The Best Lightweight, Moisture-Wicking Cooling Neck Gaiter and Face Coverings Dedicated athletes don’t let a little something like hot weather get in the way of consistent and prolonged training. Even when the sun bears down mercilessly from peak summer skies, they strap on their gear, grab their water bottles and step out to stick to their athletic routines. However, without sufficient precautions, this dedication can lead to serious heat-related illnesses that can have long-term, sometimes even permanent effects. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroomask_global) Why is it bad to exercise in the heat? According to the Mayo Clinic exercising in the heat causes excessive stress to the body. In addition to the physical strain of the exercise itself, the higher temperature exhausts the body faster, causes loss of moisture through sweating and increases core body temperature, all of which can contribute to multiple health issues. How does the heat harm our body? As the core temperature rises, more blood circulates through the skin to cool down. However, this takes blood away from the core and the muscles, which forces the heart to beat faster to be able to pump more blood. Additionally, if sweat does not evaporate fast enough in humid conditions, that adds to the stress and hikes up the body temperature even further. All of this makes physical activity more strenuous, even if the same activity was perfectly tolerable in cooler temperatures. In particularly high heat conditions, the process described above can result in the following conditions: Heat Cramps: Painful muscle cramps that can occur when exercising in the heat even when body temperature remains normal. Apart from the pain, the afflicted muscles may become firm and experience spasms. Heat Syncope: Alternatively called exercise-associated collapse, this refers to the fainting or lightheadedness caused during high heat conditions. It often occurs after an individual has been standing for a while, or has stood up quickly after sitting for a while. It can also emerge if someone suddenly stops after a spate of intense movement – like running or other high-octane cardio. Heat Exhaustion: In this case, body temperature rises, often to dangerous levels. The patient experiences nausea, weaknesses, fainting, excessive sweating, headache, vomiting, and cold skin. Without immediate attention, it can lead to heatstroke. Heatstroke: When the body is unable to cool itself and core temperature hikes up above 104F (40 C), the body reaches a life-threatening state termed as heatstroke. At this point, you will experience irritability, headaches, heart rhythm anomalies, nausea, fainting, dizziness, vomiting, impaired vision and severe fatigue. In the absence of immediate medical attention, this will lead to brain damage, organ failure, and in some cases death. How to Safely Exercise in the Heat Exercise strategically: Oliver Gibson, a senior lecturer in exercise science at Brunel University London, states that it is best to move exercise indoors or to the morning. Essentially, workout in temperatures that are tolerable and won’t force the body to malfunction. This is especially true for city folk as, to quote Dr. Gibson, “In an urban area, it is likely that the concrete will have retained a high amount of residual heat that will radiate back.” Focus on Acclimatization: William O. Roberts, MD, FACSM, a family medicine and sports medicine doctor at the University of Minnesota’s Phalen Village Clinic, says “When the weather warms, you need to be acclimated to the temperature change,”. Essentially, expose your body to increased heat in smaller doses to let it get used to the high temperatures. Let’s say you have a marathon coming up in the middle of the day in a month. Start by stepping out for a 10 minute jog every day for a week, then increase time to 20 minutes, then 30 and so on. Basically, get your body acquainted with weather conditions it will have to function in. Hydrate religiously: According to Suzanne Girard Eberle, author and sports dietitian, “You lose 2 1/2 cups of water per pound of body weight lost”. She recommends drinking 20 ounces of water two hours before exercise, 8 ounces of water a little while before going outside on a hot day and sipping water every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. Wear light, breathable clothing: Once again, according to Eberle, athletes might make the mistake of overdressing when exercising in the heat. The body generates a lot of heat, especially the leg muscles. To prevent trapping this heat and sweat, sportspeople need to use athletic wear made from lightweight fabrics that wick away sweat quickly. Additionally, they need to be seriously mindful about applying sunscreen at regular intervals. Cooling neck gaiter or cooling clothing are a great option. AQUA-X: Ultra Thin Facial Protection Cooling Neck Gaiter For The Hottest Days To keep athletes safe from the adverse effects of heat exposure, NAROO uses AQUA-X, a multifunctional nylon yarn fabric that manages moisture absorption to prevent heat exhaustion. Embedded into NAROO’s lightweight breathable face coverings, AQUA-X manages moisture via a process called evaporative cooling. Essentially, evaporative cooling relies on thermal exclusivity to handle sweat. The fabric quickly absorbs heat and sweat from the skin. Additionally, since it is a moisture-wicking fabric, the sweat quickly evaporates, leaving the material dry and it’s wearer unhindered by excess heat or uncomfortable sweat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroomask_global) Benefits of AQUA-X Cold-sensitive and blocks harmful UV rays. Manufactured from thin, light synthetic material that quickly absorbs sweat and dries by allows it to evaporate. Since it wicks moisture and stays dry, chafing will not occur due to a wet seam rubbing against your skin. Stronger and lighter than cotton apparel, especially when soaked. By allowing heat and moisture to escape into the air, it helps regulate body temperature and keeps it at stable levels. NAROO’s N1 neck gaiter and N1s sports face covering are equipped with AQUA-X to allow flawless protection of sensitive facial tissue without hindering performance. Both these masks are designed with ultrathin fabric, and are perforated for maximum breathability. They also protect the skin from harsh UV rays
EX-BONE: Anti Fog Glasses Technology Integrated into Face Cover & Neck Gaiter for the Winter Athlete Clean air up levels an athlete’s performance no matter the sport. However, air around in environments all over the globe isn’t always the best for breathing, especially during high-intensity exercise. Research shows that 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air.Particulates in the air and weather conditions like cold weather, pollen, pollution, dust, and microbes can harm and hinder our lungs from absorbing oxygen at full capacity, lowering performance levels significantly.As lovers of the outdoors, we at NAROO have been researching technology that can facilitate optimal breathing in all possible conditions. Our tested and proven technology is guaranteed to protect athletes everywhere, including in freezing winter climes. Why is it bad to breathe in cold air in winter? Aside from the discomfort of exercising and training in cold air, lower temperatures can cause many unwanted side effects on breathing. Human lungs find it tough to warm and humidify cold air, which can dehydrate and impair airways.Often athletes experience breathing issues when training in cold temperatures such as coughing and burning feelings in their throats and windpipes. Research reveals that intense cold-weather exercise can burden the lungs and force the lining of human airways to dehydrate, dry, and suffer long-term, even irreversible, damage.Many athletes choose to wear a scarf, neck warmer, face bandana, balaclava mask, or ski mask around their mouth and nose when training in the cold. However, while this does trap the warm, moist air they exhale, these items are quite uncomfortable, especially during intensive training sessions. Additionally, goggles and glasses can get fogged up, causing visibility issues and inhibiting performance capability. They are also not easy to breathe through, adding further deterrents to performance. So, what’s the solution? To start with, here are a few tips that can help safeguard respiratory health for anyone exercising in the cold air:Before starting on an exercise regimen that will expose you to cold air, talk to your doctor. Discuss your training regimen, timing, schedules, etc. Get a check-up and wait for the doctor’s approval before initiating a training cycle.If you’re a runner, you might get frostbite on your nose and cheeks. While this does not hurt the lungs, it will definitely be uncomfortable and slow down performance. Wear some kind of protective layer (a breathable half-balaclava, for example) over your nose and mouth to warm and moisten the air you breathe. This will reduce the possibility of frostbite.As much as possible, breathe through your nose, not your mouth, because the nasal mucous membranes in our nose are “lined with small blood vessels that help to warm and humidify the air you breathe.”For individuals with asthma and COPD, it is important to take any controller medication as prescribed and under the direction of your physician because cold air can be an asthma trigger.If temperatures are too low (whatever is considered extreme cold in your region), exercise and train indoors – a gym, at home or in some kind of climate-controlled condition. Cold weather usually goes hand-in-hand with flu season. The lower the temperature, the more likely you are to contract some kind of respiratory infection. To prevent this, dress in adequate warm clothes. In particular, keep your feet, head (ears, especially) covered when in the cold air.However, all these measures are not sufficient to protect your lungs for long periods of arduous activity. In particularly cold temperatures, athletes need the right equipment to protect their lungs and airways from cold-induced damage.This is where the EX-BONE comes in, and shines. EX-BONE: A Face Mask with Anti Fog Glasses Technology to Handle The Cold NAROO’s evolved offering, the EX-BONE is an innovative exoskeleton structure that creates a 3D air-warming chamber to warm and humidify cold air inhaled during training or practice. Here are some of its key features.The 3D air chamber is designed with anti fog glasses / goggles technology and prevent the mask from sticking to the nose or mouth, thus ensuring effortless breathing and speaking.In other words, the EX-BONE creates a space between the face mask and the face that avoids contact with the mouth and nose, enabling easy breathing and comfortable speech and mouth movements.NAROO’s breathable sports masks assume the shape of the wearer’s face. This action seals the front and the sides, which allows for comfortable, safe breathing. With decades of experience in manufacturing top-of-the-line sports masks, NAROO recognizes that these face shields must deliver perfect results in high-intensity situations – skiing, running, lifting, and more. They have to fit perfectly even when someone is executing fast, powerful motions for a long period.Structurally, these cold weather face masks are built to align with the human skeletal and muscle structure, which allows athletes to maintain peak performance levels in unsuitable environmental conditions.The material’s elasticity and resilience also makes it a durable choice for actively inclined individuals. It’s innovative design, and research-based manufacturing process, using materials approved by the FDA, the German TÜV.Essentially, the EX-BONE’s industry-best ergonomic design ensures athletes can exercise safely and easily in harsh colder climes. Slide it over your face and keep your airways dry and warm to take on those chilly days.The EX-BONE is part of NAROO’s Z5H and Z9H balaclava masks, two products highly favored by winter athletes across the globe. Key Benefits of the EX-BONE Easy to breathe in when exercising in cold air3D air warming chamber to heat up and humidify cold air when inhaledAnti fog glasses / goggles technology from fogging up during exhalationErgonomic design manufactured from FDA-approved materialsMoisture-wicking and dries quickly in moist or humid conditionsNAROO’s breathable anti fog glasses neck gaiters and balaclavas have been inspected and certified by a number of prestigious institutions. If worn correctly and consistently. They act to protect adults and children from airborne pollutants and allergens (including pollen). The EX-BONE also works to keep air breathable and warm, giving athletes the opportunity to get all the oxygen they need and keep their lungs unscathed, even in the peak training