Masks for the gym
September 8, 2020 2:53 PM Subscribe
Gyms near me have finally reopened and I'm looking for a mask to wear that offers both protection and comfort while working up a sweat.
For the majority of the pandemic I've been alternating between wearing surgical masks at work and bandit-style bandanas when spending time outside or when inside for short periods of time. I don't mind wearing the surgical masks when I'm sitting around but I find them uncomfortable during any level of physical exertion - my face is prone to getting very sweaty and once the material of the mask gets damp it becomes very difficult to breathe. Bandanas worn bandit-style obviously don't offer much in the way of protection; I've tried this method but it resulted in a lot of layers smushed in my face and I don't think it would hold up well during a workout.
My ideal mask would either be very efficient at moisture wicking and/or have some sort of structure to keep it away from my nose and upper lip. The one mask I found in stock that looks like it meets this criteria is the Uniqlo Airism mask so if anyone has worn that one I'd be very interested in hearing more about it - there are a fair amount of reviews on the Uniqlo website complaining about sizing and difficulty breathing in them.
For the majority of the pandemic I've been alternating between wearing surgical masks at work and bandit-style bandanas when spending time outside or when inside for short periods of time. I don't mind wearing the surgical masks when I'm sitting around but I find them uncomfortable during any level of physical exertion - my face is prone to getting very sweaty and once the material of the mask gets damp it becomes very difficult to breathe. Bandanas worn bandit-style obviously don't offer much in the way of protection; I've tried this method but it resulted in a lot of layers smushed in my face and I don't think it would hold up well during a workout.
My ideal mask would either be very efficient at moisture wicking and/or have some sort of structure to keep it away from my nose and upper lip. The one mask I found in stock that looks like it meets this criteria is the Uniqlo Airism mask so if anyone has worn that one I'd be very interested in hearing more about it - there are a fair amount of reviews on the Uniqlo website complaining about sizing and difficulty breathing in them.
I just got the UnderArmour mask today and just got back from the gym. I sweat a ton, so every other mask I've tried gets soaked, and it's what I imagine being waterboarded feels like when it sucks to your mouth. The UA has been the best yet. I ordered the L/XL, and it may be a bit big. Looping the ear bands around my ears tightened it up, but I'm wondering if a smaller size would be better for my (what i assume is) average size head.
posted by jonathanhughes at 4:39 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by jonathanhughes at 4:39 PM on September 8, 2020
I have an Outdoor Research mask I like a lot but it's often out of stock and I've never tried actually running in it or doing anything more stressful than a dog walk. But it is synthetic and I think it would handle sweat better than a poly-cotton mask. Plus the nosepiece works very well.
posted by GuyZero at 5:06 PM on September 8, 2020
posted by GuyZero at 5:06 PM on September 8, 2020
But it is synthetic and I think it would handle sweat better than a poly-cotton mask
I've tried biking in the rain with both, and neither lets you pull enough air to do intensive cardio when they're soaked through. I don't think there's a good answer to this question.
posted by mhoye at 7:37 PM on September 8, 2020
I've tried biking in the rain with both, and neither lets you pull enough air to do intensive cardio when they're soaked through. I don't think there's a good answer to this question.
posted by mhoye at 7:37 PM on September 8, 2020
No personal experience, but Runner's World has an article where they tested several 'performance masks' which might be helpful: We Tested a Variety of Face Masks to Find the Best Ones for Runners
posted by rawrberry at 2:46 AM on September 9, 2020
posted by rawrberry at 2:46 AM on September 9, 2020
Unfortunately, almost everything that makes a mask more effective at it's COVID-19 duties is going to make it worse for hot weather or working out. Standing off the face is about as good as you're going to get, beyond the basics of material selection.
Something with a more 3D design, without pleats can help. I have one of these (warning, not cheap) and it's the best I've found at staying off my mouth and nostrils. The "downside" is that breathing is noticeably harder than in a typical cotton mask, because it's primary job is being done well.
There's also things like this. I don't know how effective the fan is, or how tightly you'd be able to get a mask over it, but having a constant stream of fresh air running through your mask has got to improve the sweat factor.
posted by Jobst at 7:33 AM on September 9, 2020
Something with a more 3D design, without pleats can help. I have one of these (warning, not cheap) and it's the best I've found at staying off my mouth and nostrils. The "downside" is that breathing is noticeably harder than in a typical cotton mask, because it's primary job is being done well.
There's also things like this. I don't know how effective the fan is, or how tightly you'd be able to get a mask over it, but having a constant stream of fresh air running through your mask has got to improve the sweat factor.
posted by Jobst at 7:33 AM on September 9, 2020
I haven't liked any of the masks I've tried by themselves (I got some from Athleta which are... fine?), but adding a silicone support bracket like the one executive_dysfuncti0n linked inside to keep the mask away from being directly on my mouth and nostrils made a world of difference.
posted by matcha action at 9:04 AM on September 9, 2020
posted by matcha action at 9:04 AM on September 9, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:09 PM on September 8, 2020