I am a beginning to intermediate backpacker. I have gone camping on occasion over the past 10 years. I have started going on backcountry trips over the past 1 1/2 years. I also go on day trips in Illinois and Indiana. I am also a photographer and I try to have my hobbies go well together. While I am lightweight for a serious photographer (manual SLR, 2-3 prime lenses, Ultrapod, and occasionally either a compact tripod or a relatively light full sized tripod) the volume and weight of this effectively removes me from the ultralight backpacker category. My total weight (everything but the clothes I'm wearing) for a weekend fluctuates between 25-40 lbs (11 - 18 kg) depending on season, how serious I happen to be about photography and cooking on that trip and who I am with. Since I've already given up on ultralight, I usually give myself the luxury of a tent, sleeping pad, cooking stuff and an alcohol stove.

Product Description

Manufacturer: Psolar Inc.
Website: http://www.psolar.com/
Product: Psolar.BX Balaclava
MSRP: $40.00
Year of Manufacturer: 2003
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g)
Height: 11.75 in. (30 cm)
Width: (neck) 9.25 in. (23.5 cm)
Face opening diameter: 5.5” (14 cm)

Color: Black w/ white and yellow lettering. White heat exchanger.

The Psolar.BX Balaclava is made up of fleece with an opening for the eyes and nose and a heat exchanger near the mouth. The heat exchanger is removable, and is made of a plastic housing with a number of plastic sheets which run parallel to the direction that breathing would go. In addition, there is a vapor shield available which is made of foam. The vapor shield is made of a grey foam that is attached to the inside of the balaclava over the nose. There is a cut out area in the center of the vapor shield which fits around the nose.

Test Conditions

Testing was done both in town and on the trail. In town testing was done while running. Temperatures ranged from 10 to 25 F (-12 to -5 C)and winds ranging from 5 to 10 mph. (8 to 15 kph) Trail testing was done in tempuratures ranging from 15 to 20 F (-10 to -5 C) and winds ranging from 5 to 20 mph (8 to 30 kph

Testing

The balaclava has been tested in two types of environments. Since the field report, my backcountry experiences have had mild weather, so there is little to report there.

I have also used the balaclava while running. Temperatures often dipped below freezing and at times it was snowing. As before, the balaclava fulfills the requirements for warmth and comfort. When worn the fleece provides protection against the cold and wind. In addition, it continues to do so even when it gets wet from snow, rain and sweat.

I am able to wear it in several configurations. One is with the hood up and the balaclava covering the face. When worn this way the heat exchanger sits over the mouth. However, if I breath through my nose, my breath goes up, and tends to cause fogging of my sunglasses. Another way is to wear it with the head covered, but the front open, so that the opening exposes my face. This is good when it is warmer, however the heat exchanger housing is snug against my lower jaw.. Finally, I use it as a neck gaiter. I can wear it so that the opening is over my head, and the balaclava covers my neck only. While this is a little tight, it is useful when I get warm from hiking or running while it is still cold enough that I want something around my neck.

The main issue I have with the balaclava was with that it causes fogging when used with sunglasses. The vapor shield was delivered since the writing the field report. The vapor shield comes in a blister pack. It is a piece of gray foam with adhesive on one side. However, the packaging does not come with instructions. It would be useful to have a diagram of some sort as it is not obvious from looking what to do. I found some pictures on the internet from a retail site that carried Psolar products including the vapor shield. When the adhesive backing is removed, the foam goes on the inside, behind the lower edge of the opening so the the cutaway part of the foam goes over your nose. Presumably this does two things: first it creates some space around the nose so that exhaled air is not forced up and second it blocks air from going straight up into glasses. In the times I have used it, the vapor shield seems to have some benefit since it seems to reduce the fogging. However once I warm up from exertion I am more interested in cooling down again and when the balaclava does not completely cover the face the vapor shield does not help.

In winter the balaclava and heat exchanger combination is comfortable and warm. In the inevitable wetness of snow, rain and sweat that comes with being in the outdoors in winter, I liked its comfort on the skin, and the lack of the usual gross dampness that usually forms around my mouth an nose when I wear something over my face. The improvement when it is very cold probably outweighs some discomfort when the weather or I warm up.

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