Winter Sports:  Doctor's Recommendation

Dr. Eric Heiligenstein, M.D., Quality Management and Outcomes Research, Univ. Wisconsin, wrote: "Compared to all other masks I have tried, your cold weather mask has numerous advantages to an athlete. The inhalation resistance was minimal even at a high level of exertion (90% maximum heart rate) and did little to impair performance. The silk/fleece combination makes your mask the only one I have used that does not become rapidly saturated with moisture from exhalation. It seems like the moisture was ‘wicked’ from the silk into the fleece allowing inhaled air to be humidified but keeping the mask dry against your face. One thing I have distinctly noticed is the warming effect of wearing the mask. I require less clothing as a result. During the recent cold period I was able to ski without problems at zero degrees or below. The cold weather mask reduces the cumulative effects of being exposed to cold air."

"I commute from Naperville to Chicago. My trip begins with a one mile walk from the house to the station. The cold weather mask was amazing. It retains the heat from the expired air and warms the incoming air. It was like being in a warm room the entire walk to the station. While I stood in the platform, perhaps looking a little goofy in my mask, the macho guys around me were in agony, suffering from the icy wind. Their faces were red and they were trying to pull their heads down inside their coats. I could stand up straight and look the wind in the eye." William R. Penrose, Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology

"I have and will continue to strongly recommend your product to any person with a need for a cold weather mask," says Gerard Queenan, who loves winter sports but is sensitive to cold. He reported his experiences:  "I received your Cold Weather Mask Monday and used it to fast walk today. Our local temperature this morning was 0 degrees with wind chill of   -10 degrees. The mask was comfortable.   Although my heart rate was in the 130 to 140 beats with an elevated breathing rate, the mask did not inhibit my breathing at all. In that category it passed with flying colors 10 out 10." Two weeks later: "Last Wednesday, I had a chance to snowshoe during a snowstorm. I wore the cold weather mask and had no problems breathing even though my heart rate was in the 140 to 150 beats per minute range. I studied your literature and seemed to do better with my glasses on - put the nose guard on top of the mask fabric and pinched the nose strip in the mask."  Last week: "I had a chance to cross country ski for a short period of timein February. I was able to maintain my pace with very little deviation from my normal breathing pattern but I did feel that I was laboring slightly - not enough to slow me down though. I, also, did some racewalking for exercise with the mask on and walked for 45 minutes with no impediment to my breathing. In both instances my glasses only fogged up when I stopped moving. I do highly recommend your cold weather  mask, for basically any cold weather activity and thank you for your help."

Travel: Athletes who travel on airplanes often experience discomfort. Some become ill.       The Honeycomb Mask with activated carbon filters recycled air. The filtration reduces irritation of nasal passages and of the eustachian tube to the middle ear, thus minimizing a build up of pressure and ear pain.  Customers who used to be ill for a week or more after flying now report they wear the I Can Breathe! Honeycomb Mask with filter, don't get sick so enjoy their travel.

To humidify dry air on long flights, take along the Cold Weather Mask to wear once the cabin gets dry.  Wash and rinse, then hand wring the mask and wear it damp.  The polar fleece is spongy so stays damp, humidifying as well as filtering the air you breathe.  When it dries out, wash and wring the mask again.  Both the fleece and the silk act as filters of particles.  Before descent, change to the Honeycomb Mask.

Exercising: For exertion in urban air pollution combined with high humidity and heat, runners and bicyclists may want to have a second filter along in case the first becomes saturated.  After exercising, hang the filters to dry  before reusing.  For indoor or outdoor exercise, the Silk Comfort Mask is the lightest mask and clears the air of particles, such as pollen, dust and larger molds. 

Questions or comments:  in USA call 1-888-313-0123, M-F 9a-5p CST.

Last update 08/18/08     I Can Breathe! Inc.