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Chose a Kirby Morgan band mask over a full face hard hat after 6 years of diving. No regrets so far.
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park.troy2mo ago
I ran a KM band mask for about three years straight and finally switched to a full face hard hat last fall. For me, the hard hat wins every time in cold water below 45 degrees. The band mask just lets too much heat escape around your face and I was getting headaches after long dives. Plus if you bump your head against a bulkhead or valve, that hard hat shell actually protects you. The band mask might be lighter and easier to pack, but in real working conditions a hard hat gives you better safety and comfort. I honestly think most guys who swear by band masks just haven't done enough long, cold, or tight-spot dives with one yet.
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jamieperez2mo ago
Park.troy pretty much nailed it. I ran a band mask for two years in the northeast and the cold water headaches were real. Switched to a hard hat last winter and it changed everything for me. The warmth alone made my dives way more comfortable and I could stay down longer without my face going numb. Plus that protection when you're working in tight spots with overhead hazards is a no brainer. I think a lot of band mask fans just haven't done a full season in cold water yet.
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the_sam2mo ago
Did you ever notice a difference in the actual gas efficiency between them though? I was talking to @park.troy about this and he mentioned the band mask tends to breathe a little wetter in cold water, which I felt too. That dry air from the hard hat really helps keep your core temp up on longer bottom times. It's a small thing but it adds up.
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