Product Review: RZR Mask
There is certainly no shortage of disadvantages to life during Western NY winter. However one of few benefits are nearly unlimited opportunities to test various products’ cold weather performance. Wonder about a given engine’s durability in subzero conditions? Need the scoop on the best brand of thermal underwear? We’ve got the conditions to accommodate!
That said it was only natural that we expressed interest in giving outdoor enthusiast and entrepreneur Steve Torbenson’s latest invention a closer look. Calling it the RZR Mask, this is one of those products that relies upon simplicity and common sense to accomplish a task/ fill a legitimate need.
What Is It?
The RZR Mask is a synthetic fiber facemask that attaches behind the head via a Velcro closure. The front is made up of a replaceable carbon-activated filter section. The RZR comes in sizes Medium, Large, XL & XXL and comes in a wide variety of color options from black to silver and even camo.
The RZR Mask includes an MP3 player sleeve, which is beneficial for hiking/ walking applications but we couldn’t get the bulk of our players to jive with out helmet liners.
The RZR Mask (with MP3 player sleeve), storage bag, & 2-filters goes for .95.
How Does it Work?
Pretty effectively actually. The RZR Mask slides on easily and effortlessly and fits quite well (we used a size large for a wide variety of testers without issue). The mask itself doesn’t interfere with the helmet or goggles and didn’t seem to move around on us even in rough conditions.
The only snag about putting the RZR Mask on is that it has to be done first. Remembering once you’ve gotten your lid and goggles in place that you didn’t put your mask on means starting over.
Like with any mask, there is some degree of resistance to inhaling and exhaling freely with the RZR on. It wasn’t enough to deter our riders from wearing it, but it was observed by all who took a few laps with the mask on.
The N99 Active Carbon filter protects from dust, odors, fumes, ragweed, smoke, methanol, and pollution but it was its ability to resist cold weather that we were most interested in. To that end the product worked flawlessly; having virtually eliminated cold air contact with the mouth region and chin. Additionally (and quite welcome by all of us) it completely did away with runny noses and the nose icicle phenomenon that usually follows.
It should also be noted that the RZR Mask does an admirable job of preventing visor fogging when sitting still for full-shield helmeted street and snowmobile riders.
In our case the mask’s ability to filter out harmful particles was secondary but we have to confess that having been engulfed in plumes of cold-weather exhaust steam was far less dramatic than usual with the RZR Mask on. We suspect this item would be invaluable to desert/ sand riders and those who commonly ride in dusty conditions.
Best of all replacement filters can be purchased in packs of three for .95.
Conclusion:
The RZR Mask delivers on its claims for the same reason crime scene investigators and surgeons wear those cliché particle masks; they work. There’s little doubt in the minds of the ATV Connection test crew that the science behind filtering out dust and contaminants before they can enter your lungs is sound. Of course the downside is that unless you are considering wearing a SCUBA tank to accomplish this task, there is a noticeable degree of breathing resistance to consider.
Assuming you are willing to deal with a bit more restriction to your breathing, the RZR Mask delivers on its promise to capture dust, pollen and cold air before it can enter your lungs. As an unexpected bonus, we’ve been using ours when out shoveling the driveway this winter and making use of the MP3 player sleeve to boot.
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What do you think of the mask? Is the filter worth the cost to you? Give us your opinion!