Snorkeling masks 2019 – Bonair180
Full-face snorkel masks are available in all shapes and sizes. This is what the DuikeninBeeld testing team thought about the Bonair180 mask.
The Bonair180 snorkel mask stands out because of the shape of the glass which is not straight but slightly curved instead. It is not as curved as the other masks we tested that have rounded glass. This results in a large field of vision above water.
When we put the mask on, the hard section seems to be narrower than that on other masks; it takes some maneuvering to get our cheeks inside the mask. Additionally, the straps can’t be tightened once you’ve put the mask on; they won’t budge. You have to take the mask off first, and then it takes a lot of strength to adjust the elastic straps.
The instructions don’t help much either, and even contain a photo of a different model. We wonder if these are the right instructions, since there is no information about how to install the spare valve that comes with the mask. We don’t see how this could even be replaced, should this become necessary. The spare O-ring for the snorkel is a convenient feature. It also comes with a waterproof case for a cellphone. We failed to find a volunteer willing to test the quality of this case with their own telephone.
The air channel for the air to be inhaled runs via the silicone seal and makes for easy breathing. The strength of the seal is determinative for the inflow of air. If the seal isn’t uniformly tight, you can feel air flow into the mask, so the fit is very important.
There is a lot less distortion underwater than with other snorkel masks with rounded panes. Our testers are experienced divers and snorkelers, but had the idea that people with less experience and material for comparison might not even notice the distortion created by the Bonair180’s curved pane. This was a reasonably innovative design in terms of the pane. Fortunately the glass doesn’t fog up and the field of vision remains large.
In summary, the Bonair180 isn’t really a bad mask, but it’s not a good or comfortable mask either. The slightly curved pane results in a slight distortion of the view underwater and the mask is not comfortable to put on. The straps are very hard to adjust. In short, there’s room for improvement.
| GoPro mount: | Optional |
| Prescription glasses: | Optional |
| Communication: | Optional |
| Spare parts: | No |
| Packaging: | Bag |
| Instructions: | Yes |
| Sizes: | XS, S/M, M/L and L/XL |
