Masks 2007 -£30
 | MARK EVANS PADI Divemaster 22 years diving experience |  | DAVE HOPE PADI MSDT 16 years diving experience |
 | ANDREA BREWIS PADI AOW 4 years diving experience |  | RICHARD GROVES PADI Rescue Diver 2 years diving experience |
 | SHARON GROVES PADI Rescue Diver 2 years diving experience |  | JOHN CARTER PADI Divemaster 11 years diving experience |
Aqualung Look (SRP: £28.95)
Mark: This is your typical traditional twin-lens mask. It was reasonably comfortable, easy to clear and offered decent all-round vision.
Dave: The Look has been around for years, which is testament to its quality. It’s not the best fit for me, but it’s easy to clear and the vision is pretty good.
Andrea: Very comfy, I wouldn’t mind one of these. It’s really light on your face with good visibility.
Richard: It’s not the one for me, there is better here. It’s easy to clear though.
Sharon: The vision is okay and it was easy to clear and adjust, but it’s not the best fit for me.
John: The clips are really easy to use, it’s easy to clear, but for me, it’s an average all-round mask. I’ve tried it in clear silicone, which I prefer.
Beaver Meteor (SRP: £29 including snorkel)
Mark: This single-lens mask was surprisingly comfortable and gave reasonable vision horizontally and vertically. A mega-cheap price, though!
Dave: I was very conscious that the frame was giving everything a Ready Brek glow, but it’s comfy and easy to clear – it’s a bargain at that price including a snorkel.
Andrea: Very soft silicone, a comfy fit and good vis, but I was constantly aware of the frame. A good deal with the snorkel included.
Richard: A comfy enough good all-round mask, I had no problems with this one.
Sharon: A bit tight on my nose and I didn’t find it the easiest to clear.
John: The clips weren’t the easiest to use and the downward vision was a bit limited, but it’s a great value package.
IST M80 (SRP: £24.95)
Mark: The M80 may have a crap name, but it is quite good-looking in a traditional twin-lens fashion. I like the little ‘bulges’ on the upper edges and the ‘carbonfibre’ finish.
Dave: The M80 performs reasonably well in all areas, but stands out from the crowd thanks to its fancy finish.
Andrea: I found this mask to be quite comfortable and have decent vision. It was easy to clear as well.
Richard: This was a good mask in all areas. It was comfy, cleared easily and the vision was above average.
Sharon: I liked the look of this mask, and it fit me well. It was quick to clear and comfortable on my face.
John: I like the technical ‘carbonfibre’ look, though I would have preferred it with an all-black skirt.
Lomo Stratos (SRP: £22 plus £1.75 for the box) Best value
Mark: The first thing which hits you about this mask is its sheer size, but once on your face it doesn’t feel too heavy or awkward.
Dave: It’s huge, but it fits very well. It’s got excellent vis, as you would expect from such a big mask, and it’s surprisingly easy to clear. A snip at that price.
Andrea: A bit large for me, but not too bad, you can see a lot and it’s very easy to clear for such a big mask.
Richard: Nice soft silicone, it fitted well and it’s got excellent vis – not my favourite, but a good mask at a great price.
Sharon: It’s massive, but fits really well. You can certainly see a lot out of it – and for a big mask, it’s pretty easy to clear.
John: Good all-round vis, particularly down, and you can clear it from a full flood in one go. Nice mask.
Oceanic Shadow (SRP: £25) Choice
Mark: The Shadow has always fared well with our test team, and this year was no different. Very comfy, easy to clear, excellent all-round vision – and a bargain at the new price!
Dave: Cracking value at £25, this mask has dropped dramatically in price and it was a good-value mask then. Good vision, easy to use – the best one here for me.
Andrea: Very nice, really comfortable and good vis. It’s soft on your face as well.
Richard: Very comfy, decent vis and it certainly stuck to my face. Nice mask.
Sharon: Comfortable, really nice fit. Easy to clear, good vision – what’s left to say? A nice mask.
John: Reasonable all-round mask, good vis, easy to clear and comfortable. I’d prefer it in the clear silicone version, though.
Poseidon Technica (SRP: £29.99)
Mark: The Technica is quite a small twin-lens mask, so this does mean the vision feels a bit restrictive, but it was comfortable and the small size meant it was easy to clear.
Dave: It fits quite well and the silicone seems to be a lot softer than some, but there is an awful lot of frame.
Andrea: It’s easy to clear and a comfortable fit, but it does not give the best vision and it’s got a chunky frame.
Richard: It cleared really easily and sealed nicely on my face, but the vision is not as good as some of them here.
Sharon: Not the best-looking mask, but it’s comfortable and does the job – there’s better here but there’s worse as well.
John: The lenses are smaller than some here and that obviously affects the vision, but it’s a good fit and easy to clear. It’s okay.
Scubapro Cool Vu (SRP: £30)
Mark: This mask was comfortable and quick to clear, but the side panels can be a bit offputting until you get used to them.
Dave: It’s a bit small for me – the vision through the side panels takes a bit of getting used to, you’ll either love it or hate it.
Andrea: Too small for me, so I was aware of the blue frame all the time. Good vision though, and I like the clear side panels.
Richard: I own one of these and it gets left at home as I couldn’t get on with the side panels – you see something in the side then it disappears and comes in view again in front.
Sharon: I like the clear panels on the side – it means I can keep an eye on Richard! It’s comfy and easy to clear – I like it.
John: It looks small, but fits okay. The side vis is excellent, it would be better with a clear frame as the blue was noticeably present.
Seac Extreme (SRP: £29.99)
Mark: This is basically identical to the Poseidon Technica, so again the vision is a bit restricted, but it is comfy and easy to clear.
Dave: It’s a bit small for me and so the vision was limited. I’m not a fan of the strap adjuster, and it could do with being supplied in a plastic box as well.
Andrea: Not the best vision from this one, it feels a bit small so it’s not the one for me.
Richard: The vision is okay, but this is for a smaller face than mine.
Sharon: Not the best vis from this one, and it really did not fit me so well.
John: It’s got quite small lenses, so quite a lot of light comes via the clear silicone – if that discoloured, then it’d be like having a vitamin A deficiency.
Sherwood Magnum Ex (SRP: £29.99)
Mark: This mask offered great peripheral vision, though there was a bit of a ‘dead zone’ where the flat frontage ended and the clear side panels started. It cleared easily, and was reasonably comfortable.
Dave: It appears Sherwood sacrificed downward vision for peripheral with this mask, but it clears easily and it comfortable enough.
Andrea: It felt a bit small on my face, but the vision was okay and it was easy to clear.
Richard: This is another one for those with smaller faces than me! That said, the vision is good peripherally and it’s quick to clear.
Sharon: It didn’t fit too well to my face, but I had no problems clearing it.
John: This is reasonably good all-round, but the 30° blind spot is a little disconcerting to say the least.
Tusa Liberator (SRP: £29)
Mark: This mask has been around for eons, but it is past its prime – average all-round and in need of a makeover.
Dave: This design has stood the test of time, it’s been around for years and it’s still popular with divers – it’s a nice all-round mask. Good vis and comfy enough.
Andrea: Quite a nice mask – good visibility and a good fit. The silicone seemed better than some of the others, and the whole thing felt substantial.
Richard: Not that comfy for me, the seal was good and the vision was okay, it’s not bad but not the best.
Sharon: An average-looking mask but it does the job. It’s comfortable with good vis, and it clears easily.
John: A good solid mask with a good compromise between peripheral and vertical vision, and it’s easy to clear as well. All in all, I wouldn’t mind owning one of these.
Typhoon TM2 (SRP: £19.95) Best value
Mark: This was comfortable and quick and easy to clear, and the pointed lenses gave excellent downward vision. At under £20, this is a real steal.
Dave: It sealed well on my face and had good vision, as well as being easy to clear. I could feel the frame on my forehead, so a bit shallow for me.
Andrea: It’s a nice mask – good vis and easy to clear. I’d be quite happy with one of these.
Richard: Not the most comfortable, I could feel the frame on my forehead, but the vision was good and it was simple to clear.
Sharon: Quite a comfortable mask and a good fit for my face, it’s got a nice soft skirt and was pretty easy to clear. The vision from it was excellent.
John: A good all-round mask, really easy to clear, comfortable fit and excellent vis. Up there with the best.
