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I live where temperatures go below -20C routinely in the winter. I also cycle year round (commute, groceries, etc), and there's definitely an art to gearing up

I live where temperatures go below -20C routinely in the winter. I also cycle year round (commute, groceries, etc), and there's definitely an art to gearing up for physical activity in that type of weather. Majority of face coverings seem to have the same weakness: moisture. Exhaled breath dampens them, and if that's not gross enough, as inhaled breath pulls cold air in, they freeze up. The best solution I've found is the 3M Aura valved N95 respirator. It's breathable enough so that even with moderate to high cardio activity I don't feel short of breath. The exhalation valve routes most of the warm moist air out -- while condensation drips off the valve, the filter material remains relatively dry and does not freeze up. This, combined with a helmet, balaclava and wraparound ski goggles makes for a pretty impervious getup [1]. The heat exchanger feature is an interesting one. One idea that immediately comes to mind is using body heat to warm the air intake. A piece of avalanche safety gear called Avalung [2] could provide a starting point (eg, if worn under winter clothing instead of on top of it). I imagine other solutions from industries where people work in hazardous air conditions could also be adapted. Personally, I'd love me a little DIY hazmat rig that can effectively filter intake air, neatly deal with the exhale moisture, while rocking that post-apocalypse punk aesthetic. The era of insidious airborne pathogens seems to be upon us, and with the climate upheaval, the oppressive forest fire smoke of last year will seem quaint so very soon. 1: https://i.imgur.com/CheNY96.png https://i.imgur.com/CheNY96.png (earlier iteration before the valved Aura) 2: http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html

dylan604 3y ago
> 2: http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html "One thing to keep in mind is that this will not make you invincible. Many avalanche victims are injured or killed by the trauma – the force of an avalanche – and not by suffocation. The Avalung will not of course do anything to help this. " Now, I'm thinking as part of the backpack system, it has a protection system similar to the Mars rover that inflated a large inflatable shield that allowed the landing without any kind of chutes. So from the backpack, this shield would inflate either from a manual pull of a cord or when it detects you've taken a tumble.
- matsemann 3y ago
  That's pretty standard equipment as well, actually :) My backpack has a handle, and when I drag it, a huge thing inflates and folds out. This both protects you, and supposedly makes you not buried as deep. ("avalanche airbag") Downhill skiers also have inflatable vests on them. They are automatic, and blows up inside their suit around the torso when they fall. ("dainese airbag")
  - avar 3y ago
    > supposedly makes you > not buried as deep Not just that, but if you start out deep it should make you "float" to the top while the avalanche is in motion, at least for some types of avalanches. Put small and large pebbles in a jar and keep shaking it, the larger pebbles will rise to the top. Same principle.
  - dylan604 3y ago
    Interesting, I was half joking, but I did fall into the the rabbit hole looking up the 2 airbags you mentioned. The avalanche airbag looks like it's just meant to protect the head from whiplash. I didn't see how it would prevent from being buried or protecting the head when slammed face first. The dainese airbag site[0] just sent me into "is this a joke" mode with the video included on the page. It just has the feel of a parody. That poor guy doesn't look comfortable at all. The editing makes it have that intentionally bad continuity used when making parody infomercials. The arm is awkwardly posed with hand in pocket, cut to hand waving, cut back to hand in pocket. It's very hard to take seriously. [0]https://www.dainese.com/us/en/dainese/smart-jacket.html https://www.dainese.com/us/en/dainese/smart-jacket.html
    - matsemann 3y ago
      There is no special need to protect the head from getting slammed in an avalanche. What the bag does is that it protects you from being buried and crushed beneath a ton of snow. Both by making you "float" higher when caught in the avalanche. But also by taking up space when buried, so that when it deflates you're in a "pocket" and not getting crushed. Haven't seen the video before. But In often see racers being "bulky" when skiing down after an accident. Looks funny, but it's useful.
schiffern 3y ago
> I'd love me a little DIY hazmat rig that can effectively filter intake air I posted a review of a little device I've used for a couple years now, plus some tips and tricks. Aesthetics are up to you (I "de-logo" mine with Magic Eraser), but functionally it's been great. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34378478 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34378478
- btbuildem 3y ago
  Thanks! Wow btw, the comments on that thread, what a combination of emotion and ignorance, whew. It's unfortunate to have to put up with these attitudes. The device you posted, it has a key element I'm after: forced air. The aesthetic is far from ideal though -- I'm after something more Dune and less CPAP / General Hospital vibes. Partly because of the aforementioned ignorant but forceful attitudes. The air intake hose seems like it would get in the way, I wonder if there's a more graceful way to handle that.

dylan604 3y ago

> 2: http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html http://blog.alpineinstitute.com/2012/12/the-avalung.html "One thing to keep in mind is that this will not make you invincible. Many avalanche victims are injured or killed by the trauma – the force of an avalanche – and not by suffocation. The Avalung will not of course do anything to help this. " Now, I'm thinking as part of the backpack system, it has a protection system similar to the Mars rover that inflated a large inflatable shield that allowed the landing without any kind of chutes. So from the backpack, this shield would inflate either from a manual pull of a cord or when it detects you've taken a tumble.

matsemann 3y ago
That's pretty standard equipment as well, actually :) My backpack has a handle, and when I drag it, a huge thing inflates and folds out. This both protects you, and supposedly makes you not buried as deep. ("avalanche airbag") Downhill skiers also have inflatable vests on them. They are automatic, and blows up inside their suit around the torso when they fall. ("dainese airbag")
- avar 3y ago
  > supposedly makes you > not buried as deep Not just that, but if you start out deep it should make you "float" to the top while the avalanche is in motion, at least for some types of avalanches. Put small and large pebbles in a jar and keep shaking it, the larger pebbles will rise to the top. Same principle.
- dylan604 3y ago
  Interesting, I was half joking, but I did fall into the the rabbit hole looking up the 2 airbags you mentioned. The avalanche airbag looks like it's just meant to protect the head from whiplash. I didn't see how it would prevent from being buried or protecting the head when slammed face first. The dainese airbag site[0] just sent me into "is this a joke" mode with the video included on the page. It just has the feel of a parody. That poor guy doesn't look comfortable at all. The editing makes it have that intentionally bad continuity used when making parody infomercials. The arm is awkwardly posed with hand in pocket, cut to hand waving, cut back to hand in pocket. It's very hard to take seriously. [0]https://www.dainese.com/us/en/dainese/smart-jacket.html https://www.dainese.com/us/en/dainese/smart-jacket.html
  - matsemann 3y ago
    There is no special need to protect the head from getting slammed in an avalanche. What the bag does is that it protects you from being buried and crushed beneath a ton of snow. Both by making you "float" higher when caught in the avalanche. But also by taking up space when buried, so that when it deflates you're in a "pocket" and not getting crushed. Haven't seen the video before. But In often see racers being "bulky" when skiing down after an accident. Looks funny, but it's useful.

schiffern 3y ago

> I'd love me a little DIY hazmat rig that can effectively filter intake air I posted a review of a little device I've used for a couple years now, plus some tips and tricks. Aesthetics are up to you (I "de-logo" mine with Magic Eraser), but functionally it's been great. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34378478 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34378478

btbuildem 3y ago
Thanks! Wow btw, the comments on that thread, what a combination of emotion and ignorance, whew. It's unfortunate to have to put up with these attitudes. The device you posted, it has a key element I'm after: forced air. The aesthetic is far from ideal though -- I'm after something more Dune and less CPAP / General Hospital vibes. Partly because of the aforementioned ignorant but forceful attitudes. The air intake hose seems like it would get in the way, I wonder if there's a more graceful way to handle that.