you stop for lunch. :D

 

[Jilly]

But Tremblant's napkins are tan coloured, like recycled paper. So it doesn't show!! But great if the kleenex boxes are out, or you forget the skier's rules, their printed on the napkin!

 

[oragejuice]

But Tremblant's napkins are tan coloured, like recycled paper. So it doesn't show!! But great if the kleenex boxes are out, or you forget the skier's rules, their printed on the napkin!

:ROTF: A napkin???

And are you talking about a full on fleece bandana? Or... fleece lined? I saw some fleece lined ones the other day, I like!

 

[amanda]

I've got a set up similar to MSL's, but I only wear it on really cold days or powder days.

 

[RachelV]

SkiDiva, your 2nd pic is amazing -- very Darth Vader. ;)

I have a balaclava like MSL's, but I don't wear it unless it's reaaaaally cold (single digits F, cloudy, windy). I just hate having something over my face. Plus, I am a little embarrassed to admit that I actually kind of like my goggle tan, and the balaclava totally gets in the way there. I wore it through an entire long weekend in Utah a few years ago, and I ended up with 2 tan triangles right under my eyes. CLASSY! For a week when I got back everyone would just kind of look at me, squint a little, and ask, ".... what happened to your face?"

 

[ski diva]

SkiDiva, your 2nd pic is amazing -- very Darth Vader. ;)

Yeah, it is. I really hate the way it looks, but when the temps are in the single digits or below and windy, it's either that or frost bite.

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

It's all about layering here. It can be mighty cold in the morning, but when the sun is out, it can get quite warm as the day progresses. So, I'll start out with an Icebreaker balaclava AND a neck gaiter, but eventually lose one or both through the course of the day.

I like being totally covered...as long as I'm not in my most recognizable jacket or letting my very red hair fly out from under my helmet, no one recognizes me! That's kind of fun sometimes.

 

[michpc]

Last year was my first year back skiing and I actually did the majority of my skiing in March and April, so I don't have anything more than a nice soft fleece neck warmer thing (I guess that's what you're calling a gaiter?). Should probably invest in some warmer stuff if I want to get out in Jan and Feb this year though!

 

[whitewater girl]

knit (acrylic yarn, I think) gaiter, worn most of the time but only pulled up to cover my face when particularly cold - except this year it's all the time, since I seem to be particularly cold this season! Don't know what I'm going to do when it actually get cold out!...

 

[itri]

Most days I wear a balaclava. If it's REALLY cold, I'll wear the balaclava AND a gaiter (yes, I'm a wimp).

 

[cinnabon]

When it was below 0 and windy at Killington I would wear one of those neoprene ones attached to a fleece gator, or you were almost guranteed frostbite if you spent any amount if time outside. I think I'll be needing it less out here.

 

[LilaBear]

I like the darth vader look! Honestly it's not like people can see much of our face anyway. The warm breath sounds good.

I wear a neck gaiter all the time, soon as I take it off the wind gets up. I just got a bandana, lined with fleece, ventilation slits around the mouth nose area, and a strange goggle shaped cut out under the eyes. It looks good in the bathroom mirror, but there haven't been days cold enough since I got here.

The East Coast is the coldest place I have skied in Europe and North America, to the power of ten. In Europe it was a bad day if we weren't in sunglasses, and I remember having my ski jacket unzipped most of the time. Of course, we never went in January or February, but still I don't think it rivalled the East Coast. I wore my mask there often, and would be the "evil twin" on those days.

 

[Robyn]

Typically I wear my Powderfish gaiter which I love. When it's really cold I'll switch that for a balaclava. Generally not both though. I can't handle too much around my neck.

 

[SnowflakeADK]

Definately use the "tin man" face mask for the coldest/windiest days and fleece gaitor for more moderate cold days. Over 30 degrees though, nothing. I'm eternally warm....too much around my neck would make me crazy!

 

[Severine]

Usually just a neck gaiter. I didn't even own a balaclava until recently when I happened upon one on sale over the summer. I have not used it yet.