Archive for December, 2010

ColdAvenger Gifts Deliver

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

ColdAvenger team member Bob Affholder sent some ColdAvenger Facemasks to his friend Richard Mundinger for Christmas.  Richard distributed them to his son Clay and some of his friends for a ski trip to Colorado where the fellas put them to the test.  The three wearers loved the masks and how well they preformed in the biting cold weather.  Read their appreciation below:

Mr. Affholder:

I really appreciate you giving us those darth vader facemasks. Wearing one really helped the last couple of days at 12,000 feet in Aspen Colorado with the stormy weather, 10 degrees with 40 mph winds and virtually no visibility what so ever. Long story short, I owe that mask for me not getting frostbite on my nose and comments like, “Sick mask man!”

Thanks again,

Furey Stirrat (Age 15):

Dear Mr. Affholder:

I was under the distinct impression that “snowfall” implied snow moving towards the ground. Imagine my surprise, then, when today, as we were riding the chairlift, the snow was flying up the hill towards us. Perhaps this is because I am a Tucson native, and perhaps a local would speak differently, but I would call today cold, rough, wet, and windy. I did not, however, feel its effects, and I owe this in large part to the masks. I can think of few things worse than a cold nose and wind-chapped lips, and the mask kept my facial features warm and toasty without imparting fog to my goggles, as mufflers and masks are apt to do. I wholeheartedly appreciated the gear.

Regards,

Tanner (17, Tucson)

Dear Mr. Affholder,

First off, I just want to thank you for the amazing facemask presents that you gave to my father for our family. The facemasks have been a huge part in staying warm with the impeccably cold weather that we have endured over the last two days, and one can only imagine it won’t be getting warmer anytime soon. If it was sitting on the ski lift going directly into ferocious winds, or hiking to the summit of Snowmass, only able to see the person in front of you at times, the facemasks allowed myself to breathe just fine and keep my face warm and away from any sort of frostbite. Again I just want to say thank you for your generosity. I wish you a happy holiday, and I look forward to playing golf with you in the new year.

Sincerely,

Clay Mundinger

We are glad the ColdAvenger made those freeze-gnar conditions tolerable!

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Cold Weather Health Hazards

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Cold weather can have some serious impacts on our health.  That’s where ColdAvenger face masks come in.  They allow air flow while maintaining a temperature of 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the air outside.  Why is that important?  Here are six “Did you Knows” to help us make our point.

1. Did you know…? Scientific studies indicate that up to 50% of athletes who exercise in cold weather have some respiratory symptoms with a decline in lung function compatible with exercise-induced asthma (Stroms W. Reiew of Exercise-Induced Asthma, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2003;)

2. Did you know…? Cold weather exposure of the airway and face is a form of chronic trauma that can cause cough, asthma, and other adverse health effects such as “walking pneumonia.”  A counter measure for decreasing the occurrence of these health problems in cold weather is to increase warmth and moisture of the airway without increasing resistance when working breathing rates are high (Prevention of Cold Injuries During Exercise, Position Stand, American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2006; 38:2012-2029)

3. Did you know…? Cold weather combined with long periods of work outside can alter the immune system, increasing the risk of viral infection of the respiratory tract that negatively affects performance while increasing sick days.

4. Did you know…? In addition to cold air affecting the airways, stimulation of the facial skin by cold air has an affect on airway responsiveness (Heindl S.et al. “Effect on Facial Cooling and Cold Air Inhalation On Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Men,” Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 2004; 142: 59-8)

5. Did you know?… The American College of Sports Medicine’s position on prevention of cold airway injury during exercise states that breathing dry air combined with skin and facial cooling act in synergy to trigger exercise-induced bronchospasm (Prevention of Cold Injuries During Exercise, Position Stand, American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and science in Sports and Exercise, 2006; 38: 2012-2039

6. Did you know?… Chronic cold air exposure following exercise can predispose athletes to immunological vulnerability and viral infections that can negatively affect their performance.
And now you know.  Cold plus exercise equals bad.  Cold plus exercise plus ColdAverngers equals staying out longer.

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Posted in asthma, December 2010 | 1 Comment »

ColdAvenger Hits the Small Screen!

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Here’s some exciting news for ColdAvenger–we will be featured on the popular daytime health talk show, The Doctors today for their “Winterize Your Family” episode.  We are thrilled the ColdAvenger is being recognized and featured as a winter necessity appropriate for the whole family.  Check your local listings for what time it airs in your town today!  And hurry–it’s on at 2:00pm here in NW Montana.

As part of the show, we’ll be helping outfit some deserving families with ColdAvengers to get them outside in a safe way.  Be sure to tune in.  We try not to watch a lot of TV, but you can bet we’ll be glued to the screen.  Hopefully we won’t end up on the cutting-room floor!

We’re so glad The Doctors is doing an episode on how to winterize your family…it shows that Americans are interested in health and safety and protecting their families during the winter months.  We hope it encourages families to get out and enjoy some fun wintertime activities despite the temperatures.  When you are equipped to protect your lungs and airway along with your head and face, you are truly dressed for success in the elements!  Being active all year round is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and we are proud to be a part of that.

For local listings visit The Doctors website here.

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Posted in cold weather, December 2010, Recreational Health and Performance, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Meet ColdAvenger’s Newest Team Member Phil!

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

So, recently we introduced you to Red Dave.  And wasn’t that a treat!?  Now, we are equally as excited to welcome aboard our newest team member, Phil.  We think he’s a pretty cool guy, so we thought we ask him a few questions to help introduce him to our faithful ColdAvenger fans.

What is your new role at Talus? I am doing government sales and I am a regional rep for Colorado.

You are selling the government?  Cool.  Let me know if I can get a pro-deal.  What are your top five favorite words? Bacon, Cork, Fun, Howdy, and Bacon.

What gets you excited when it comes to working for Talus? I am excited to be a part of the outdoor industry.

If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? A house cat.  You could sleep all day, see in the dark, and you’d have some sweet claws.

What are you looking forward to the most about this upcoming winter in Colorado? I’m looking forward to skiing at some of the best resorts and backcountry in the lower 48.

Thanks Phil, we know you are going to be a great addition to the Talus family.  It’s like you’re a brother, bro.

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