Hey guys,
Like most of you I've been pretty frustrated with my facemasks. I've been snowboarding for 15 years and have yet to find one that actually works well and doesn't get soggy, freeze, make it hard to breath, or tangle/shift other gear.
I went to school to be a product designer and for my senior thesis, designed (what I believe to be) the perfect facemask. I'm looking to develop it and bring it to market and would love to hear what you guys think.
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It's designed to work with your goggles (won't fog them), gloves/mittens (don't have to take them off to use it), hat, helmet, headphones (has an access hole so you can take your headphones out without taking everything off. It also relieves the pressure from pushing earbuds into your ears all day), and even a camelback (or granola bars, cigarettes, joints, w/e. You still have easy access to your mouth). It will trap hot air when you're sitting still (on the lift) but allows air to flow through when moving. Because the shell is sitting off the skin, moisture will condense on that surface keeping your face dry. It is also designed to be washable to get rid of excess sweat/moisture. It also has a magnetic quick release that allows you to take it off and put it on quickly, like pulling a gaiter up/down.
It is modular, for different levels of protection: a lite version, for sunny days, a mid-weight for cooler, snowier days, and an expedition-class, for those fuck-off cold days or when you're swimming in powder. It has a cloth headpiece that will be customizable (colors/patterns,) and the hard shell can be customized with color, patterns, graphics.
The actually face piece will be similar to your goggles in construction. Foam strips where it makes contact with your face. A soft rubber spacer to create an air cavity. And a hard plastic "lens" that will be interchangeable/repairable.
In the future I see this having conduit running through to heat it or possibly a bluetooth microphone. Ideally it will provide some sort of protection against branches slapping you in the face and possibly even providing a little extra oxygen should you become buried (these are not intended benefits yet.)
I'd love to hear what you like/don't like. How it could be better, or if there are any pain points I've missed.
Thanks!
GRAE