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Opinion Is Divided On These Bizarre 'Microclimate Air' Helmet Face Masks

Opinion Is Divided On These Bizarre 'Microclimate Air' Helmet Face Masks

If you've ever dreamed of being an office astronaut, now is the time

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

So, you're one of those people who hates wearing a mask for whatever reason? Well, there might be a product out there that provides a solution to the issue.

It's called the MicroClimate Air, and it's basically like wearing a strange dystopian astronaut's helmet about the place.

Oh, and it'll cost you about $199 (£150) as well.

To be fair to the good folks over at MicroClimate, they've actually come up with something pretty good, as it means that you can basically go about your normal life with people being able to see your facial expressions.

Houston, we have a meal deal.
Microclimate

The helmets have fans in them too, so you're actually getting some fresh air, rather than breathing through an increasingly unpleasant paper of cloth mask like many of us currently do.

A reminder once again, you should be wearing a mask. It ain't perfect, and it's a bit annoying, but a bit annoying is fine when the benefits are so well supported by science.

Someone tell Noel Gallagher, Van Morrison and Ian Brown about these helmets, too. Surely men of their lofty standing can fork over 200 bucks to get hold of one?

This product - if it isn't some massively elaborate joke - is the brainchild of entrepreneur Michael Hall, who said that he picked up the idea because of how restrictive skiing equipment is.

One small step for man, one giant leap for out-of-office networking.
Microclimate

The MicroClimate website explains: "Michael Hall envisioned a new wearable whilst skiing with his family in the mountains of Utah.

"As he spoke with his children on the lift, he could not see their faces. They were obstructed by ski masks, goggles, and other clothing.

"This equipment quickly gets wet, cold, and gross. He envisioned a new kind of wearable that would create a 'micro climate' around the head."

So, off he went.

Here am I sitting in a tin can, far beneath Waterloo Station.
Microclimate

According to the website - again - there are nine US patent applications that protect the MicroClimate Air, pertaining to things from the airflow design, to the washable filter fabric.

It's fair to say that people are divided on the product.

Obviously, it's easy to see the benefits when dealing with the deaf, and it looks more comfortable than PPE that is worn in many hospitals.

However, at $200-ish a pop, it's unlikely to be rolled out in many hospitals in the UK right now.

Featured Image Credit: Microclimate

Topics: Technology, Weird

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekends he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

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@TPWagwim