The Bioscarf: A big scarf with a built-in N95 filter
PRODUCT REVIEW
By Christopher Nyerges
[Nyerges is the author of “How to Survive Anywhere,”
“Foraging California,” “Extreme Simplicity,” and other books. He has been
leading survival classes since 1974.
More information at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]
BIOSCARF SPECS
Weight: 19.4
oz
Width: 84
inches
Length: 9 inches
Material: 100%
polyester that is made from recycled PET water bottles and recycled PVC
Source: https://www.g95.com/?rfsn=3861014.66a45d
I recently had the opportunity to
test something called the “bioscarf.”
Yes, it’s a scarf, and everyone knows I like scarfs. I’ve worn them all my life. I used to love alpaca wool scarves, and find
their comfort impeccable. But then I was
given a Polartech scarf, which is a polyester product that strives to duplicate
wool without any itching or scratching.
I have come to prefer my Polartech scarves, which are also easy to clean
and dry.
I like long scarves too, but not the
very long scarves that really get in the way.
I cannot get the story of the famous dancer Isadora Duncan out of my
mind, who loved very very long silk scarves, and she enjoyed wearing them in
her convertible. She was 50 years old at
the time, she was driving one day in September, 1927 in Nice, France, and her
enormously-long scarf got caught in the rear hubcabs of her car! It was a ghastly accident and she was
strangled to death. When you read about
Duncan, you’d think her great legacy is that she had a famous dancing career,
but the first think you read about is that she was strangled to death by her
scarf. Well, I don’t drive a convertible and I cannot
imagine wearing a scarf that must have been 10 or 12 feet long, or longer!
Anyway, the bioscarf that I had the
opportunity to use and test actually measures in at seven feet long, and 9
inches wide. That’s big, but not too big to get caught in your car’s or
motorcycle’s wheels. Bicyclists should be
careful though.
I like its size. It’s long, but not quite too long. You have enough scarf to know you’re wearing
a scarf and not forget it. It comes in
white, olive, black, and camo, and since I had the choice of color, I couldn’t
resist the camo. But its main selling
point is not the size – it’s what’s hidden inside the fabric.
Bioscarf is actually a stylish air
mask that keeps your neck and head cozy while filtering out unwanted air
contaminants, germs, second hand smoke, pollen and other allergens. This can
protect you from colds, flus, pneumonia, tuberculosis and allergens. Bioscarf is the first scarf with an N95 air
filter layer built right into the inner layer
of the scarf.
When tested by Nelson Labs against normal
masks and respirators, the bioscarf
outperformed some of the most popular masks available today with a 99.75%
average filtration efficiency. In addition to doing its job effectively, the bioscarf is made from sustainable
materials. Post-consumer recycled PET water bottles go into the fabric, while
the signature labels are made from recycled PVC. It is also built to be long
lasting and reusable, meaning less disposable air filters in the
landfill. And this filter is
reusable – just wash the scarf by hand from time to time after use.
So, if you’re in a situation where
you might otherwise put on a face mask, you can just wrap the scarf over your
mouth and nose, and breathe through it.
Maybe you’re an allergy sufferer, visiting somewhere with poor air
quality, on you’re on a bus or plane where everyone is sneezing and
coughing. Maybe you’re on a campout and
the smoke from the campfire is excessive.
Bioscarf will give you some protection.
I like the multi-use aspect of the
bioscarf, and when I’m wearing mine, it gives me the feeling of being
protected, as if I’m living in a Mad Max, Book of Eli, or Bladerunner,
world. Of course, that’s a crazy idea, since everyone in those
futuristic dystopian societies would probably be wearing rags. Still, the bioscarf is one of those multi-purpose
garments that you’ll be glad you
purchased. It’s functional, and provides a layer of protection that other
scarves just don’t provide.
They run about $45, and are
available at eartheasy.com, or Amazon.
COMFORT
I’ve had the opportunity to wear
this scarf in cold weather, and found it to be a bit warmer than a comparable
scarf. This is probably because it’s not
just a single layer of fabric, but actually 3 layers. The scarf is not thick however, and it has
the comfortable feel of a “normal” scarf.
The length is a bit longer than most scarves, and so you have just a bit
more fabric that you can wrap around your neck, or your face.
Washing Instructions: Hand wash only
