First experience using ColdAvenger® Mask

Kristina Matyskiela

Day 1

January 15, 2009; 12F/-11C; 4-6” fresh snow; Wheeling,WV.

7:45am to 10:30am EST

5.9miles/9.50km

This morning seemed to be a great day to try out the ColdAvenger®.  Every school in our valley was closed due to snow fall and low temperature except for my place of employment which never closes for any reason (we were here when our entire City flooded in 2004!)  Rather than warm up the car and drive in the treacherous conditions, I decided to gear up, load up and trek on into work this morning.  An exact 5.9 m/9.5km trek.  It took me 2 hours 45 minutes to complete the trek.  Trekking through 4 inches of snow for almost 6 miles through hilly terrain was a bit challenging, but loads of fun.

Once most of my windproof, coldproof, moisture wicking, waterproof gear was on, I happily strapped my ColdAvenger® into place.  I put on my glacier glasses and out the door I went.  The first part of my trek is all downhill and a very steep 0.8m/1.29km.  The ColdAvenger® most definitely warmed and humidified the air very well.  I was amazed!  Though I was trekking downhill, in that kind of cold air, I would have been wheezing without a doubt.  With the ColdAvenger®, I wasn’t even huffing or puffing.  This was my experience through the rest of my trip that took me up hills, on flat surfaces, down hills, all through 4 inches of snow.  I was also in wind for some of my trek.  Not one problem did I have with my breathing.  I was truly amazed.  My doctor recommended that I use my inhaler 15 minutes before activity.  If it is warmer outside, I do not need it.  But when the temperature dips, I can’t run ½ mile without wheezing.  So, 15 minutes before I run, I use my inhaler.  I go run, but find I would still have to stop to catch my breath.  I decided not to use my inhaler this morning and though I had it with me, I never had to use it once on my trek.  I am very aware that ColdAvenger® is to never replace medicine for asthma.  I made the decision to not use mine because I wanted to really try out the ColdAvenger®.  I did have my inhaler with me just in case, but I never needed it.

The only problem I experienced was that my glasses were fogging up.  I am chalking this up as user error.  I say this because I had my hair clipped up and closed the mask over the clip.  I do not believe I had the mask tight enough over my face, thus leading to my lenses fogging up.  I had to wipe my lenses every few seconds to clear them so that I could see where I was going and stepping.  I will be trying this again on Saturday, January 17th, 2009 (The temperatures are supposed to be in the single digits.  Yea!) as I hike through some steep hills at a local resort.    This is where I run and do some other training for my upcoming Mt. Hood climb.  I will report to you my experience using the ColdAvenger® properly (that is, closing it against my head and not a hair clip) and whether or not the lenses still fogged up.

I also intend on running while using the ColdAvenger® to see how it affects my breathing.  I am guessing that after today’s somewhat challenging trek (while carrying a small load); I will notice an improvement in my breathing when I run.

This is my very first experience using ColdAvenger® and I still want to use it on some other outdoor activities as well so that I can get other reports and pictures to you.  The experience was a very good one at that.  I am so far happy with the product and hope that the lens fogging will cease once this product is used properly.

More reports will be coming your way!  Now, I just need to make a few phone calls and try to get a ride back home.

Thank you,

Kristina Matyskiela