On public transport, in shops, in doctors’ offices. In the space of a few months, face masks to protect against COVID-19 have become part of our daily lives. But what about gyms, some of which are already operating according to the new normal, and team sports? It’s not easy to train while wearing a mask, and it will be even more difficult in the hot weather.
To enable athletes to train with face protection, but without risking hypoxia (lack of oxygen), American sportswear brand Under Armour has designed a reusable, water-resistant mask, which is equipped with a mouldable nose-bridge to hold it firmly in place and reduce airflow to the eyes that may cause glasses to fog up.
Christened the UA Sports Mask, the model is built from lightweight fabric with an underlying structure to keep it off the nose and mouth, which facilitates breathing. A thicker intermediate layer has been added, which lets air through, but blocks humidity and perspiration.
“The fabric used is treated with PROTX2, a non-metal antimicrobial technology that has been shown in laboratory tests to destroy COVID-19,” point out the founders of Under Armour in a press release.
This technology has already been through laboratory tests and is being evaluated to confirm its efficacy against COVID-19.
The UA Sports Mask features a unique, three-layer model engineered for athletes during performance:
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Layer 1 – Spacer Fabric, which is light but has air pockets for structure, so it stays off the mouth and nose for better airflow.
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Layer 2 – Open-Cell Foam is the breathable middle layer that lets air through but makes it hard for moisture and sweat to pass.
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Layer 3 – UA Iso-Chill is a fabric that feels cool against the skin, stretches, and is treated with PROTX, a non-metal anti-microbial technology which inhibits growth of bacteria on the mask to make it fresh.
The UA Sports Mask is launched in Malaysia and is currently sold out on the Under Armour online store. It will be available on Under Armour brand houses nationwide except Suria Sabah, early August 2020 while stocks last.
