Problems Breathing with Mask On

[Larrison]

There might be some other reasons someone finds it hard to breathe with a mask on. One of them might be that they typically breathe through their mouth, and the mask fits snugly enough that they cannot breathe this way. Relying primarily on mouth-breathing may be due to an issue with sinuses/ nasal blockage, or may have become habit. If the former, this may be a minor medical condition and able to be treated. If the later, it is something that you can be trained out of.

One temporary solution is to check the mask sizing and make sure you can open your mouth while wearing that mask. Can you talk with the mask on? If so, then its probably not too tight that way.

[Pancakes]

It's probably less to do with the mesh and more to do with either not breathing enough during a match, tightness around the neck/chest in your jacket (does it fit properly? I used to have similar problems until I lost a bunch of weight, it never really occurred to me that the problem was the jacket, though).

[Inquartata]

And---do you ever experience shortness of breath while doing other vigorous exercise without a mask, ie running, biking, climbing stairs, etc? Or is it ONLY while fencing?

[davtsung]

In all seriousness, you could be mildly claustrophobic. Alternatively, you may genuinely have a breathing issue in which case you could try nasal strips that are meant to keep you nasal passaegs open.

[cornflower]

And---do you ever experience shortness of breath while doing other vigorous exercise without a mask, ie running, biking, climbing stairs, etc? Or is it ONLY while fencing?

Yes, but no more than normal. The mask just seems really hot and unventilated, making it even harder.

[Inquartata]

I don't know what's "normal" for you, of course, but might it be a simple aerobic fitness issue, exacerbated by the wrong mask?

Some masks are tighter, hotter, have thicker padding and feel "closer" than others. My Allstar electric sabre mask for instance is very roomy ( almost too roomy ), but I had to send it off to get the lame refurbished awhile back and borrowed a mask for a tournament meanwhile. I think it was a Leon Paul. It was so heavily padded with the removable liner and all that it felt extremely hot and tight in comparison to mine, and I couldn't hear worth a darn in it, either...

[telkanuru]

I couldn't hear worth a darn in it.

That's not the mask's fault

[parrythis]

You could also try those "breathright" strips - the ones that you stick to your nose to expand the nostral airways. People generally use them to reduce snoring, but you also see pro athletes (football players) wearing them to enhance their ability to take in oxygen for peak performance. Even if your nasal passages aren't constricted, expanding them could help compensate for the artificial restriction on airflow caused by the mask.