Psolar.BX Balaclava, Initial Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:   Carol Crooker

Age:  44

Gender:  Female

Height:  5 ft 10 in  (178 cm)

Weight:  160 lb (73 kg)

Hat size:  7 ¼

Head circumference:  22 ¾” (57.8 cm)

I wear glasses.

Email:  cmcrooker AT att DOT net

City, State:  Phoenix, Arizona

Date:  November 26, 2003

Backpacking background:  For the past 7 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year.  Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York.  My three-season base pack weight varies from 13 lbs (6 kg) to 8 lbs (4 kg).  I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT SYNOPSIS

The Psolar.BX balaclava is a stretch fleece hood and facemask containing a thermal conversion module that warms inhaled air with heat captured from exhaled air.  

Manufacturer:  Psolar

URL:  www.psolar.com

Year of manufacture:  2003

MSRP:  $40 USD

Listed weight:  none

Weight as delivered:  2.4 oz (68 g) 

Weight of thermal conversion module alone:  0.7 oz (20 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The Psolar.BX balaclava arrived by first class mail on November 24, 2003.  It came inside a clear plastic bag along with a glossy, one-page product information sheet.  The balaclava is made of black stretch fleece.  The facemask portion containing the thermal conversion module is soft and fuzzy on the inside and smooth on the outside.  The rest of the balaclava is fuzzy on both sides.  The thermal conversion module is held in place over the mouth area inside a black mesh pocket.  I slid the module out of the mesh pocket with some difficulty.  The module is very slippery and I was afraid of damaging it.  The module is a somewhat oval black plastic frame containing a series of closely spaced sheets.  The sheets appear to be some kind of white plastic.  They remind me of what I remember of the baleen plates that whales use to filter plankton out of seawater.  One of the sheets is bent into a slight “S” curve.  Hopefully this will not affect the function of the thermal conversion module.

The balaclava is handsome looking and well made.  It’s available in one size, which fits nicely on my head and feels soft and comfortable.  The balaclava rides low on my forehead, just above my eyebrows.  The mask fits over my nose and mouth to just under my eyes, exactly as the Psolar website and information sheet show. My nose gets flattened a bit by the facemask.  During testing I’ll be noting whether this becomes uncomfortable after wearing the balaclava for a while.  There are slight puckers in the balaclava on each side of my head just where the arms of my glasses pass.  The balaclava fits so closely under my eyes that I’m concerned that it may interfere with my glasses and with goggles when I wear them over my glasses.   

The balaclava looks just like the photo on the web site.

Quotes from the information sheet and Psolar web site:

“How does the Psolar.BX work?

The Psolar.BX balaclava contains a lightweight thermal conversion module that captures the heat that is typically wasted in the normal course of breathing.

The module captures warmth when you exhale.  As you inhale the fresh air, the module gently warms the air, returning heat to your body.

This advanced technology allows you to constantly breath in fresh warm air while trapping moisture to keep your balaclava drier.  Psolar.BX helps keep your core body temperature warm when you’re facing extremely frigid outdoor elements.

The technology behind the Heat Exchanger

The Patent Pending mask features a QXtec module that is made of desiccant coated plastic.  The desiccant grabs the moisture from the air, forcing a phase change from vapor to liquid.  This phase change releases heat that is added to the natural heat of exhalation, warming the plastic.  This warmth is transferred to the air as it is inhaled - creating a warm “breath of sunshine.”

The heat exchanger is up to 80% efficient, meaning that at 0 Degrees [-18 C], your inhaled breath can be warmed to over 75 Degrees [42 degrees C] before it enters your body! Efficiencies vary with respiratory rates and lung capacity.

Is the desiccant safe?

Yes! The desiccant is bonded to the plastic and is not inhaled. The desiccant is used in baby powder and it is also used to thicken milkshakes.

Cleaning and Care

The balaclava can be cleaned after each use.  It can be machine washed in cold water on a delicate cycle (with the module inserted) and line dried.  The module can be washed hundreds of times.”

The web site guarantees quality and performance of the balaclava or it can be returned for a full refund.

A Vapor Shield accessory is available to customize fit and prevent fogging of glasses.

TEST PLAN

I’ll take the balaclava along on my cold weather backpacking trips during the next six months.  I will wear it hiking, around camp, and while sleeping.  I plan on three or four, three to four-day trips in the mountains of Arizona and possibly in the eastern Sierras.  Likely locations are the White Mountains and the Blue Range Primitive Area in eastern Arizona, and the Flagstaff Peaks in north central Arizona.   I’ll try to choose the locations so I experience overnight lows of around 20 F (-7 C) on my first trip and around 0 F (-18 C) on the second trip.  Weather permitting, my third trip will also be in an area with overnight lows around 0 F (-18 C).  Elevations may range from 7000’ to 12,000’ (2100 - 3600 m).     

The following are particular areas I’ll be checking out: 

- Does the balaclava help keep me warm while moving, sitting, sleeping (both the hood itself and the module)? 

- Does it help keep me from getting a dry throat?

- Do my glasses or goggles fog up while wearing the balaclava? 

- Fit and comfort, in particular the comfort of my nose and fit with my glasses.

- Durability.

- What temperature range is the balaclava useful over?

- If I get a chance to test the Vapor Shield, I will see if it really does keep my glasses and goggles from fogging up.

- How easy is it to talk and be understood with the balaclava on?