Hyperlite Mountain Gear Facemask Review -- Is it better than the Outdoor Research Facemask?

A review of the Hyperlite Gear Facemask and comparison to the Outdoor Research Facemask.
Hyperlite Gear Facemask www.hyperlitem...
Outdoor Research Mask www.outdoorres...
Outdoor Research Mask Video Review • Outdoor Research Essen...
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[@KSpyrka]

First of all, EXTREMELY happy with my Outdoor Research mask, OR. I disagree slightly with the updated review at the top of clip. That is, mine does not slip when I speak for extended periods of time. I am a coach soccer, and I am out every evening with my teams, and because of our COVID protocols, I have to be louder so players can hear me from a greater distance than I would usually instruct them. I am pretty much speaking the entire time. Between the nose hanger (great feature) and the adjustable ear straps, you achieve a very secure fit.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Wondering if it is as simple as my head is bigger! So when my jaw moves there is no give it just pulls down on the part under my chin.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

I have one more mask review coming up and i will make sure to mention this.

[@pdrhound2608]

@@PaultheBackpacker you have a little head. mine never slips. i use filter often and hate that.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Not little, big. I think my problem is that when I wear it there is no give so any mouth movement pulls it down.

[@opfreakx]

on the OR facemask. You can adjust the tension between the upper strap and lower strap independently. If its slipping down your face while talking, make the top strap tighter. Own two OR masks now, and figured this out after they fit 'different'.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

I just went and grabbed mine to experiment. I tightened and it just got worse....but then I loosened it, made it real loose, and that made it better. But now there is a trade off, not as seal tight, but I would not be toughing it as much.

[@jeremypalmer1533]

The OR mask is a great fit, and very good quality, and it will NOT slip or move if : 1) you need to used the nose wire to fit to your nose / face 2) also note the review did no have the OR flits in the mask - these are essential to be effective at combating COVID-19.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

You have to give me a little credit :) I have worked that wire loose, tight, and every other way!

[@fisherdogshots]

I'm a teacher, I read stories a lot as a librarian. Talking constantly, sometimes quite loutdly. I have several OR masks, they are totally bomber, they never move! I don't like the filter on the OR. It's clearly an afterthought, seems like a coffee filter. In any case, it doesn't stay put. Every time I take the mask off the filter falls out, or sometimes it bunches up uncomfortably when I'm wearing the mask. Bottom line: I LOVE the OR mask.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

I cannot, no matter how much adjusting I do, keep it on my face :) if I pull up the bottom and place under my lips, not under my chin I can talk without it falling down.

[@fisherdogshots]

@@PaultheBackpacker That's interesting. looking at your videos it looks like you and I have about the same size and shape face. I just really pinch and shape that metal nose piece, and the mask never moves. No matter how much I talk or even yell (I get in a character when I'm reading picture book stories to little kids in library)

[@aikirunner]

I’ve got the OR version and there’s plenty of adjustability at the nose and the ears. When adjusted, I don’t have any problem.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

All the comments about how the OR is fine for them is making me question the shape of my head :)

[@jeremywenrich]

Good mask info is super important right now, so I’m very happy that you are making good content. I’ve been using the Hyperlight Mountain Gear mask for about 2 months now and am very happy with it. It’s not perfect, but it’s good. It does hurt my ears a little bit, but a little bit of adjustment seems to alleviate. As for breath, it does get moist under the mask during activity, but I find it tolerable. I never noticed an itch. Talking and breathing through the mask is one of my favorite aspects of the mask. I have the original white masks and will likely order black masks soon if I don’t find alternatives that I want to check out.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

And the fact that they are reasonably priced make some perfect.

[@mattsharp128]

I own and use the hmg black masks..I wear them and wash them regularly...very well made and the best part is the seal on nose...it has a piece of wire that forms to nose...

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Without going back and watching the video I can't remember if I mentioned the wire at the top. That is key...especially if you wear glasses!

[@PaultheBackpacker]

That's interesting, when did you get the second batch? Wondering if it was the same time I did and that's why mine was small too.

[@sfmarckx]

Thank you for this! I just ordered some. On my masks I have been tying a piece of elastic between the ear loops to help keep my ears from hurting and so I can hang it around my neck when I am not wearing it. On my favorite masks I have cut the ear loops and sewn elastic that goes around the back of my head and those work even better. On a recent backpacking trip I wore the same mask around my neck the whole time and always had it right there when I saw someone coming down the trail toward me. A bear bell on my hiking pole also seemed to help warn hikers coming down the trail and they could get their masks on in time too! I didn't know about the commercial ear savers until I read the comments here. You might do a video about those sorts of options too. I really appreciate your doing mask reviews here! Thank you and all the best, Scott

[@PaultheBackpacker]

I just ordered some facemasks from Keen. When I do the review on those I will show off some ear savers.

[@phillipp1399]

I like the hmg masks quite a bit, they’re even a little loose on me but I have a small face for a tall guy. For long wear when nit super active and sweaty though I love the masks from Borealis Wool Co. they cover more but their wool and (fabric made from cellulose) blend is so breathable it’s great, even when it’s warm. Of course I’m in reasonably dry Colorado. They run $8 but maybe a discount with 3 or more? Also their buff (same fabric blend) is a nice mask when doubled up.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

The two masks in the video I have using during ridiculous humidity. Never thought about how that altered my experience. They should be much more comfortable in September!

[@jrr1394]

As someone with a small head, the HMG mask doesn't work for me. It's too loose on my face and there are clearly gaps between the side of the mask fabric and my face. I think it would be better if the fabric was extended to go farther toward the ears. I use them if the rest of my masks are dirty but I don't like using them regularly.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Jeez, the totally opposite problem from me!

[@laughter95]

I've been looking for a good mask solution for the gym... I'm probably overthinking this. The movement of the OR mask and the positioning of the elastic bands on the HMG mask are both deal killers. Wonder why people wouldn't rather go with a simple $0.30 multi-ply surgical mask? It probably has better filtration efficiency due to its greater coverage and its electrostatically charged meltblown filtration layer. The disadvantage is that it's not reusable and when they get wet it's like trying to breathe through a plastic bag. N95 respirators aren't really available to the general public, KF94 respirators are about $2.5-$3.5 each, and KN95's cost similarly but should be crosschecked against CDC's testing list. All these respirators are difficult to exercise in as I've found them suffocating, but at least they stay dry longer. None of these respirators have perfect fits, so I'm not sure how much self protection they provide. The one reusable mask that seems to be the best overall may be the Totobobo mask from Singapore. But the washable, moldable mask kit and 5 pairs of disposable filters costs $100. Some users have said they can be molded to have a perfect, no-leak fit, while others have said that the mask does leak while exercising. Judging by walkthrough KZbin videos on the streets of Hong Kong it appears everyone simply wears a basic surgical mask, so maybe this is the way to go.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Those "surgical masks" are only rated for four hours of use and of course are single use. The HMG mask elastics bug me only because of my big head :) My wife finds them comfortable. And of course, they are washable or you can just have one per day and rotate through.

[@gummybear41283]

the Outdoor research has a nose wire, how come yours doesnt???!

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Mine has a nose wire, I really hope I didn't say it didn't have one! I like the Outdoor Research mask, it is also the one most likely to make me feel like I'm in an aquarium after wearing it for an extended time.

[@gummybear41283]

@@PaultheBackpacker I don't know how its falling off your face with the nose wire. Is the Keen your favorite? I like the N95 virus protection on the OR though , I dont know what the heck to do now!!!!

[@PaultheBackpacker]

In a controlled environment, like inside, or I'm not talking a lot my favorite go-to is the Patagonia that I also have a review for on this channel. The only reason that bugs me sometimes it is because I have glasses and they fog up once in awhile if I'm talking a lot or laughing. But otherwise that is far and away my favorite mask out of all of them right now. The Keene is my daughter's favorite, she's actually taking both of mine and I have not seen them since shortly after purchasing them. The Hyperlite mask in this video is my wife's favorite, she took my second mask and I haven't seen those either, and that's the only one that she wants to wear. If you look at the comments on this video? Or maybe it was another one. There are people who talk a whole lot like a coach, and she loves the Outdoor Research mask. It's not falling off of my face because it doesn't have the nose wire, it just happens to be in such a way on my chin that when it cools down to speak it pulls down the mask. I think the reality that I have found through Mass testing is that I have a big head :-) and that really impacts how each mask fits. And I will give it one more plug, the Patagonia mask is the only one out of every mass that I've tried that I forget that I'm wearing. It's horrible with the glasses for doing things like going in and out of stores, but for just normal use 80% of the time on my job it is by and far away is my favorite.

[@gummybear41283]

@@PaultheBackpacker I like Patagonia but theres no anti virus filter for it like the Outdoor Research. What do I do for that? I'm mainly need it to wear at the gym.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

You come over my house to cut and split wood and haul it up the hill in a wheelbarrow no mask required full body workout :-) yeah the Outdoor Research with a special Fabric and extra filters is the way to go then I guess for the gym. So

[@philamongthehills501]

I have used the HMG mask for over a month and like it but the stitching is not great. I mainly use it while at work on a campus where a mask is required but spend half the time in a room by myself where I can take it off. I mainly wanted it because I will not throw one away every day while required for use at least for months

[@PaultheBackpacker]

How so? Starting to come apart? I have only used two of them. The stitching looks ok. It looks like there is extra where it the thread would have been knotted and tied that makes it look a little sloppy.

[@philslates1495]

@@PaultheBackpacker I have had to trim some of the stitching because it started to come undone . At least on the one I have at work now I see more of what is around the elastic band coming undone. Possibly I have worn this one the most because most of the others are stashed in my car and I walk to work. I have machine washed and air dried them. I saw your first mask video shortly after I purchased these.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

I just pinned this comment thread to the top, good for people to see it and take into consideration.

[@philslates1495]

I do like the HMG mask in general and a woman i work with got them after seeing mine and seemed to like them. I know masks are not their speciality. Your review of the OR mask falling down when speaking made me glad I got these. I would recommend the HMG mask as being much better than any disposable ones.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

And I simply like my money going to support them for local manufacture.

[@alexibarra4675]

Outdoor research mask doesn’t do that to me, I tighten I would say a comfortable bit and it barely moves specially during meetings

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Mine drives me nuts, I actually have to wear it to work today and have the bottom "on" my chin instead of below it so it does not keep falling down.

[@AllenSchubert]

With hats, I have a 7 7/8 hat size (I'm not sure what that means, but it can't be metric). Is your head about that size? When you put on the Hyperlite mask and talked about your ears, that's how my ears are in _all_ masks. They even pop off an ear at some point. Pulling up a double layer Buff (fold it to get two layers) sorta works, but works it's way towards my neck if I talk. Plus, there's no metal thingie for the nose/glasses, too. -- Have you found any that work for a larger head?

[@PaultheBackpacker]

The Outdoor Research mask that I did a review on about 3 weeks ago is totally the most comfortable, and even after I tighten it I still have Slack that would allow me to make it even bigger. One of the things you can do is add an ear saver to the mask. I think when I start to have to wear mine all day long, I'm going to use one of those and then lift the straps totally above my ears.

[@PaultheBackpacker]

And yes, I can't remember if my hat is 7 5/8, or 7 and 7/8.

[@AllenSchubert]

Paul the Backpacker I looked up “ear savers” - I didn’t know there was such a thing! I’ll try those out!

[@PaultheBackpacker]

And if you do an image search, at least one of them on the first page will probably show it being worn above the ears

[@mrparisehistory]

The HMG mask is the only mask I've tried that will actually stay in one place on my face while I talk. And I'm a teacher, so that is a huge factor. I can't be pulling a mask back up over my nose every 45 seconds. But I'm seeing maybe the dimensions have changed from one's made back this spring (April)? Wanted to get black since the white shows stains, but am I likely to find a differently sized product?

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Hey Brandon, I am also a teacher and only wear the Mystery Ranch mask when teaching. It heats up when I laugh :) But is the most comfortable by far....at least for my head size! It is the only mask that I have worn so far that I never adjust while talking, and love the strap system. Just hangs from my neck when i am alone and I can flip it right up when someone comes in.

[@mrparisehistory]

@@PaultheBackpacker I hadn't heard of Mystery Ranch before. Do you use the traditional or street?

[@PaultheBackpacker]

This guy made a pretty good video on the one I use kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6rCXneledyWbrs

[@mrparisehistory]

@@PaultheBackpacker As long as you vouch for the guy, I've give a watch...

[@PaultheBackpacker]

Don't believe everything he says....he's just a middle school teacher :)

[@sexualharrison]

use the nose wire.