Opinions on Training Masks

[Sully]

Hi,

I know that these don't really simulate high altitude training, but some people use them as a way to help control their breathing. Does anyone use one, and have you seen any benefits from implementing one into your training regime?

Cheers

Sully

[ArmandoChavezUNC]

They don't work, at least not in the way that they make it seem they do in their advertising.

All these "high-altitude" simulating masks do is restrict the amount of AIR available for each breath you take - imagine breathing through a straw. That's all those masks are doing and nothing else. Real high-altitude training works not because the amount of air is less, but because the partial pressure of OXYGEN is less, so you get less oxygen per breath. As a result your blood oxygen-saturation drops slightly and there is less oxygen in the hemoglobin that can be carried to, and used by, your muscles.

The so-called high altitude masks do not in any way come close to simulating that. All they do is train your diaphragm to help you breathe harder so you can get more air per breath - think of blowing into a balloon and the work that goes into it.

Hope that's enough to convince you to never, ever purchase these masks. They're an advertising scam.

[Carl Watts]

I like the anonymous one. You can also take Selfies on the rower and post them here during training.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/anonymous-mask

[Cyclist2]

That's good, Carl! Some of the people you see rowing at the gym or on YouTube should be wearing a mask!

I agree with Armando about their effectiveness at altitude training.

There is a device called "Power Breathe" that I use. (http://indoorsportservices.co.uk/training/powerbreathe). I read all that info, but was skeptical and never got one until... my wife bought me one as a gift, so I use it. I don't think it does anything more than a good stretching of my chest, neck, back and shoulder muscles, but even that feels good and maybe I can take deeper breaths because of it. I've never done any personal experiments to determine anything, it has just become part of my morning stretching routine.