LIST OF: Best Face Masks For Spartan Race & OCR Training

Written By: Katie Purcell 

 

LET'S TALK FACE MASKS.

So it's been a year now since the whole COVID-19 thing basically put the OCR industry on hold. 2020 quickly devolved from race weekends and group training meetups...to virtual events, and a whoooooole lot of quality time spent in your Home Gym (or...whatever space/materials became your "Home Gym"...out of necessity). 

Fortunately things seem to have actually turned a corner and be improving for the better; fingers crossed that we will continue on this path and be able to return to a maskless, semi-normal existence in the not-so-distant future. Gyms have reopened and even races are underway for the 2021 season -- albeit with slightly different protocols to allow for increased social distancing -- but hey, it's better than a (completely obliterated) race season like we saw last year...so for now let's count that as a "win."

...But we're not quite there yet.

If you're anything like me, you've pretty much avoided situations requiring you to wear a mask for any more time than you absolutely have to, as required by law. Case in point: I haven't been physically inside a gym since March 2020. First it was because they were closed; and once they finally reopened, I was so not about that gym-mask life.

For one thing, it seemed like it would be hella uncomfortable to wear a mask during my workout sessions. The sweat...the breathing...just all of it. Yuck.

Secondly, during the "Waiting Game" that was Quarantine, I had actually managed to piece together an acceptably-respectable home gym: and while decidedly lonelier, an at-home workout that did not require a mask seemed like an attractive option.

Lastly, I was not exactly 100% convinced on the science-y side that a gym was the ideal place to be spending time vis-a-vis "COVID-prevention." And while I have never been too worried about the virus from a personal standpoint, I decided to err on the side of caution: out of respect/consideration for a couple of people in my household who were in the immunocompromised-and-nervous camp. 

So here we are: races starting again...mask mandates still-a-thing at various levels...and fairly often, masks still a requirement if you want to go inside a gym/training facility. 

I know many others are at a crossroads similar to my own: you see all the OCR events coming up, and you're itching to get back into some kind of training facility to practice/finesse that obstacle technique before your first Race Day. But that means you have to come to terms with wearing a mask: and you have no idea where to even start.

Or maybe you want to attend one of the OCR events coming up but there's a tiiiiiny part of you still feeling a little hesitant...and you know you'd feel better if you could wear a mask during the entire event...but how the heck do you figure out which one might actually work for you??

...This is the article for you :) 

  

BEST FACE MASKS FOR OCR TRAINING & RACE DAY: RECOMMENDED BY ATHLETES LIKE YOU

The logic was simple...who better to ask for recommendations on face masks that work for fitness-related stuff...than an OCR athlete? All else being equal: athletes training for the same types of races and events will likely be doing similar types of workouts/exercises, and at similar intensity levels, which makes it an ideal group to ask for advice. Not to mention: respondents have been wearing masks for fitness stuff for up to a year, definitely gives street cred to the time and experience behind their thoughts.

And isn't this what we do for all other OCR-related things, anyway? How to train...what to wear on Race Day...we're always swapping advice because our sport has such unique needs.

And also: because we tend to trust recommendations from others who we know enjoy the same types of (crazy, borderline-insane) stuff that we do.

I went directly to the source: and posted in multiple OCR-specific Facebook groups. In an effort to get a good representation of responses, the groups covered a range of OCR brands and geographical locations: including athletes from OCRWC, Spartan Race, Savage Race, etc. and also: athletes located in the Northeast, South, West, etc.

...Those recos are exactly what you see below, and what were the basis for the rest of the content.

Let's dive in!!  

  (note: list is not in any particular order.)

BRAND/MODEL	QUOTES/INSIGHTS	IMAGE
UA Sportsmask (Under Armour)	see below for word cloud.
Go-Dry Performance Gaiter (Old Navy)	"Stayed on for an entire 2021 Spartan Super!"
Athletic Performance Mask (Lifetime Fitness)	"Comfortable & breathable for exercise."
Balaclava Face Cover (Satinior)
Bella Premium Hanji Mask	"It doesn't touch my face...keeps me from feeling claustrophobic."
Tech Trail Face Mask (Columbia)	"These are great! Can wear all day...good for glasses re: fog."
ECO Ultra Band (Headsweats)	"These work well for workouts at the gym, along with UA Sportsmask."
U-Mask (U-Earth Biotech)	"This is the mask worn by all the F1 drivers & crew members. I figure if it's good enough for them..."
Wattie Ink Face Mask	"Has been working for me since March 2020."
Technical Face Mask (Zensah)	"It takes a couple of workouts to get used to any mask; but these are comfortable, fit well, & breathable."
Everyday Non Medical Mask (Athleta)
Adjustable Sport Mask (Mission)	"Very breathable & comfortable for working out." Strap behind ear loops relieves pressure from ears & allows the wearer to easily pull the mask down when not in use.
Cotopaxi Teca Non-Medical Cotton Face Mask	"Breathable! Light!"
Airism Face Mask (Uniqulo)	"I wear this for indoor rock climbing."
BOCO Face Mask	BOCO's Gen1 of athletic face mask
Performance X Mask (BOCO)	"Reasonably comfortable for cardio & weights...still sucks for treadmill, but sucks less than others."
Triple Layer Face Mask (Old Navy)	"I use this at the gym, and a buff when out running."
CVG Face Covers (Constantly Varied Gear)	"The same fabric as their leggings...my husband refuses to wear anything else."
Reebok Face Mask (*3 pack*)	"A little annoying but you get used to it. It's fine for strength training, but not cardio or higher intensity workouts."
Sport Mask (Love The Pain)	"Mask complies with CA CDC regulations. Soft fabric that doesn't get sucked into your mouth during heavy breathing. Worked well for kickboxing."

 

WORD CLOUD: UA SPORTSMASK (UNDER ARMOUR)

  

 

FACE MASKS & FITNESS: WHO'S WEARING WHAT TYPE, & WHERE, & WHEN??

Nearly 30% of athletes polled said that they're not currently wearing a mask for any of their training activities -- for a variety of reasons.

Some live in areas where masks are not currently required, and others have alternative fitness resources available to them (like a home gym). Among those who don't frequent a gym, this isn't necessarily always a COVID-specific development: many athletes had already been training on their own, so their routine stayed much the same.

And while there is a huge range of feelings on why athletes don't wear masks -- or how strongly opposed they are to a mask mandate -- one theme seems clear:

 

 

  

 

BONUS!! FACE MASK HACKS & TIPS WE DIDN'T SEE COMING

And now: a few extra-bonus-freebie insights! Suggestions from one athlete to another, in response to a mask-related struggle that had been shared on our thread.

ISSUE #1: SUCKING IN A FACEFULL OF MASK WHEN YOU START BREATHING HEAVY

SOLVE: MASK INSERT (OR SIMILAR) TO KEEP MASK FROM TOUCHING YOUR FACE

😷 "When you have to wear [a mask], an easy solution is a silicon insert that keeps the mask fabric out of your mouth. They're inexpensive -- sold on Amazon."
😷 "I have also found that switching to a mask that needs a filter is helpful too: the filters are ridged and stay away from your mouth."
😷 "I actually put the plastic insert inside where the filter goes on a mask. It helps keep the mask away from your mouth, but you also don't feel the annoying plastic on your face."

 

This organic helpful sh*t is the stuff that makes OCR athletes the best. THANK YOU.  

Did I miss anything that should be included in this list, or in the article?? If so, drop a comment below!

If you came here looking for some insight on which face mask(s) you might want to try for your workouts, hopefully there was something helpful in there for you. If you decide to give any of them a try, please leave a comment with your experience...to pass on to the next athletes who find this article.

And if you see anything on the list above that you've already tried out: what was your experience with it? What kind of fitness/exercising did you use it for? What worked? What didn't?

Until next time: Rock On & Continue To LIVE FIERCE
-Katie

  

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