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Initial Report: Psolar.BX
December 13, 2003
Name: David Sowards-Emmerd
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8" (1.73 m)
Weight: 155 lb (70 kg)
Email Address: dseATstanfordDOTedu
Location: Los Altos, California, USA
Date: December 13, 2003
Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking semi-frequently about three years ago, soon
after moving to California. I generally take weekend (1 night) trips,
and occasionally take 3-4 day trips. Most of my backpacking experience
is at moderate altitude, 6,000'-12,000' (1,800-3,650 m), in conditions
ranging from dry desert to hail/heavy snow in the mountains. In
winter and spring I split time between Southern California (SoCal)
deserts and snowshoeing/snowcamping in the mountains. Summer and fall
I tend to stick to the high country. My pack weight has generally
been in the 60-90 pound (27-40 kilo) range (including food/water and
a bear barrel), but I've been trying to go lighter.
Product Specifications:
Manufacturer: Psolar Inc.
Weight: not specified
Sizes: One size fits all
As measured by tester:
Weight (total): 69 g / 2.43 oz
Weight (mouthpiece): 19 g / 0.67 oz
Product description:
The Psolar.BX is a fleece balaclava (ski mask to the layperson
or criminal). The front opening is large enough to accomodate my
full size glacier glasses (think Elvis). The balaclava extends down
to the base of my neck in both front and back. Polartech
Powerstretch material is used for all but the lower face area.
AquaShell covers the chin, cheeks, and nose. Netting covers the
mouth, and forms a pocket on the inside of the balaclava. The heat
exchanger module can be inserted into this pocket. The module
itself appears to be plastic sheets bonded together, enclosed in a
black plastic housing (see photo). The basic concept behind the
module is that when warm, moist air is exhaled (into the module),
the moisture and warmth are held in the module until air is sucked
back though the module, effectively retaining both the heat and
moisture. (I'm curious - what is the diffusion timescale for losing
this heat/moisture?)
Initial Impressions:
From the website description of the Psolar.EX (there is no
description available for the balaclavas), I was expecting a windproof
design. The Fabrics specified (for the .EX) were Polartec Windblock
and AquaShell. The area around the mouthpiece does appears to be
AquaShell (it has a neoprene look to it). However, the majority of
the balaclava, including the area over the ears, is heavy Polartec
Powerstrech. IMHO, a layer of Polartec Powershield on the outside
would be a better choice for extreme cold. This is not as much of
a concern when the balaclava is used with a helmet. That being said,
the Powerstretch fleece makes for a soft, comfortable fit, although it
does rub a bit on the nose.
The stretchy fabric allows for the balaclava to be doubled or
tripled up - effectively converting it into a hat (see photo).
Removing the module facilitates this. When worn as a hat, (tripled
up) it is a bit tight. It can also be worn as a 'neck gaiter' (I think
this is the correct term) by pulling the top of the hood down over the
back of the head - in other words putting your head through the front
opening (see photo). All this combined with the removable mouthpiece
makes for a very versatile piece of headgear. I was able to insert,
and remove the module without taking off the balaclava (removal was
also possible with gloves on). I initially assumed it would be
necessary to take off the balaclava to remove the module. The module
itself is reasonably comfortable as it does not really apply any
pressure to the face when inserted in the balaclava. It does not appear
to hinder breathing much - I will test this at altitude during VERY
strenuous exercise and see how noticeable it is there.
Concerns:
- The plastic module looks like it would be very painful in a fall on
hard snow or ice.
- The stitching is fraying at the corners on the right side of the
module pocket but hasn't separated yet from the AquaShell. The netting
used here could stand to be reinforced.
- In my cold apartment (60 F / 15.5 C), Glacier glasses fogged up with
the first breath when wearing the balaclava.
Test Plan:
Location:
I intend to use the balaclava around town and while cross country
skiing (or hiking if the snow is lacking) during a two week trip to
northern Michigan. The main testing will be on several snowshoeing
daytrips/backpacking trips in the Sierras and southern Cascades. I
expect to use the balaclava while snowshoeing, mainly when descending
and on colder days, as well as around camp and when sleeping.
Specific things to test:
How warm is the balaclava (w/ module) compared to a hat, balaclava, or
down hood? Is there any noticeable reduction in condensation in a bivy
(or tent) due to the mouthpiece? I may be able to compare with and
without a vapor barrier liner given enough nights and similar conditions.
Does the module whistle in strong winds? Does the module lessen
condensation inside the mask? Other facemasks and balaclavas I've used
tend to get very wet.
Hopefully the vapor shields will be made available, otherwise much of
the testing may be limited to VERY cloudy days and night time use. Almost
all of my winter hiking/backpacking will be at high altitude on clean
(read: bright) snow where some form of sunglasses are required.
Read more reviews of Psolar gear
Read more gear reviews by David Sowards-Emmerd
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