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The best ski masks let you blast down the slopes in the warmest winter gear

December 22, 2021 admin

Published Dec. 22, 2021

Keeping yourself warm and protected from nature’s frigid elements is a key part of an enjoyable ski. Depending on the type of skiing or cold-weather activity you’re planning, you will want the best ski mask ready to protect.

Ski masks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most intense skiers will want as much face coverage as possible made from breathable materials that let you work up a sweat without overheating. For more casual trips, you may consider a ski mask that offers minimal coverage that still gets the job done while not being itchy, hot, or burdensome.

Without proper protection, your ski trip can take a sharp turn for the worse with bad sunburns as a result of the high levels of UV radiation reflected in the snow or windswept dry skin. Get the best ski mask and you’ll be cruising down the slopes with pleasure (and you can check out our roundups of the best snow boots, heated socks, ski goggles, winter gloves, and winter hats to help you stay extra cozy).

Be prepared for the slopes and frigid weather with the best ski mask

Cover your face to ensure maximum enjoyment on the slopes. With the best ski mask, you can get to the bottom of the mountain with ease.

What you need to know to purchase the best ski mask

What exactly makes a great ski mask? Quality snow gear needs to be both technically sound and comfortable. As you pick up speed skiing or snowboarding down the mountain, not only is wind pounding your face, but the UV radiation levels are at nearly 90 percent. This means you need to get proper protection to avoid looking like a lobster after a day in the alps.

Balaclavas are a great choice for those looking for maximum face coverage. With their all-encompassing design, you will have minimal exposure to harmful UV rays. Full-face-cover balaclavas are some of the best ski masks due to their ability to keep in heat and keep you toasty on frigid days. Half balaclavas are a good compromise if you’re looking for less heat capture or have a separate hat or helmet that is sufficient in itself.

Picking the right material is another important consideration. While thin and breathable materials are great for sports, knitted ski masks are an affordable option for those that frequently get cold. If you’re out in the countryside going for a cold-weather walk or hoping to escape the urban wind, a full-face-covered knit balaclava will certainly meet your requirements.

Best full-cover balaclava: Oakley Men’s Backwoods Balaclava

A full balaclava offers UV and wind protection from the top of your head to the upper chest region. This is great for skiers and snowboarders who need something that meets high technical requirements. Made of 53-percent Polyamide, 30-percent Polyester, and 17-percent Elastane, this balaclava has a lightness that is perfect under ski gear. The slot opening at the eyes will give you room to properly apply ski goggles. The long neck covering means you can tuck under your layers easily which will offer extra warmth.

Do you need a ski mask for maximum warmth?

The material used in a great ski mask will inform the kind of performance you can expect to receive from it. Light materials like polyamide and polyester give breathability while knitted woolen fabrics offer supreme warmth. If you’re looking to wear a mask that keeps you warm at all costs, a knitted mask will do the job. What you lose in technical performance abilities (knit doesn’t fit well under a ski helmet) you gain in thickness and all-around coziness.

Best knitted ski mask: AcademyFits Knit Ski Mask

The warmth this full-face-cover ski mask offers is second to none. A flexible fabric means that not only is it toasty, but it’s also super comfortable as well. Its full coverage on the top of your head keeps body heat from escaping, so you won’t even notice the frigid weather. It’s not very breathable, though, so don’t expect it to work for most sports.

Ski masks can be used for all sorts of purposes if they’re adjustable

Adjustable ski masks are great for those who want a multipurpose face-covering suited for cityscapes and ski slopes alike. Adjustable masks can become neck gaiters (commonly known as buffs) that offer neck protection as a scarf or a sports wrap. Pull it up above your nose and you have a more classic-looking mask. Pull it over your hair and it can become a handy bandana.

When packing light, an adjustable ski mask means you’ll save space by using one item that can be used for multiple activities.

Best adjustable ski mask: N-Mengge Adjustable Fleece

With 16 different uses, this ski mask can be used as a hood, bandana, wristband, beanie, and more. Microfiber materials are great at dealing with sweat, which makes this the perfect winter sports gear.

Looking for top performance gear that’s breathable?

The best material for a mask for sporting use is one that allows you to stay dry while working up a sweat in the cold. Working up a sweat in frigid temperatures can cause a chill as the wind hits your body. Dri-fit polyester blends make a great ski mask due to their stretchy, breathable material.

Best breathable sports mask: Nike Therma Sphere

Nike’s full-face ski mask is one of the best due to its Dri-Fit design that allows you to be as active as you’d like without worrying about the sub-zero temperatures. It’s warm, comfortable, and good value for a performance-based winter ski mask. It’s also a great mask for more casual wear, as it’s so light you can easily keep it in your pocket when heading indoors.

Worried about overheating in your ski mask?

A half-face mask will allow heat to escape from the top of your head while keeping your neck, mouth, and nose, and ear region protected and warm. While this may not sound ideal, as temperatures rise throughout the day, you may not want something that keeps your head bundled. A half-balaclava is a must for full flexibility on cold days.

When heat is trapped, your body will keep its core temperature relatively high. If you’re working up a sweat, you will want some body heat to release so you don’t feel overheated. Skiers that wear heavy-duty helmets may love the half balaclava’s ability to protect without wrapping up your entire head.

Best half-balaclava: Tough Headwear Half-Balaclava

Sometimes you don’t need to cover it all. A simple and effective design makes this half-balaclava a great ski mask. It protects from the cold, dust particles, and UV rays while providing ultimate comfort and is large enough to be pulled up over your ears.

What is the best cheap ski mask?

You can still stay pleasantly warm and protected from UV rays without spending very much. You may not have the technical performance needed for alpine skiing, but if your needs are simpler, then a budget mask is a great option.

Best ski mask under $10: Achiou Winter Ski Mask

Basic and great—made of 90-percent polyester and 10-percent spandex—this full balaclava ski mask is a simple and effective piece of winter gear. The hooded top can be pulled down making this mask adjustable. When you’ve really worked up a sweat, you can simply toss this mask into the laundry to freshen up.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a ski mask for other activities?

Ski masks are highly adaptable winter items that can be used on runs, outdoor sports, or pretty much any outdoor activity. If you’re looking for a sporty winter cover, a great mask will ensure you’re warm.

Q: What is the best kind of ski mask?

Full balaclavas are an excellent option for maximum warmth and protection. For more breathability, you may opt for something simpler and smaller, like a half-balaclava or adjustable ski mask that can be turned into a scarf or bandana.

Q: What are the best materials for a ski mask?

For performance and breathability, polyesters make great masks. Dri-fit polyester blends will allow you to stay the most comfortable while exercising. Wool is a great option for those not looking to be super active, but who still want to stay insulated.

A final word on shopping for the best ski mask

The best ski mask will allow you to withstand nature’s toughest elements with style and comfort. Protect from harmful UV rays by finding a mask that covers your skin properly, leaving you comfortable in the cold.

Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X mic review: Ready when you are

December 19, 2021 admin

The audio market is exploding with new podcasting and streaming microphones from well-established, respected audio companies. The almost-century-old German headphone and microphone manufacturer Beyerdynamic recently entered the fray with the M70 PRO X, a stylish front-addressed dynamic broadcast microphone released alongside the M90 PRO X studio condenser microphone. I recently put both Beyerdynamic PRO X mics through their paces at my home studio (I’ve given the M90 PRO X its own dedicated review). Comparing the M70 PRO directly to the similarly focused Shure SM7B microphone, I was surprised to find just how finely tuned the Beyerdynamic mic’s sound is overall and how it fits in the content creation ecosystem.

Ready, Set, Go

The Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X dynamic microphone delivers broadcast-ready sound without processing or editing.

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The Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X’s design

As a company that boasts a very clear, unifying visual aesthetic across all sectors, Beyerdynamic is no slouch when it comes to product design. The M70 PRO X is a microphone with simple lines and a matte black chassis—features that are exemplary of the entire PRO X line (which includes the DT 700 PRO X and DT 900 PRO X headphones). The M70 PRO X includes a snug companion shockmount to which it attaches using a single screw mechanism, as well as an optional clip-on pop filter to block plosives in close-talk applications.

The body of the M70 PRO X features uniformly spaced oblong windows around its outer edge that reveal a protective gray mesh grill underneath. At first glance, this detail suggests that the microphone can be spoken into from the sides, but it actually receives sound through the grill on the top—a fact made more confusing due to the identical body shape and shockmount of its sibling the M90 PRO X condenser, which does receive sound from the side. This difference is indicative of the internal design differences between condenser and dynamic microphones, but some first-time users may not find this intuitive based on the design alone.

Being a dynamic microphone, the M70 PRO X uses a relatively rugged internal cartridge and magnetic coil to capture sound via induction. These circuits are typically less sensitive to distant noises and more forgiving than condenser microphones, which makes them ideal for capturing clear, consistent sound across a variety of acoustic environments. For this reason alone, it’s clear why the M70 PRO X is marketed primarily as a streaming and podcasting microphone: vocal clarity is key to producing a high-quality speech recording and a dynamic mic is inherently better than a condenser mic at rejecting room echoes and reverb.

Unlike many other podcasting microphones on the market, the M70 PRO X doesn’t feature USB connectivity and instead relies upon a traditional XLR connection for sending audio signals. This opens it up to compatibility with an entire world of professional audio equipment, but it does mean that the microphone requires a separate audio interface. On one hand, reliance on an external audio interface makes the M70 PRO X overall less portable than a single-cable USB microphone; on the other hand, the industry-standard connectivity of XLR gives users more control over the choice of their interface, preamp, and other connected equipment.

Getting started with the Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X

The M70 PRO X ships in a black cardboard box alongside a shockmount nestled in a molded plastic insert. Below this insert is a surprisingly large gooseneck pop filter that’s reminiscent of the Shure Popper Stopper and which offers a more substantial level of coverage than I expected. The microphone itself comes in a drawstring neoprene bag that’s sure to come in handy for long-term protection but there’s sadly no case for the shockmount or pop filter, so users who want to keep all three items together and protected during storage and travel should keep the box and packaging.

Thanks to its simple design, preparing the M70 PRO X for recording was a straightforward and intuitive process. The basket in the center of the shockmount perfectly matches the diameter of the microphone, and all I needed to do to attach the two was unscrew a silver ring from the base of the microphone, place the microphone in the basket, and reattach the ring to securely fasten the microphone to the mount. I’ve set up plenty of microphones and shockmounts in my day and know that the process can be fraught with stability and alignment issues, but this was by far one of the easiest experiences I’ve had. My only concern was that the microphone rubbed a little bit against the inside of the basket, which may lead to eventual scuffs on the microphone body if performed repeatedly. As far as the PRO X shockmount goes, only time will tell if it will drift or come loose over time, but I found that its basket design inspires more structural confidence overall than traditional ring designs.

After attaching the M70 PRO X to its shockmount, I screwed the entire apparatus to a microphone stand and added the pop filter by screwing it onto the stand’s boom arm. The gooseneck design should theoretically make it quick and easy to find the best position for the filter, but the neck is rather short and doesn’t offer a lot of resistance at certain positions, so I had to make a few adjustments to ensure that the filter sat securely without drooping. I then plugged the microphone into my Universal Audio Apollo 8 interface with a single right-angle XLR cable, booted up Apple Logic Pro, and it was off to the races.

The M70 PRO’s sound

According to its spec sheet, the Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X has a specially tailored frequency response curve that features a generous high-end boost beginning at 1,000 Hz, spiking with +8 dB at 4,000 Hz and again with +9 dB at 8,000 Hz. It’s very common for manufacturers to bake a slight high-frequency lift into their microphones for the sake of speech clarity and doing so can often provide a more lively production-ready sound that requires less editing in post. In the case of the M70 PRO X, however, this boost adds nearly 10 dB of information to one of the most varied and nuanced ranges of the human voice, which seems to be a risky design choice considering that it cannot be toggled on and off. This is clearly aimed at complementing the widest possible range of voices and excelling in livestreaming scenarios but the sheer scale of the boost, unfortunately, limits the microphone’s usefulness in recording scenarios where you might want to capture a natural and unaffected sound for the purposes of music production.

To get a clear impression of the M70 PRO X’s sound in context, I placed it alongside a Shure SM7B dynamic microphone and recorded two simultaneous close-speech tracks for direct comparison. The SM7B is one of my personal favorite vocal microphones for recording my own voice due to its flat frequency response and smooth high-end but it also happens to feature a switchable +5 dB high-frequency boost that helps it capture a response in the same neighborhood as that of the Beyerdynamic mic.

Overall, I found that the M70 PRO X held its own against the SM7B in nearly every frequency range. The M70 PRO X delivered thick, detailed low-end information with plenty of accuracy and without a trace of muddiness, supporting a smooth, natural-sounding midrange that lacked the hollow shoebox-esque sound that plagues cheaper dynamic microphones. Unfortunately, my voice happens to contain some unpleasant resonance in exactly the same range as the M70 PRO X’s dramatic high-end boost, so the resulting recording contained an unusually prominent enhancement of high-end frequencies that I normally seek to remove.

The M70 PRO X also captured quite a different sound when placed behind the included pop filter, an effect that was somewhat expected but surprisingly effective in taming some of its unsavory hi-fi boost. With the pop filter in position, the microphone received levels from 2 dB to 5 dB less, which prompted me to turn up the gain on my interface. This resulted in a rich, full sound with a smoother high-end finish that’s much closer to that delivered by the SM7B.

So, who should buy the Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X?

Although the official literature says as much, it took me a while to grasp the extent to which the Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X was a dynamic microphone for podcasting and streamers specifically. Beyerdynamic has a long-standing reputation for creating some of the most flexible high-end audio equipment on the market and, coming from a background rooted primarily in music production, I think the Beyerdynamic microphone’s uncharacteristically altered frequency response threw me for a loop. Still, streaming and podcasting are very different creative processes than music production. Though the M70 PRO X may be somewhat of a one-trick pony, it undoubtedly excels at pushing a rich and lively broadcast-ready sound without the need for extra editing or software.

If you’re working in critical music production applications or have unwieldy high frequencies in your voice like I do, you might be better served by a more sensitive and natural-sounding microphone, such as the M90 PRO X condenser mic from the same product line, which delivers more neutral sounds ready for all manner of post-production sculpting. If your work is limited to recording voice-overs or other spoken-word media, however, then the razor-sharp broadcast-ready sound might make the Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X mic one of the best microphones for streaming and streamlining your workflow to produce the consistent, clear vocal recordings that your audience deserves.

4 smart practices to avoid online shopping scams

December 10, 2021 admin

For many retailers, the holiday season accounts for more than 30 percent of their yearly earnings. That’s not surprising considering that on average, Americans have been spending more than $700 on gifts every year for the past decade. And 2021 is expected to set a new record of a whopping $886—the biggest budget Santa has had in the last 20 years.

With all that money moving around, bad actors will almost definitely want to get their hands on some. Some are clever, and even the most careful shoppers can fall prey to their tricks. But by following some basic tips and good security practices, you can make yourself a harder target and hopefully avoid giving unintended gifts to online fraudsters.

These days, your inbox is probably flooding with promotional messages, newsletters, and sales you “just cannot miss.” Some may offer spectacular deals, but you should be cautious instead of jumping in head-first, says Camille Stewart, global head of product security at Google.

“People should look to see if the message is sent from a public email domain,” she says. “Most of the brands sending promotional emails have a website and will send emails using their domain name. So you should be skeptical of promotional emails from a Yahoo or Hotmail address, for example.”

If the sender’s address or anything else in the email’s body is off—pixelated images, bad grammar or misspellings—report the message as spam and delete it immediately.

As a rule of thumb, don’t click on links within an email. Instead, open another tab on your browser, go directly to the store’s official website, and navigate your way to the deal or sale you’re interested in. Scammers often find legitimate promotional emails, copy them, and replace the links with ones that will steal your data or automatically install malware on your computer.

But we get it—sometimes we’re feeling lazy or retailers make it hard to find sales on their websites to tempt you with non-discounted products instead. If you absolutely need to click that link, try hovering over it with your cursor to ensure it matches where the ad or email claims it’ll take you, Stewart says.

To do this, place your mouse over the link. Some browsers will automatically display a tiny box with the description or the URL for the site the link will take you to. If that doesn’t happen, check the bottom left corner of your browser for the same information. When you see that web address, start by making sure the URL starts with “https”—That final S is important and means the connection is secure.

Then, ensure the site’s domain corresponds to the store that sent you the email. The domain is the main word or phrase in a URL, and you’ll usually find it all the way to the left, right between www. and .com (or .co.uk, .ca, or any other top-level or country domain). It’s the “amazon” on amazon.com, or the “popsci” on popsci.com.

Here it’s also very important to make sure the spelling is correct. Scammers will buy similarly spelled domains to trick and confuse shoppers, and sometimes the differences are so minimal, you won’t notice them unless you look very closely. Keep an eye out for tricks like using a 1 instead of an i, or swapped letters that will easily fool your brain. After all, popcsi looks awfully similar to popsci.

Protect your credentials

One of the most annoying things about online shopping is having to create an account on a seller’s website. It makes sense to do it because it protects your data, but it seems like a lot of effort—especially if you’re not planning on buying there ever again.

Sticking to websites and retailers you already have an account with might be the easiest way to go. But if you shop at a new online store, your best bet is to check out as a guest. This will theoretically ensure the site doesn’t permanently store your information—from your name and address to your credit card number—and will avoid you the trouble of coming up with yet another password.

If you’re shopping from a big retailer and checking out as a guest is not an option, you may be able to sign in using your Google, Apple, or Facebook account. Contrary to what you might think, as long as that account is properly secured (with a strong password and two-factor authentication) this is a safe way to access a site. The retailer never gets your credentials, just a nod of authentication saying you’re actually who you say you are. The best part is that if you decide you don’t want to associate with the shopping site anymore, you can go and easily revoke access to it. (We wrote a whole story about how to do this if you need a bit of guidance.)

But there will be a time when you’ll want to buy from a site where your only option will be to create an account. If that’s the case, take a big breath and arm yourself with patience—and a password manager.

“During the holidays, the volume of sites you’re creating new accounts for and the penchant to create holiday-themed passwords make us susceptible to hacking,” Stewart says. “A good password manager can be a game-changer.”

Whether you get a dedicated app or use the one built into your browser (Chrome and Firefox have them), password managers are great at two things: creating extremely secure credentials and remembering them for you. That way you won’t have to worry about future data leaks that may bring ghosts of Christmas past.

If you have a low-risk disposable email address—one you use only for promotions and things you’re not actually interested in—Stewart says this is the time to use it. If you don’t have one, this may be the perfect time to create it.

Use your credit card

Maybe you apply this tip year-round, but it bears repeating: when it comes to online shopping, leave your debit card in your wallet and use your credit card instead.

Debit cards are a direct link to your checking account, and the cost of your purchase is subtracted from your funds almost immediately. If you’re a victim of phishing, there’s a possibility the scammers may be able to repeat the transaction or use your card details to buy somewhere else, taking money directly out of your account.

If you fall for a scam while using your credit card, you’ll have more time to call your bank and file a claim. Also, most major credit cards have some kind of insurance or protection against online fraud. If that’s the case, you’ll probably get whatever amount the scammers took credited to your statement instantly upon notifying your bank.

A great way to stay on top of all the movements involving your credit card is to check your balance constantly. This means not only waiting for it at the end of your cycle but making it a recurrent habit throughout your week. If possible, you can make your life easier by setting up alerts for every transaction on your credit card.

Most banks will send you an email or text message every time there’s movement over a certain amount that you determine. By setting that threshold as low as $1 or 50 cents, you’ll even be aware of those seemingly harmless in-app purchases you keep making in your favorite virtual farm game.

Use only WiFi connections you know and trust

Listen, we know the holidays are a busy time, and mobile devices make it really easy to shop for presents on the go. But if you’re going through your nice list while commuting or taking a break at your local coffee shop, be mindful of your connection.

In other words, never share sensitive information over public WiFi. This applies to everything you don’t want to fall into nefarious hands: sensitive work documents, sexy photos, and, of course, your financial information. Stewart points out that any form of public WiFi is notoriously insecure and easily hacked, so you don’t know if someone may have access to your device or your data through that connection.

To be on the safe side, do your shopping while using your own mobile data, or at home, while connected to your own WiFi. There are already so many things you’re probably concerned about this holiday season. Don’t let scammers be one of them.

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