8 Best Full Face Snorkel Masks – 2022 Buying Guide

Best Full Face Snorkel Masks
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They make snorkeling much better and more comfortable. But before you buy one, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

You can learn everything there is to know about full face snorkel masks and get a buying guide for the best full face snorkel masks by continuing to read if you’re feeling adventurous or looking for a change.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Full-face Snorkel Masks

If you’ve never used a full-face snorkel before, it’s possible that you won’t know what to look for or how to prioritize the fit and features you’ll need to have the best experience possible in the water. In order to introduce you to some crucial factors to think about, we’ve created this helpful guide. First, be sure you are aware of the distinctions between a full-face mask and a conventional mask. Then you can consider your ideal underwater adventure, your level of expertise, and any additional equipment you want to bring.

Who Should Try A Full-face Snorkel Mask?

Swimmers who enjoy having fun slowly and staying near the surface should use full-face snorkel masks. Because of the limited ability to access your nose to equalize pressure, they are not intended for freediving. A full-face mask should also be avoided if you intend to exert yourself in the water by swimming vigorously or treading water for an extended period of time. Breathing faster and more frequently as your heart rate rises increases your risk of experiencing overheating, wooziness, or lightheadedness. A full-face snorkel might be the best option to improve comfort, increase your view, and make it easier for you to breathe if you’re perfectly content to float along the surface and look down on the marine life below.

Read More: How Does Snorkeling Work Underwater

Best Full Face Snorkel Masks

1. Tribord Subea Easybreath

Tribord Subea Easybreath

Pros:

  • Comfortable fit
  • Easy to use
  • Great visibility
  • Dry snorkel

Cons:

  • Small sizing

As the first full-face snorkeling mask with a patented design, the Tribord Easybreath set the bar high. Due to the fact that it allowed individuals who had trouble using conventional snorkel gear to enjoy the underwater world, this novel product quickly rose to the top of the bestseller list.

An important consideration when purchasing a snorkeling mask is the size. To avoid leaks and offer the clearest view, your mask should fit snugly. Here’s some guidance on how to pick the appropriate size if you want to buy a Tribord Easybreath full face mask for snorkeling.

Currently, there are only 2 sizes of the original Subea mask available: Originally, there were four sizes available: XS, L/XL, M/L, S/M, and L/XL. However, Decathlon decided to eliminate those two sizes because the other two fit 90% of users over the age of 10’s face sizes.

Decathlon selling Subea Easybreath mask parts is a good thing in our book because it protects the environment. Decathlon won’t make you buy a new mask if your snorkel tube, strap, or white covering part is damaged or missing. You can order these missing or damaged parts from Amazon as well as from their retail locations.

2. Wildhorn Seaview 180° V2 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Wildhorn Seaview 180° V2 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Pros:

  • A flat lens eliminates distortion
  • Oversized valves for easier breathing
  • Quick-release straps

Cons:

  • Bulky design

Only one full-face snorkel mask, the Seaview 180, is available on the market and is likely capable of challenging the Aria for first place. The Seaview 180’s manufacturer, Wildhorn Outfitters, has done a fantastic job of creating a high-quality product and then awesomely marketing it. It is also one of the few full-face models on the market to introduce an improvement over the Tribord model that does not involve better silicone sealing around the face. The chambered breathing compartment is what distinguishes the Seaview. Similar to how an oxygen mask fits on your face, this chambered compartment rests over your mouth and nose. While snorkeling, it still permits easy breathing through your mouth and nose, but your exhale does not pass completely through your mask. Actually, there are several advantages to this. The first benefit is that because your exhale is forced out more quickly due to the smaller area it is confined to, you can breathe and paddle more quickly without experiencing any airflow restriction. The heat generated by full face masks, a common issue, is also avoided.

A chambered mask prevents your eyes and cheeks from overheating, which can happen when breathing into a non-chambered mask. Its availability in five different colors is another nice small detail that some other brands don’t provide: White/Blue, White/Pink, White/Teal, Plum/Gray, Navy Blue/Gray, and so forth. This gives you some control over your wardrobe decisions and underwater visibility. All of this is available for just a little bit more than the Tribord, which is still incredibly affordable when compared to other models.

3. Zipoute Full-face Snorkel Mask

Zipoute Full-face Snorkel Mask

Pros:

  • Officially safety tested
  • Wave guards
  • Easy-to-use purge valve

Cons:

  • Seals could be thicker

The Zipoute Full-Face Snorkel Mask is a great option if you want a high-quality mask at a low cost. The anti-fog and anti-leak technology, which you can eliminate by clearing your mask every 10 minutes, ensures that you inhale fresh air each time you breathe. This device has three different air channels to ensure this.

The silicone lining makes the mask comfortable to wear by applying minimal pressure to your nose bridge. With the aid of detachable motion camera brackets, you can also record your underwater adventures while benefiting from transparent flat lenses that eliminate discomfort and prevent distortion.

4. Ocean Reef Aria Classic

Ocean Reef Aria Classic

Pros:

  • Anti-fog lens
  • Largest field of vision
  • Lightweight with removable snorkel

Cons:

  • Slight distortion of view on sides

One of the most comfortable full-face snorkel masks available is the Ocean Reef Aria Classic. This is so that the masks will fit any face comfortably; the manufacturer has taken great care in this regard.

The Ocean Reef Aria classic full-face snorkel has soft straps and a full 180° view, making it comfortable and simple to breathe through. Ocean Reef products feature an orinasal passage that is specially created for the best possible sealing around your nose. For comfort and safety, they test each of their products in water.

The mask’s shape has been improved by Ocean Reef so that it fits most face sizes and shapes comfortably. In order to prevent water from getting inside the mask, it has a Dry Top and a silicon skirt. The soft fabric makes it comfortable and prevents it from ripping out longer hair, and the straps are simply adjustable.

5. Ocean Reef Aria Uno

Ocean Reef Aria Uno

Pros:

  • Various sizes for the perfect fit
  • Shatterproof lens
  • Long snorkel

Cons:

  • GoPro Mounts at Top Not Useful

The Ocean Reef Uno is comfortable because of the materials used in its construction, which make it both strong and light.

With the exception of the sizes, which can be quite large and were designed with comfort in mind, this full face mask fits well to most face shapes.

If you are in between sizes, we suggest purchasing a size smaller.

The soft rubber straps are a good fit and keep the mask from moving while submerged. No water can enter the mask thanks to the Dry Top and the silicone skirt.

For the best possible sealing around your nose, Ocean Reef products have created their own orinasal passage that joins the front of your face with the snorkel. For comfort and safety, they test every product in the water.

Excellent airflow, simple breathing through the mask thanks to the special Ocean Reef technology, and no-fog performance are all features of the Ocean Reef Uno.

6. Cressi Baron

Cressi Baron

Pros:

  • Budget-friendly price
  • Good design
  • Comfortable
  • Looks pretty cool

Cons:

  • Fogs up a little

The full-face snorkel mask from Cressi Baron is a great option if safety is one of your main concerns.

It provides the best underwater breathing experience.

Throughout the entire snorkeling trip, you should be able to breathe in and out comfortably.

Additionally, this mask has a purge valve that drains water to catch any unintentional leaks.

The Cressi Baron Full-Face Snorkel Mask should only be utilized on the water’s surface, as is the case with many full-face snorkel masks.

This model, which includes a hypoallergenic silicone skirt and a dry snorkel, is also among the more comfortable ones available.

7. Mares Sea VU Dry

Mares Sea Vu Dry

Pros:

  • Rigorous in-house and external testing
  • A flat lens minimizes distortion
  • Orinasal seal designed for peak performance

Cons:

  • Difficult to Fit Correctly

The outstanding Full Face Mares Sea Vu Dry+ Snorkeling Mask is the first in a new line of full-face snorkeling masks that are designed to minimize CO2 build-up and feature cutting-edge visual and technical advancements. The Sea Vu Dry+ is the lightest item available and has liquid silicone for the best fit and comfort.

The combination of a smaller internal volume and larger airflow sections results in the easiest breathing and the least amount of CO2 buildup of any mask on the market.

While the S-M size could be worn by smaller adults/teenagers and children of 10 years or more, the L-XL size would typically be appropriate for the majority of adults.

Mares is the only manufacturer to own one of only five ANSTI testing machines in the world with CO2 injection (rebreather test) capabilities, and they developed these masks using their own in-house cutting-edge technology.

8. Wildhorn Outfitters Seaview

Wildhorn Outfitters Seaview

Pros:

  • Simple yet classic design
  • Safety tested by a third party
  • Compatible with optional accessories

Cons:

  • Hard to get on and off

If you decide to purchase directly from Wildhorn SeaView, a portion of each sale will go toward the Reef2Leaf Conservation program, which works to protect coral reefs and other natural habitats.

If you’re certain that the new Wildhorn Outfitters Seaview V2 180° Full Face Snorkel Mask is the right choice for you, click the button to view the Wildhorn SeaView website’s current prices and any discounts that might be available.

The Seaview Kradan Snorkel Set is enjoyable for snorkelers of all skill levels. It has a Dry Top snorkel that separates into two pieces, making it small and perfect for travel.

The mouthpiece and skirt of the snorkel and mask are made of hypoallergenic silicone, and a wide-view tempered glass lens helps to prevent unintended allergic reactions.

Scientific Studies On Full Face Snorkel Mask Safety

The findings of a multi-year investigation into the factors contributing to snorkeling fatalities in Hawaii were published in 2020 by the state’s government. They came to the conclusion that breathing resistance in either full face masks or conventional snorkels was to blame for the majority of unexplained deaths, a condition known as ROPE. They believe that flying may also increase the risk because certain medical conditions increase the risk of ROPE. They also discovered that “CO2 buildup is not a physiologically plausible explanation of snorkel-related drownings.” This report implied that these masks are difficult to remove and may therefore increase risk, apparently without any testing. This hypothesis was put to the test in the study that follows, but it was not confirmed.

How Do I Pick A Safe Full-Face Snorkel Mask?

You should only purchase a mask from a reputable company that produces a lot of diving and snorkeling gear, like the ones we suggest below. Before releasing a product on the market, reputable manufacturers that are known for their high-quality products conduct safety tests and conduct in-house research. These businesses are reachable and responsible for their goods. These types made up four of the masks that DAN tested; they posed no safety issues.

Despite numerous positive reviews (which are frequently faked), be aware that many masks of subpar quality and design are being sold on Amazon and other websites. These masks could be dangerous to use. These products frequently lack accountability, safety testing, and a manufacturer or parent company that can be tracked. Amazon allows anyone to sell. For instance, the number one full-face snorkel mask on Amazon with over 5,000 positive reviews has a shoddy company website with just one product, a phony email address, a phony phone number, and a phony address in China. These kinds of mysterious goods were the two pressure-related masks that DAN tested.

Be aware that some tour operators and liveaboards do not permit the use of full face snorkel masks during their excursions if you intend to travel with one. So, check ahead of time or equip yourself with some basic tools.

Conclusion

Whether you’re visiting a nearby beach or traveling to a tropical destination, packing a full-face snorkel for the trip will surely make it more exciting and adventurous. Before dipping into the water with your new beach accessory, safety is the most crucial factor to take into account. Examine any safety instructions carefully, check that your mask fits snugly, and make sure you have a plan in place in case you have any breathing difficulties. Beyond that, consider any optional features you might need, such as prescription lenses or a camera mount. Your view of aquatic life will be ideal thanks to the best full-face snorkel, which will also make breathing comfortable.

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